The Fleet 60K Fort was designed by Fleet Aircraft in Fort Erie, Ontario in 1939 and its first flight took place there on March 21 1940. RCAF evaluation at the Central Flying School, Trenton, Ontario showed it to be suitable as an intermediate trainer and so the RCAF placed an order for 200 Model 60Ks. The name Fort was selected for it.
The first production aircraft flew in May 1941 and once in service some problems emerged. Flying characteristics were good overall, but an unskilled pilot could get into trouble during certain manoeuvres. In late 1941, the RCAF began to question the concept of the intermediate trainer and soon it was deemed to be unnecessary. With its elimination, the RCAF reduced the order to 100 Forts and then had to decide what to do with them.
It chose to use the Fort as wireless operator trainer, with the rear cockpit filled with radio equipment. Conversion was carried out by early 1942 and the remodeled aircraft were sent to Wireless Training Schools in Calgary and Winnipeg. The schools did not rate the Fort very highly, but continued to use them to train thousands of wireless operators, between 1942 and 1944.
By early 1944 the Fleet Fort was found to obsolete for wireless operator training and the aircraft was gradually phased out - the last being retired from the Calgary Wireless School in July 1944. Once retired, the RCAF had no further use for them and most were sold off, even before the end of the war.
Canadian Warplane Heritage Musuem's Fleet Fort was part of the original aircraft that first flew in 1940 and was operated by the National Research Council's Aircraft Testing Deptartment in Ottawa. In 1942, it was assigned to No. 2 Wireless School in Calgary, where it was flown until mid 1944. The Museum acquired the fuselage, an engine and one wing of this rare aircraft in 1979. A group of retired Fleet employees and friends started work on restoring it in 1980. After 13 years, the Fort returned to the air in 1993. It is the only airworthy example of this type in existence. Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
last update: 2021-10-18 19:06:22Known Squadron Assignments:
Prototype Fort. Later registered as CF-BQP for company tests, on 18 May 1940. Only Fort ever fitted with wheel pants. RCAF acceptance tests, by the Test and Development Flight at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, completed in 1940. Taken on strength on 7 June 1941. Later became instructional airframe A182.Known Squadron Assignments:
First production Fort. Category C damage on 5 June 1941 at factory at Fort Erie, delaying delivery to the RCAF. Accepted by the RCAF on 28 March 1942.Known Squadron Assignments:
Served with Test and Development Establishment at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, dates unknown. Had 439:25 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used to prepared Pilot's Notes at the Test & Development Establishment at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Otario. Overturned on landing on 5 June 1942, while with No. 35 Service Flying Training School at North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Had 57:45 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Had 1566:20 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Category B damage on 9 October 1941 while with No. 2 Service Flying Training School at Uplands, Ontario.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. 3 Wireless School.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. 3 Wireless School. Had 1497:20 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. No. 2 Training Command. Had 803:30 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. 3 Wireless School. Had 1293:05 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. 3 Wireless School. Had 1117:40 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Prototype Wireless Trainer. Served with Test and Development Establishment at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, dates unknown. Used by No. 3 Wireless School. Had 1031:25 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by Test and Development Establishment at RCAF Station Uplands, Ontario. Had 32:35 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Prototype wireless trainer, tested at RCAF Rockcliffe February 1943 by Flight Lieutenant H. R. McLaughlin. Destroyed in fire at Rockcliffe on 21 July 1945.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. No. 4 Training Command. Had 188:20 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. No. 2 Training Command. Had 951:35 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. No. 2 Training Command. Had 949:50 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Category B damage on 8 December 1943.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. No. 2 Air Command. Had 1113:15 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. No. 2 Air Command. Had 950:00 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. No. 2 Training Command. Had 949:45 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. No. 4 Training Command.Known Squadron Assignments:
Category C damage in March 1943 while with No. 2 Wireless School.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. No. 4 Training Command. Had 834:15 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. 4 Training Command. Had 86:25 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments: ;2
Used by No. 2 Training Command. Had 949:15 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Category A damage on 10 May 1942 at Calgary, Alberta.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. No. 4 Training Command. Had 622:45 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Category B damage on 12 August 1942 while with No. 3 Service Flying Training School at London, Ontario.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. No. 2 Training Command. Had 950:00 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. No. 4 Training Command. Had 1076:20 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Category B damage at 14:37 on 27 April 1942 while with No. 3 Service Flying Training School at Calgary, Alberta. Collided with Crane 8701 over the Calgary aerodrome, the Crane was written off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. No. 4 Training Command. Had 1105:00 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments: ;2
Category B damage on 5 June 1942 at Calgary, Alberta.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. 4 Training Command.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. No. 2 Training Command. Had 945:45 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments: ;2
Category A damage on 24 September 1942 at Calgary, Alberta.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. No. 4 Training Command. Had 950:40 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. 4 Training Command. Had 949:25 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. 4 Training Command. Had 952:05 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. 2 Wireless School. Had 965:30 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Had 549:40 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Category A damage, fire, on 6 May 1943 while with No. 2 Wireless School.Known Squadron Assignments:
Category C damage on 24 September 1942 while with No. 2 Wireless School.Known Squadron Assignments:
Category A damage on 3(?) February 1943 while with No. 2 Wireless School.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. 4 Training Command.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. 2 Wireless School. Had 867:55 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. 2 Training Command. Had 950:20 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Category A damage on 7 July 1943 while with No. 2 Wireless School.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. 2 Wireless School at Calgary, Alberta. Had 1016:55 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. 4 Training Command. Had 1162:00 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments: ;3
Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. 2 Training Command. Had 1458:25 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. 2 Training Command. Had 536:00 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Destroyed by fire on 4 August 1942.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. 2 Training Command. Had 1636:20 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Category A crash, no date. Probably early 1944.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. 3 Wireless School. Had 1563:55 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. 2 Training Command. Had 1551:15 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. 2 Training Command. Had 1579:50 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Used by No. 3 Wireless School.Known Squadron Assignments:
Known Squadron Assignments:
Assigned to No. No. 2 Training Command. Had 1512:45 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Assigned to No. 2 Training Command. Had 1578:30 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Assigned to No. 2 Training Command.Known Squadron Assignments:
Category B damage on 27 October 1943 while with No. 3 Wireless School.Known Squadron Assignments:
Assigned to No. 2 Training Command. Had 1000:15 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Assigned to No. 2 Training Command. Had 1160:40 airframe time when struck off. To civil register as CF-BQP, off register by 1982.Known Squadron Assignments:
Assigned to No. 2 Training Command. Had 1532:15 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments: ;3
Assigned to No. 2 Training Command. With No. 3 Wireless School at Winnipeg when it collided with Anson 6505 near Winnipeg on 19 August 1943. Category A damage to the Fort, pilot Warrant Officer G.C. Hughes killed, student Leading Aircraftman K.L. Watkins, RAAF injured. Fort descended into Anson on short final, collision took place at 125 feet.Known Squadron Assignments: ;3
Category A damage on 9 September 1942 while with No. 2 Training Command.Known Squadron Assignments:
Category A damage on 15 February 1943 while with No. 2 Training Command.Known Squadron Assignments:
Assigned to No. 2 Training Command. Had 1442:25 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Assigned to No. 2 Training Command.Known Squadron Assignments:
Assigned to No. 2 Training Command. Had 619:05 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Assigned to No. 2 Training Command. Had 720:25 airframe time when struck off. Reported in museum in Brandon, Manitoba in 2006.Known Squadron Assignments:
Assigned to No. 3 Wireless School. Had 1466:25 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Assigned to No. 2 Training Command. Had 1486:10 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Assigned to No. 2 Training Command. Had 1532:15 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Assigned to No. 2 Training Command. Had 780:00 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Assigned to No. 2 Training Command. Had 1507:50 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Assigned to No. 2 Wireless School. Had 789:20 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Assigned to No. 2 Training Command. Had 1529:35 airframe time when struck off. Undergoing restoration in Saskatchewan, 1976.Known Squadron Assignments:
Assigned to No. 2 Training Command. Had 390:55 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Assigned to No. 2 Training Command. Had 656:20 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Assigned to No. 4 Training Command. Had 672:15 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Assigned to No. 4 Training Command. Had 850:00 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Category A damage on 9 October 1943 while with No. 2 Wireless School.Known Squadron Assignments:
Assigned to No. 4 Training Command. Had 685:25 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Assigned to No. 4 Training Command. Had 1111:35 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments: ;2
Assigned to No. 2 Wireless School.Known Squadron Assignments:
Assigned to No. 2 Wireless School. Had 1098:30 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Category A damage on 20 August 1943, while with No. 2 Wireless School.Known Squadron Assignments:
Category A damage on 3 October 1943, while with No. 2 Wireless School.Known Squadron Assignments:
Assigned to No. 4 Training Command. Had 1048:40 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Assigned to No. 2 Wireless School.Known Squadron Assignments:
Assigned to No. 2 Wireless School. Had 1057:33 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Assigned to No. No. 4 Training Command.Known Squadron Assignments:
Assigned to No. 3 Wireless School. Had 154:15 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Assigned to No. 2 Wireless School. Had 737:30 airframe time when struck off.Known Squadron Assignments:
Last Fort built. Category B damage on 6 December 1942 while with No. 2 Wireless School. Had 357:20 airframe time when struck off.