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Cant, Wilfred (Aircraftman 1st Class)

Killed in Flying Accident 1942-07-29

Male Head

Birth Date: 1923-01-01 (age 19)

Robert & Mary Cant, of Leadgate, Co. Durham, England.

Home: Leadgate, Co. Durham, England.

Service
RAFVR
Unit
38 SFTS- Service Flying Training School (RAF)
Base
Estevan, Saskatchewan, Canada
Rank
Aircraftman 1st Class
Marshal
Air Chief MarshalA/C/M
Air MarshalA/M
Air Vice MarshalA/V/M
Air CommodoreA/C
Group CaptainG/C
Wing CommanderW/C
Squadron LeaderS/L
Flight LieutenantF/L
Flying OfficerF/O
Pilot OfficerP/O
Warrant Officer 1st ClassWO1
Warrant Officer 2nd ClassWO2
Flight SergeantFS
SergeantSGT
CorporalCPL
Senior AircraftmanSAC
Leading AircraftmanLAC
Aircraftman 1st ClassAC1
Aircraftman 2nd ClassAC2
Position
Service Numbers
1094923

Second fatal accident of the day: P/O John Rochester Boiston RAF KIA Estevan Cemetery Sec. 8. Plot 1. Lot 12. AC1 Wilfred Cant RAF KIA Estevan Cemetery Sec. 8. Plot 1. Lot 11. were killed when Menasco Moth 4873 crashed 3 miles west of the main aerodrome.

Canada Primary Source School Daily Diary Entry – 1942-07-29

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Find-A-Grave.com Find-A-Grave.com

Canada Primary Source Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Crew on Moth, Menasco II 4873

de Havilland Menasco Moth DH82-C4

(DND Archives Photo, PCN-4631)(Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page)
de Havilland DH 82C2 Menasco Moth Mk. I (Serial No. 4861),
preserved with the Canada Air and Space Museum, Ottawa, Ontario.

In the event that U-boat attacks caused a break in supply of British-made engines to Canada, American-built Menasco engines were installed in some Canadian-built Tiger Moths. This is the major difference between the Menasco and de Havilland Tiger Moths. Because this engine could drive a large generator, most Menasco Moths were used for radio training.

The Menasco engine was not as powerful as the Gypsy engine, resulting in a somewhat reduced performance. This loss of power made the Menasco Moth a less than ideal pilot-training airplane and contributed to the Menasco Moth being used almost exclusively for radio training.

YouTube Features Menasco engined Tiger Moth

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

CASPIR Aircraft Groups:
RCAF On Strength (136), Canadian Aircraft Losses (6)
last update: 2023-06-12 18:03:35

Moth, Menasco II 4873

Category A crash at 11:00 AM on 29 July 1942 while with No. 38 Service Flying Training School at Estevan, Saskatchewan. Crashed 3 miles west of aerodrome, destroyed by post impact fire. Two fatalities, this was one of two fatal accidents with this school on the same day, see also 8528.
1941-04-01 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
1941-July-12 Accident: 3 Wireless School Loc: Stoney Mountain Names: Gyles | Heard
1942-July-29 Accident: 38 Service Flying Training School Loc: Aerodrome Names: Boiston | Cant
1942-09-10 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20

38 SFTS- Service Flying Training School (RAF) (38 Service Flying Training School)

Graduates of the EFTS "learn-to-fly" program went on a Service Flying Training School (SFTS) for 16 weeks. For the first 8 weeks the trainee was part of an intermediate training squadron; for the next 6 weeks an advanced training squadron and for the final 2 weeks training was conducted at a Bombing & Gunnery School. The Service schools were military establishments run by the RCAF or the RAF.

There were two different types of Service Flying Training Schools. Trainees in the fighter pilot stream went to an SFTS like No. 14 Aylmer, where they trained in the North American Harvard or North American Yale. Trainees in the bomber, coastal or transport pilot stream went to an SFTS like No. 5 Brantford where they learned multi-engine technique in an Airspeed Oxford, Avro Anson or Cessna Crane.

SFTS31 NO38 SFTS Plaque

For more information on RCAF Station Estevan see here

  • RCAF Roundel RCAF.Info - RCAF Station Estevan SK

  • RCAF Roundel RCAF.Info - Relief Landing Field Outram SK

  • RCAF Roundel RCAF.Info - Relief Landing Field Chandler SK

  • Saskatchewan Virtual War Memorial - 11 SFTS Yorkton History

  • Museum Vintage Wings - Ghosts Of Saskatchewan

  • 1942-04-01 Primary Location Estevan SK Canada Airport abandoned and completely removed now the site of a coal mine.
    1942-04-27 Relief Field Outram SK Canada Current returned to agriculture. Still visible on satellite imagery.
    1942-04-28 Relief Field Chandler SK Canada Approximate location turf runways returned to agriculture.

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