Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum logo

Click on CASPIR logo to go to the entire CASPIR system.

Use the panel to:

  • select Optional Sections
  • Remove Page Breaks, that is, return to the non-print formatted document.
  • Click on the ⇩ to go directly to that section.

Keel, Norman Harry (Pilot Officer)

Killed in Flying Accident 1943-05-07

Male Head

Birth Date: 1920-01-01 (age 23)

Son of Albert Edward and Wilhelmina Keel, of Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Service
RAFVR
Unit
32 SFTS- Service Flying Training School (RAF)
Base
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada
Rank
Pilot Officer
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
132611
32 SFTS, Moose Jaw, Sask.

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)

Burial
Google Map Rosedale Cemetery, Canada
Lot 8 Block 10 Grave 240

Crew on Oxford Mk. II 1523

Airspeed Oxford

(Bob Brown Photo)(Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page)
Airspeed A.S. 10 Oxford Mk. II, RCAF (Serial No. AS277), 25, in flight over Saskatchewan, 1942.

The Airspeed AS.10 Oxford was a twin-engine monoplane aircraft developed and manufactured by Airspeed. It saw widespread use for training British Commonwealth aircrews in navigation, radio-operating, bombing and gunnery roles throughout the Second World War.

The Oxford was developed by Airspeed during the 1930s in response to a requirement for a capable trainer aircraft that conformed with Specification T.23/36, which had been issued by the British Air Ministry. Its basic design is derived from the company's earlier AS.6 Envoy, a commercial passenger aircraft. Performing its maiden flight on 19 June 1937, it was quickly put into production as part of a rapid expansion of the Royal Air Force (RAF) in anticipation of a large-scale conflict.

As a consequence of the outbreak of war, many thousands of Oxfords were ordered by Britain and its allies, including Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, Poland, and the United States. Following the end of the conflict, the Oxford continued to achieve export sales for some time, equipping the newly formed air forces of Egypt, India, Israel, and Yugoslavia. It was considered to be a capable trainer aircraft throughout the conflict, as well as being used a general-purpose type. A large number of Oxfords have been preserved on static display. Wikipedia

YouTube Oxford Trainer

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Oxford Trainer

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

CASPIR Aircraft Groups:
RCAF On Strength (821), Canadian Aircraft Losses (168)
last update: 2021-09-27 15:31:03

Oxford Mk. II 1523

Assembled at RCAF Station Trenton, Ontario. To Advanced Training Squadron at Trenton on 18 September 1939. To Borden with this Squadron on 22 January 1940. To No. 1 Training Command on 1 April 1940. Category C damage at Borden on 9 April 1940. To Canadian Vickers Ltd. for modifications on 9 August 1941, with 677:35 logged time. To No. 4 Training Command on 5 March 1942, for use by No. 34 Service Flying Training School at Medicine Hat, Alberta. Winter conversion kit installed at No. 34 SFTS, reported complete on 30 April 1942. Category B damage at 15:30 on 29 May 1942, while serving at No. 34 Service Flying Training School. Aircraft overshot on forced landing field and struck a ditch. To Aircraft Repair in Edmonton for repairs, 8 June to 19 October 1942. To No. 4 Training Command when completed. Scrapped by No. 32 Service Flying Training School at Moose Jaw.
1939-09-18 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
1943-May-06 Accident: 32 Service Flying Training School Loc: Aerodrome Names: Chambers | Keel | Soper
1943-06-02 Struck off Strength Struck off, reduced to spares and produce 2019-08-20


32 SFTS- Service Flying Training School (RAF) (32 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 NO32 SFTS Publication

For more Information on RCAF Station Moose Jaw see here

  • RCAF Roundel RCAF.Info - RCAF Station Moose Jaw SK

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

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

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

  • 1940-12-09 Primary Location Moose Jaw SK Canada Current site CFB Moose Jaw CYMJ
    1940-12-09 Relief Field Caron SK Canada Abandoned currently site of the hamlet Caronport east of Caron SK
    1940-12-09 Relief Field Burdock SK Canada Current site of Moose Jaw Municipal Airport CJS4
    1940-12-09 Relief Field Buttress SK Canada Abandoned returned to agriculture. Still visible on satellite imagery.

    © Canadian Warplane Heritage 2024

    To search on any page:
    PC — Ctrl-F
    Mac — ⌘-F
    Mobile — or …