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Wilcox, Oliver James (Leading Aircraftman)

Killed in Flying Accident 1944-May-06

Birth Date: 1917-September-29 (age 26)

Son of John and Beatrice Wilcox, of Woodslee; husband of Mary H. Wilcox, of Cottam.

Husband of Mary H. Wilcox, of Cottam.

Home: Woodslee, Ontario

Service
RCAF
Unit
2 EFTS- Elementary Flying Training School
Base
Fort William, Ontario, Canada
Rank
Leading Aircraftman
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
Pilot
Service Numbers
R/263815
LAC Wilcox was flying Tiger Moth aircraft 5991 and was engaged in solo practice of circuits and landings and bounced on landing. He appeared to correct with half throttle only and an incipient spin resulted. LAC Wilcox was severely injured when the aircraft crashed and burned. He died later that day in hospital.

Canada Primary Source School Daily Diary Entry – 1944-05-06

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

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)

de Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth

Source: Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (serial # RCAF 8922), credit Rick Radell

The de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth is a 1930s British biplane designed by Geoffrey de Havilland and built by the de Havilland Aircraft Company. It was operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and many other operators as a primary trainer aircraft. In addition to the type's principal use for ab-initio training, the Second World War saw RAF Tiger Moths operating in other capacities, including maritime surveillance and defensive anti-invasion preparations; some aircraft were even outfitted to function as armed light bombers.

The Tiger Moth remained in service with the RAF until it was succeeded and replaced by the de Havilland Chipmunk during the early 1950s. Many of the military surplus aircraft subsequently entered into civil operation. Many nations have used the Tiger Moth in both military and civil applications, and it remains in widespread use as a recreational aircraft in several countries. It is still occasionally used as a primary training aircraft, particularly for those pilots wanting to gain experience before moving on to other tailwheel aircraft.

Overseas manufacturing of the type commenced in 1937, the first such overseas builder being de Havilland Canada at its facility in Downsview, Ontario. In addition to an initial batch of 25 Tiger Moths that were built for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), the Canadian firm began building fuselages which were exported to the UK for completion. Canadian-built Tiger Moths featured modifications to better suit the local climate, along with a reinforced tail wheel, hand-operated brakes (built by Bendix Corporation), shorter undercarriage radius rods and the legs of the main landing gear legs being raked forwards as a safeguard against tipping forwards during braking. In addition the cockpit had a large sliding canopy fitted along with exhaust-based heating; various alternative undercarriage arrangements were also offered. By the end of Canadian production, de Havilland Canada had manufactured a total of 1,548 of all versions. Wikipedia

Wkikpedia Wikipedia de Havilland Tiger Moth

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

YouTube YouTube de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth

CASPIR Aircraft Groups:
RCAF On Strength (1414), RCAF 400 Squadron (3), Canadian Aircraft Losses (107)
last update: 2022-08-24 12:34:41

Moth, Tiger I 5991

Delivered to stored reserve at No. 10 Repair Depot, Calgary. Issued to No. 33 Elementary Flying Training School at Caron, Saskatchewan on 26 January 1942. To storage on 17 June 1942. Issued from storage on 1 September 1943, for use by No. 31 Elementary Flying Training School at De Winton, Alberta. Reported as equipped for night flying on this date. To M&C Aviation in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan for overhaul, 26 August 1943. Diverted to Mid-West aircraft in Winnipeg on 1 November 1943. Completed 21 January 1944, to stored reserve with No. 2 Training Command. Issued from storage on 22 February 1944. Category A crash, date not clear, destroyed by fire. To No. 8 Repair Depot for scrapping on 13 May 1944.
1941-12-18 Taken on Strength No. 4 Training Command 2019-08-20
1944-May-06 Accident: 2 Elementary Flying Training School Loc: Aerodrome Names: Wilcox
1944-06-13 Struck off Strength Struck off, reduced to spares and produce 2019-08-20

2 EFTS- Elementary Flying Training School (2 Elementary Flying Training School)

An Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS) gave a trainee 50 hours of basic flying instruction on a simple trainer like the De Havilland Tiger Moth, Fleet Finch, or Fairchild Cornell over 8 weeks.Elementary schools were operated by civilian flying clubs under contract to the RCAF and most of the instructors were civilians. For example, No. 12 EFTS Goderich was run by the Kitchener-Waterloo Flying Club and the County of Huron Flying Club.The next step for a pilot was the Service Flying Training School.
NO2 EFTS August 1941

The School was established at Fort William, Ontario. The former school is now the Thunder Bay, Ontario Airport.

More information on the RCAF Station at Fort William can be found at

  • RCAF Roundel RCAF.info - RCAF Station Fort William ON

  • General NW Ontario Heritage Center - 2 EFTS

    • 1940-06-24 Primary Location Fort William ON Canada Now site of Thunder Bay Airport CYQT

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