Frederick Raymond Bonner Rank: Leading Aircraftman Status: Killed in Flying Accident 1944-02-10

Cornell 15297

Fairchild Cornell

Fairchild Cornell Mk. II
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

In early 1942, an agreement was signed between the Canadian Government and Fairchild Aircraft, which licenced Fleet Aircraft of Fort Erie, Ontario to construct the PT-26 Cornell in Canada. The first 800 Cornells used by the RCAF were supplied from Fairchild, until production commenced at Fort Erie in November 1942. By the end of the war in 1945, 2,853 Cornells had been built by Fleet - 1,565 for the RCAF and 1,288 for the RAF.

PT-26 Cornells were flown at many of the Elementary Flying Training Schools (EFTS) of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, where they replaced the Fleet Finch and the de Havilland Tiger Moth biplane trainers. After the Second World War, many Cornells were sold to the civilian market, but some were retained by the RCAF, where they were finally retired in 1948. CWPHM

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last update: 2021-08-30 13:45:56

Cornell Cornell III 15297

With No. 13 Elementary Flying Training School at St. Eugene, Ontario when it crashed at 16:55 on 10 February 1944, after colliding with Cornel 15529. Student in this aircraft, A/LA F.R. Bonner, FAA killed. This aircraft was approaching to land when it collied with 15297. Both aircraft crashed near the aerodrome.

Canada Primary Source RCAF - Accident Investigation File

1943-10-15 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
1944-February-10 Accident: 13 Elementary Flying Training School Loc: Aerodrome Names: Beaumier | Bonner
1944-05-26 Struck off Strength 2022-02-07

Cornell 14529

Cornell Cornell III 14529

With No. 13 Elementary Flying Training School at St. Eugene, Ontario when it crashed at 16:55 on 10 February 1944, after colliding with Cornel 15297. Instructor in this aircraft, Sgt. J.J. Beaumier, RCAF seriously injured. This aircraft was approaching to land after a test flight when it collied with 15297. Both aircraft crashed near the aerodrome.

1943-08-20 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
1944-February-10 Accident: 13 Elementary Flying Training School Loc: Aerodrome Names: Beaumier | Bonner
1944-05-26 Struck off Strength 2022-02-07

13 EFTS (13 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.