Christie, James Oliver
Killed in Flying Accident 1944-04-03
Birth Date: 1922-November-29
Born:
Florence Christie, of Regina.
Home: Regina, Saskatchewan (mother)
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: Unknown
Decorations: DFC
Service
RCAF
Unit
5 EFTS- Elementary Flying Training School
Base
RCAF Stn. High River, Alberta
Rank
Pilot Officer
Position
Pilot Officer
Service Numbers
J/17256
First Burial
Regina Cemetery, Regina, Saskatchewan
Addendum: - Distinguished Flying Cross No.50 Squadron - Award effective 1 September 1943 as per London Gazette dated 14 September 1943 and AFRO 2322143 dated 12 November 1943. Award presented 27 June 1945. The citation reads - "Pilot Officer Christie has taken part in many operational sorties against most of the enemy's heavily defended German targets. His aircraft has been severely damaged on several occasions but this has not diminished his enthusiasm for operational flying. At all times this officer's technical ability and devotion to duty have been outstanding." Detail provided by H. Halliday, Orleans, Ontario.
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
www.findagrave.comThis incident involved multiple aircraft:
- Cornell Mk. II Serial: 10880
All the above aircraft in the above list are referenced in this report.
Fairchild Cornell
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
Cornell Trainer
Wikipedia Cornell Trainer 
Harold A Skaarup Web Page 5 EFTS (5 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.
Established in 1940 at the present site of Lethbridge Airport CYQL.
More information on the RCAF Station at Lethbridge AB can be found at
RCAF.Info - RCAF Station Lethbridge AB
NO5 EFTS moved to High River AB 28 June 1941
RCAF.info - RCAF Station High River AB
RCAF.Info - Relief Landing Field Frank Lake AB
Bomber Command Museum Of Canada
Cornell 10880
Cornell Mk. II 10880
Lend Lease funded aircraft, also issued RAF serial FZ327 and USAAF serial 43-36377 (PT-26B-FE), RAF serial number marked as company number. Delivered to stored reserve, issued from storage on 18 February 1944. Crashed while with No. 5 Elementary Flying Training School at High River, Alberta. To No. 10 Repair Depot on 18 April 1944, for crash repairs, scrapped there.1943-11-26 Taken on Strength No. 4 Training Command 2019-08-20
1944-April-03 Accident: 5 Elementary Flying Training School Loc: Azure Names: Christie
1944-05-18 Struck off Strength Struck off, reduced to spares and produce 2019-08-20