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Coffin, Stewart Alexander (Flying Officer)

Killed in Flying Accident 1944-April-02

Birth Date: 1917-May-30 (age 26)

Born: Calgary, Calgary Census Division, Alberta, Canada

Dr Ernest William Coffin & Susan Marguerite (nee Baillie) Coffin

Husband of Elizabeth (nee Entwistle) Coffin of Montreal, Quebec

Home: Montreal, Quebec

Service
RCAF
Unit
10 (OT) BGS- Bombing & Gunnery School
Base
RCAF Station Mount Pleasant
Rank
Flying 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
Pilot
Service Numbers
J/24581

10 Bombing and Gunnery School, RCAF Station Mount Pleasant, Prince Edward Island. Bolingbroke IVT aircraft 9952 was being piloted by Flying Officer S A Coffin (RCAF) when it was observed to be flying at a very low altitude. The aircraft disappeared behind some trees, crashed and burned one and one half miles north-west of the aerodrome at Mount Pleasant. Coffin was the sole occupant aboard the aircraft when he was killed in this flying accident

Killed: F/O Stewart Alexander Coffin RCAF J/24581 pilot KIFA Burnsland Cemetery, Calgary Alta. Lot 83. Block 9. Sec. G.

Canada Primary Source School Daily Diary Entry – 1944-04-02

General Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database

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)

Burial
Google Map Burnsland Cemetery, Canada
Lot 83 Block 9 Section G

Bristol Bolingbroke

(Umeyou Photo)
Fairchild Bolingbroke Mk. IV, RCAF (Serial No. 9118), coded BK-V, No. 115 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron, Patricia Bay, British Columbia, 1942.

The Bristol Fairchild Bolingbroke was a maritime patrol aircraft and trainer used by the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. Built by Fairchild-Canada, it was a license-built version of the Bristol Blenheim Mk IV bomber.

In 1935, the British Air Ministry issued Specification G.24/35 to procure a coastal reconnaissance/light bomber to replace the Avro Anson. Bristol proposed the Type 149, based on its Blenheim Mk I, with Bristol Aquila engines to give greater range. While the Air Ministry rejected this proposal, a Blenheim Mk I, retaining its Mercury VIII engines, was converted as a Type 149 (Blenheim Mk III) for the general reconnaissance role.The nose was lengthened to provide more room for the bombardier, with the upper left surface of the nose being scooped out to maintain pilot visibility during takeoff and landing.

The longer range also fulfilled a Canadian requirement for a maritime patrol aircraft. Consequently, Fairchild Aircraft Ltd. (Canada) of Quebec started production of the Blenheim Mk IV as the Bolingbroke (the originally intended name for the Blenheim IV). This type was nicknamed the "Bolly". After a small run of aircraft constructed to British specifications, as the Bolingbroke Mk I, Fairchild switched production to the Bolingbroke Mk IV with Canadian and American instruments and equipment. These versions also included anti-icing boots and a dinghy. One of the early Mk IV variants was the Bolingbroke Mk IVW which was powered by two 825 hp (615 kW) Pratt & Whitney SB4G Twin Wasp Junior engines. Incapable of maintaining altitude on one engine, the normal bomb load was reduced to 500 pounds on these aircraft to compensate for the low engine power. The most-produced variant was the Bolingbroke Mk IVT trainer, of which 457 were completed. A total of 626 Bolingbrokes were produced. Wikipedia

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Bolingbroke Bomber

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

YouTube Bolingbroke Bomber WWII

Kestrek Publications Bolingbroke - Kestrel Publications

CASPIR Aircraft Groups:
RCAF On Strength (626), RCAF 400 Squadron (3), Canadian Aircraft Losses (43)
last update: 2021-12-29 16:53:49

Bolingbroke Mk. IVT 9952

Dual controls fitted as of 7 Mar 1943. Transferred to No. 3 TC on 1 Sep 1943 and assigned to No. 10 B&GS in Mount Pleasant, PEI. On 2 Apr 1944, the a/c crashed and was destroyed by fire, when an engine cut out in circuit, killing the pilot, Flying Officer S. Coffin, during his first solo on type.
1942-08-21 Taken on Strength 2022-01-01
1943-August-12 Accident: 4 Bomb & Gunnery School Loc: Strathourne Landing Field Names: Mcguire | Walsh
1944-April-02 Accident: 10 Bomb & Gunnery School Loc: Aerodrome Names: Coffin
1944-06-07 Struck off Strength Cat “A” write-off 2022-01-01

10 (OT) BGS- Bombing & Gunnery School (10 Bomb and Gunnery School)

The Bombing and Gunnery School (B&GS) offered instruction in the techniques of bomb aiming and aerial machine gunnery to Air Observers, Bomb Aimers, and Wireless Air Gunners. These schools required large areas to accommodate their bombing and gunnery ranges, and were often located near water. The Avro Anson, Fairey Battle, Bristol Bolingbroke, and Westland Lysander were the standard aircraft used at B&GS schools.
NO10 BGS Mount Pleasant PEI

  • RCAF Roundel RCAF.info - RCAF Station Mount Pleasant PEI

    • No 10 BGS History University Of PEI

  • General University Of PEI - 10 BGS History

    • 1943-09-20 Primary Location Mount Pleasant PEI Canada Abandoned still visible on satellite Imagery.

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