Collins, Russell Thomas Frederick
Killed in Flying Accident 1944-10-06
Birth Date: 1923
Born:
Home: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: Unknown
Service
RCAF
Unit
62 OTU- Operational Training Unit (RAF)
Base
RAF Unsworth
Rank
Pilot Officer
Position
Pilot Officer
Service Numbers
J/45008
Home
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Took off from Unsworth in Anson EF-806 to practice instrument flying and blind approach exercises when they collided with an Anson from 4 TGS. EF-806 crashed one mile east of Milbourne, Northumberland, England.
Killed, EF-806 includes Collins:Pzk Franciszek Kurpiel PAF KIA Chevington Cemetery Section H Grave 205.Flight Sergeant Florent Andre Henri Stephenson RAF pilot KIA Torrisholme Cemetery Block A. Blue. Grave 22.WO Vincent Arthur James Woodward RAF KIA Stonefall Cemetery Sec. H. Row A. Grave 8.
Canadian Virtual War MemorialAvro Anson
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
The Museum's Anson Mk. V was built by MacDonald Brothers in Winnipeg in 1944. It flew with No. 7 Photographic Wing and No. 414 Squadron in Ottawa on photo survey work until the late 1940s. In 1956, it was purchased by INCO and used for mineral surveying until 1980, when it was donated to the Museum. The exterior is painted in the yellow colour common to all BCATP trainers and is in its same wartime RCAF markings.
The Avro Anson was known by a number of nicknames including "Faithful Annie" or "Flying Greenhouse". It was the first aircraft to be flown by the Royal Canadian Air Force to have a retractable undercarriage, which was a comparative novelty in 1936. In 1940, a Canadian government owned company, Federal Aircraft Limited, was created in Montreal to manufacture the Anson for Canadian use. Nearly 3,000 Anson aircraft were produced and, in the early days of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), the Anson was the standard trainer for many pilots, observers (navigators), wireless operators and bomb aimers. More than 20,000 aircrew received training on the Anson. In Canadian service, the aircraft was substantially re-designed with the substitution of North American engines and many other airframe and equipment changes.Harold Skaarup web pages
Harold A Skaarup Web Page 
Avro Anson History