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Dawson, Donald James (Leading Aircraftman)

Killed in Flying Accident 1942-February-12

Birth Date: 1918-October-08 (age 23)

son of Mrs. S. Rutherford, of Vancouver.

Home: Vancouver, British Columbia

Service
RCAF
Unit
5 EFTS- Elementary Flying Training School
Base
High River, Alberta, 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/122260
LAC Dawson and Sergeant G.H. Campbell were on a dual-cross-country flight and were in a mid-air collision. They were both killed when their Tiger Moth aircraft 4998 crashed and burned one half mile south of Stavely, Alberta.

Canada Primary Source School Daily Diary Entry "“ 1942-02-12

This incident involved multiple aircraft:

  1. Crane Mk. I Serial: 8661
  2. Moth, Tiger I Serial: 4995

All the aircraft in the above list are referenced in this report.

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Find-A-Grave.com Finadagrave.com

Canada Primary Source Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Home
Google MapVancouver, British Columbia
Burial
Google MapMountain View Cemetery
Block 5 Plot 18 Lot 14

Moth, Tiger 4995

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

last update: 2022-08-24 12:34:41

Moth, Tiger I 4995

Category A damage on 12 February 1942 while with No. 5 Elementary Flying Training School at High River, Alberta. Burnt.

1941-05-21 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
1942-February-12 Accident: 15 Service Flying Training School Loc: Stavely Alberta Names: Anderson | Campbell | Dawson
1942-08-18 Struck off Strength Struck off after mid air collision. 2019-08-20

Crane 8661

Crane Mk. I 8661

First assigned to No. 15 Service Flying Training School at Claresholm, Alberta. Still with this School when it received Category B damage at 11:30 on 12 February 1942, 1/2 mile south of Stavely, Alberta (7 miles north of the Claresholm aerodrome). This aircraft collided in mid-air with Tiger Moth 4995 from No. 5 Elementary Flying Training School at nearby High River, and made a forced landing. To Prairie Airways for crash repairs, 18 February 1942, with 116:00 logged time. To No. 2 Training Command on 10 July 1942. Pending disposal from 27 April 1944. To No. 2 Air Command on 1 December 1944, still pending disposal. Stored at No. 201 Holding Unit at Estevan, Saskatchewan, where it was noted with 2102:35 total time, 10:00 since overhaul.

1941-12-23 Taken on Strength No. 4 Training Command 2019-08-20
1942-February-12 Accident: 5 Elementary Flying Training School Loc: Stavely Alberta Names: Anderson | Campbell | Dawson
1943-September-10 Accident: 4 Service Flying Training School Loc: R2 Osler Names: Claridge | Ruttle
1945-02-20 Struck off Strength Struck off, to War Assets Corporation for disposal 2019-08-20

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.
RCAF Lethbridge AB

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 Roundel RCAF.Info - RCAF Station Lethbridge AB

NO5 EFTS moved to High River AB 28 June 1941

RCAF Roundel RCAF.info - RCAF Station High River AB

RCAF Roundel RCAF.Info - Relief Landing Field Frank Lake AB

Museum Bomber Command Museum Of Canada

Museum Vintage Wings - Ghosts Of Alberta

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