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Foster, Kenneth Gordon (Flying Officer)

Killed in Flying Accident 1955-April-07

Birth Date: 1921-October-06 (age 33)

Born: Abernethy, Saskatchewan

Son of Kenneth Andrew and Annie Elizabeth (nee Slater) Foster of Abernethy, Saskatchewan.

Husband of Winnifred (nee Bonnor) of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. Brother of Andrew, Godfrey, Marjorie, Gertr

Home: Abernethy, Saskatchewan

Enlistment: Regina, Saskatchewan

Enlistment Date: 1941-11-25

Service
RCAF
Unit
2 AFS- Advanced Flying School
Base
Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada
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
43754
Sault Star, 1955-04-09, Page 8

1955-04-07 - A formation of T-33s from Portage la Prairie, while crossing the Gimli Aerodrome, met with a mishap when two aircraft collided. One plane exploded and crashed on the airfield, killing the two occupants.

From the Winnipeg Free Press - Killed were Flying Officer KG Foster and an un-named NATO Flying Training Student.

Canada Primary Source Station Historical Record – RCAF Station Gimli - 1955-04-07

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Find-A-Grave.com Find-A-Grave.com

This incident involved multiple aircraft:

  1. Silver Star 3PT 21322
  2. Silver Star 3PT 21311

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

Crew on Silver Star 3PT 21322

There were no casulaties listed on Silver Star 3PT 21311

Lockheed CT-133 Silver Star Shooting Star T-33 T-33A CT-33

Source: Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

The Canadair CT-133 Silver Star (company model number CL-30) is the Canadian license-built version of the Lockheed T-33 jet trainer aircraft, in service from the 1950s to 2005.

The Canadair CT-133 was the result of a 1951 contract to build T-33 Shooting Star trainers for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The powerplant is a Rolls-Royce Nene 10 turbojet instead of the Allison J33 used by Lockheed in the production of the original T-33. A project designation of CL-30 was given by Canadair and the name was changed to Silver Star. The appearance of the CT-133 is very distinctive due to the large fuel tanks usually carried on each wingtip. A total of 656 CT-133 aircraft were built by Canadair.

The CT-133 entered service in the RCAF as its primary training aircraft for fighter/interceptors. The designation of the Silver Star in the Canadian Forces was CT-133.

The CT-133's service life in the RCAF (and later the Canadian Forces) was extremely long. One of the more unusual roles it played was as an aerobatic demonstration aircraft, the RCAF's Red Knight. Although the aircraft stopped being used as a trainer in 1976, there were still over 50 aircraft in Canadian Forces inventory in 1995. The youngest of these airframes was then 37 years old and had exceeded its expected life by a factor of 2.5. During this period, the Canadair T-33 was employed in communication, target towing, and enemy simulation. Wikipedia

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Canadair CT-133 Silver Star

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

CASPIR Aircraft Groups:
RCAF On Strength (689), RCAF 400 Squadron (3), Canadian Aircraft Losses (54), RCN On Strength (1)
last update: 2021-10-15 17:42:49

Silver Star 3PT 21322

Received at 3 Advanced Flying School RCAF Station Gimli, coded “ML*322”. Cat A crash 7 Apr 1955. Strike off. Flying Officer K.G. Foster killed.
1954-06-23 Taken on Strength 2022-05-04
1955-April-07 Accident: 2 Advanced Flying School Loc: Gimli Names: Foster | Pollcheck | Unknown NATO
1955-04-25 Struck off Strength 2022-05-04


Silver Star 3PT 21311

Received 2 Advanced Flying School RCAF Station Portage la Prairie. To 2 Flying Training School/Advanced Flying School RCAF Station Portage la Prairie 31 July 1964. To 6 Repair Depot RCAF Station Mountain View 13 Apr 1968. To Crown Assets Disposal Corp. 29 Apr 1968. Sold to Northwest Industries, Edmonton AB.
1954-06-23 Taken on Strength per Record Card 2022-03-11
1955-April-07 Accident: 2 Advanced Flying School Loc: Gimli Names:
1968-04-29 Struck off Strength 2022-02-07

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