Geldard, Francis Douglas
Killed in Flying Accident 1941-08-07
Birth Date: 1918-December-19
Born: Toronto, Ontario
Son of Francis and Hilda F. Geldard, of Toronto, Ontario.
Home: Toronto, Ontario
Enlistment: Toronto, Ontario
Enlistment Date: 1940-12-09
Service
RCAF
Unit
8 SFTS- Service Flying Training School
Base
Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
Rank
Leading Aircraftman
Position
Leading Aircraftman
Service Numbers
R/83930
Home
Toronto, Ontario
First Burial
Prospect Cemetery, Toronto, Ontario
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
www.findagrave.comThis incident involved multiple aircraft:
- Anson Mk. I Serial: 6379
- Anson Mk. I Serial: 6375
All the above aircraft in the above list are referenced in this report.
Avro 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 History8 SFTS (8 Service Flying Training School)
Graduates of the EFTS "learn-to-fly" program went on a Service Flying Training School (SFTS) for 16 weeks. For the first 8 weeks the trainee was part of an intermediate training squadron; for the next 6 weeks an advanced training squadron and for the final 2 weeks training was conducted at a Bombing & Gunnery School. The Service schools were military establishments run by the RCAF or the RAF.
There were two different types of Service Flying Training Schools. Trainees in the fighter pilot stream went to an SFTS like No. 14 Aylmer, where they trained in the North American Harvard or North American Yale. Trainees in the bomber, coastal or transport pilot stream went to an SFTS like No. 5 Brantford where they learned multi-engine technique in an Airspeed Oxford, Avro Anson or Cessna Crane.
NO8 SFTS Moncton moved to Weyburn SK January 1944
For More Information on RCAF Station Moncton see here
RCAF.info - RCAF Station Moncton NB
New Brunswick Aviation Museum Anson 6379
Anson Mk. I 6379
Ex RAF W1889. To No. 3 Training Command on 27 February 1941, for use by No. 8 Service Flying Training School at Moncton, NB. Category A crash at 18:45 on 7 August 1941, 300 yards north-east of north-south runway at Moncton. Collision with 6375. Reported as "almost completely demolished". Local paper reports both aircraft were on final approach at time of collision, 2 fatalities. Scrapped at No. 8 EFTS.1941-01-30 Taken on Strength Canada Car & Foundry 2019-08-20
1941-August-07 Accident: 8 Service Flying Training School Loc: 300 Yards North-East Of Nova Scotia Runway Names: Geldart | Stanley
1941-10-15 Struck off Strength Struck off, reduced to spares and produce 2019-08-20
Anson 6375
Anson Mk. I 6375
Ex RAF W1899. To No. 3 Training Command on 4 March 1941, for use by No. 8 Service Flying Training School at Moncton, NB. Category A crash near Moncton at 18:45 on 7 August 1941, following a mid-air with anson 6379. Noted as "almost completely destroyed". Local paper reports both aircraft were on final approach at time of collision, 2 fatalities. Had 97:45 logged time when written off. Scrapped at No. 8 SFTS.1941-01-30 Taken on Strength Canada Car & Foundry 2019-08-20
1941-August-07 Accident: 8 Service Flying Training School Loc: 300 Yards North-East Of Nova Scotia Runway Names: Geldart | Stanley
1941-10-15 Struck off Strength Struck off, reduced to spares and produce 2019-08-20