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Gildemaster, Norman Bernard (Corporal)

Killed in Flying Accident 1944-May-14

Birth Date: 1921-July-10 (age 22)

Son of Bernard and Minnie Julia Gildemaster, of Gretna.

Home: Gretna, Manitoba

Service
RCAF
Unit
2 ANS- Air Navigation School
Base
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Rank
Corporal
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
wireless operator, ground
Service Numbers
R/162100
Died in the crash of Anson - 11687.

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)

Crew on Anson Mk. V 11687

Avro Anson

Avro Anson Mk. V
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

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

YouTube Avro Anson History

YouTube Avro Anson Construction

CASPIR Aircraft Groups:
RCAF On Strength (4404), RCAF 400 Squadron (6), Canadian Aircraft Losses (257)
last update: 2022-02-22 21:45:24

Anson Mk. V 11687

First assigned to No. 31 General Reconnaissance School at Charlottetown, PEI. To No. 3 Training Command on 16 March 1944. With No. 2 Air Navigation School at Charlottetown, PEI. One of 25 aircraft launched for night exercises on 14 May 1944. Weather turned bad, and this was one of 3 aircraft never seen again. (See also 11600 and 11588.) Ownership to No. 4 Repair Depot on 7 June 1944 for write off.
1943-07-28 Taken on Strength Eastern Air Command 2019-08-20
1944-May-14 Accident: 2 Air Navigation School Loc: Names: Ellis | Gildemaster | Murphy | Trask | Wilson
1944-07-02 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20

2 ANS- Air Navigation School (2 Air Navigation School)

Nos. 1 & 2 Air Navigation Schools offered four-week courses in astronavigation and were the last step for Air Observers.

The RAF schools, Nos. 31, 32, and 33, provided the same training as Air Observer Schools.

  • RCAF Roundel RCAF.info - RCAF Station Pennfield Ridge NB

  • General History of 2 ANS Pennfield Ridge NB

  • 2 Air Navigation School was disbanded at Pennfield Ridge April 1942. Unit was reformed in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island February 1944.
  • RCAF Roundel RCAF.info - RCAF Station Charlottetown PEI

  • The unit was again disbanded on 7 July 1945. The Unit was reformed in Winnipeg, Manitoba on 1 August 1951.
  • RCAF Roundel RCAF.info - RCAF Station Winnipeg Manitoba

  • The unit was redesignated No 2 Air Observer School 15 November 1955.

    1941-07-21 Primary Location Pennfield Ridge NB Canada Currently abandoned.
    1944-02-28 Primary Location Charlottetown PE Canada Current site of Charlottetown Airport CYYG

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