Gillespie, William Russell (Leading Aircraftman)

Killed in Flying Accident 1944-March-23

Leading Aircraftman William Russell Gillespie RCAF

Birth Date: 1923

Born:

Parents: Son of Joseph L. Gillespie and Johanna C. Gillespie, of North Kildonan.

Spouse:

Home: Winnipeg, Manitoba

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: unkown date

Service

RCAF

Unit

8 SFTS- Service Flying Training School

Base

Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Canada

Rank

Leading Aircraftman

Position

Pilot

Service Numbers

R/196278

Home
Google MapWinnipeg, Manitoba
Final Burial
Google MapElmwood Cemetery
Sec 12A Grave

Accident Card - North American Harvard Mk. II serial:AJ927

This accident involved 2 aircraft on 1944-March-23. They are: Harvard IIB s/n AJ927, Harvard IIB s/n 2896.

This accident involved 2 people. Gillespie WR, Hinton RD

This accident had 2 fatalities. Sergeant Richard Douglas Hinton RCAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:R/216180 Harvard 2896,Leading Aircraftman William Russell Gillespie RCAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:R/196278 Harvard AJ927

Unit Desciption

8 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.

Harvard Formation

NO8 SFTS Moncton moved to Weyburn SK January 1944

For More Information on RCAF Station Moncton see here

Royal Canadian Air Force RCAF.info - RCAF Station Moncton NB

Royal Canadian Air Force RCAF.info - Relief Landing Field Scoudouc NB

Unvetted Source 8 SFTS Moncton NB History

Museum New Brunswick Aviation Museum

Project 44 BCATP

Unvetted Source Project 44 BCATP

YouTube YouTube - Valour Canada Aerodrome of Democracy