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Gilson, Arnold Irwin (Flying Officer)

Killed in Flying Accident 1943-February-16

Birth Date: 1920-August-03 (age 22)

Born: Iroquois, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry United Counties, Ontario, Canada

Son of Milton Henry and Edith Maude Gilson, of Iroquois

Home: Iroquois, Ontario

Enlistment Date: 1940-08-12

Service
RCAF
Unit
1 (OT) OTU- Operational Training Unit
Base
Bagotville, Quebec, 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
J/12698
Prev: R/67089

Hurricane Mk. XII 5444

Operational 1943-February-16 to 1943-February-16

1 (OT) OTU (RCAF) RCAF Bagotville

1 Operational Training Unit, Bagotville, Quebec. Two Hurricane aircraft collided in mid-air while formation flying. Both aircraft crashed between St Anne and St Honore, Quebec. Flying Officer A I Gilson (RCAF flying Hurricane 5444 and Flying Officer L E C Gagnon (RCAF) flying Hurricane 5644 were killed in this flying accident

Flying Officer Gilson had been slightly injured at 2 Service Flying Training School on October 9, 1941 when Fleet Fort aircraft 3565 overturned on landing due to brake seizure

General Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database...

General Aviation Safety Network

This incident involved multiple aircraft:

  1. Hurricane Mk. XII Serial: 5644
  2. Hurricane Mk. XII Serial: 5444

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 MapIroquois, Ontario
Burial
Google MapUnited Church Cemetery
United

Hurricane 5444

Hurricane 5644

Hawker Hurricane

Hawker Hurricane Mk IIc.
Source BBMF

The Hawker Hurricane is a single-seat fighter aircraft of the 1930s"“1940s that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. for service with the Royal Air Force (RAF). The Hurricane developed through several versions, as bomber-interceptors, fighter-bombers, and ground support aircraft in addition to fighters. Versions designed for the Navy were popularly known as the Sea Hurricane, with modifications enabling their operation from ships. Some were converted to be used as catapult-launched convoy escorts. By the end of production in July 1944, 14,487 Hurricanes had been completed in Britain and Canada.

A major manufacturer of the Hurricane was Canadian Car and Foundry at their factory in Fort William (now Thunder Bay), Ontario. The facility's chief engineer, Elsie MacGill, became known as the "Queen of the Hurricanes". The initiative was commercially led rather than governmentally, but was endorsed by the British government; Hawker, having recognized that a major conflict was all but inevitable after the Munich Crisis of 1938, drew up preliminary plans to expand Hurricane production via a new factory in Canada. Under this plan, samples, pattern aircraft, and a complete set of design documents stored on microfilm, were shipped to Canada; the RCAF ordered 20 Hurricanes to equip one fighter squadron and two more were supplied to Canadian Car and Foundry as pattern aircraft but one probably did not arrive. The first Hurricane built at Canadian Car and Foundry was officially produced in February 1940. As a result, Canadian-built Hurricanes were shipped to Britain to participate in events such as the Battle of Britain. Canadian Car and Foundry (CCF) was responsible for the production of 1,451 Hurricanes. Wikipedia and Harold A Skaarup Web Page


YouTube Hurricane

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Hurricane

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Kestrek Publications Hurricane - Kestrel Publications

last update: 2021-12-21 01:11:03

Hurricane Mk. XII 5444

Delivered to Eastern Air Command, for use at No. 1 (F) Operational Training Unit at RCAF Station Bagotville, Quebec. Category B crash at Bagotville aerodrome at 15:15 on 10 January 1943. Category A crash north of St. Anee and St. Honore, Quebec at 16:10 on 16 February 1943, same pilot (Flying Officer E.C. Gagnon). Second crash was a mid-air during formation attacks at 12,000 feet, pilot killed. Application for write off submitted on 19 February 1943, to No. 4 Repair Depot at RCAF Station Scoudouc, NB.

1942-08-25 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
1943-January-10 Accident: 1 Operational Training Unit Loc: Aerodrome Names: Gagnon
1943-February-16 Accident: 1 Operational Training Unit Loc: Between St Anne & St Honore Quebec Names: Gagnon | Gilson
1943-05-05 Struck off Strength Struck off, reduced to spares and produce 2019-08-20

Hurricane 5644

Hurricane Mk. XII 5644

First used by No. 1 Operational Training Unit at RCAF Station Bagotville, Quebec. Category A crash at 16:10 on 16 February 1943, near St. Anne and St. Honore, Quebec. While conducting practice attacks at 12,000 ft, #5644 and #5444 collided with fatal results. Flying Officer E.C. Gagnon in #5644 and Flying Officer A.I. Gilson in #5444 were both killed. The wreckage was sent to No. 4 Repair Depot on 19 February 1943 for write off.

1942-12-02 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
1943-February-16 Accident: 1 Operational Training Unit Loc: Between St Anne & St Honore Quebec Names: Gagnon | Gilson
1943-02-16 Accident Category A 2022-02-03
1943-05-05 Struck off Strength written off, reduced to spares and produce 2022-02-03

1 (OT) OTU (1 Operational Training Unit)

The Operational Training Unit (OTU) was the last stop for aircrew trainees. They spent 8 to 14 weeks learning to fly operational aircraft (Hawker Hurricane or Fairey Swordfish, e.g.). The instructors had experience in actual operations, and often were posted to OTUs after their operational tour.

RCAF Roundel RCAF.info - RCAF Station Bagotville QC

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