Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum logo

Harris, Frederick Maitland (Sergeant)

Killed in Flying Accident 1941-February-14

Birth Date: 1917 (age 24)

Son of Frederick William and Isabell C. Harris, of Winnipeg.

Home: Winnipeg, Manitoba

Service
RCAF
Unit
2 EFTS- Elementary Flying Training School
Base
Fort William, Ontario, Canada
Rank
Sergeant
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
R/59300
Tiger Moth aircraft 4003 and Tiger Moth aircraft 4209 were in a involved in a mid-air collision near Fort William. Leading Aircraftman L.J. Griffin and Sergeant F.M. Harris were both killed in aircraft 4003, Leading Aircraftman G.L. Brander the pilot of the other aircraft was seriously injured but appears to have survived.

Canada Primary Source School Daily Diary Entry "“ 1941-02-14

This incident involved multiple aircraft:

  1. Moth, Tiger I Serial: 4003
  2. Moth, Tiger I Serial: 4209

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 MapWinnipeg, Manitoba
Burial
Google MapElmwood Cemetery
Sec 12A Grave 1361

Moth, Tiger 4003

Leading Aircraftman Griffin, Lawrence James (RCAF)
Pilot
Killed in Flying Accident
1941-February-14
St Peter's Roman Catholic Cemetery, London, Ontario, Canada

Sergeant Harris, Frederick Maitland (RCAF)
Pilot
Killed in Flying Accident
1941-February-14
Elmwood Cemetery, Hespeler Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

de Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth

Source: Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (serial # RCAF 8922), credit Rick Radell

The de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth is a 1930s British biplane designed by Geoffrey de Havilland and built by the de Havilland Aircraft Company. It was operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and many other operators as a primary trainer aircraft. In addition to the type's principal use for ab-initio training, the Second World War saw RAF Tiger Moths operating in other capacities, including maritime surveillance and defensive anti-invasion preparations; some aircraft were even outfitted to function as armed light bombers.

The Tiger Moth remained in service with the RAF until it was succeeded and replaced by the de Havilland Chipmunk during the early 1950s. Many of the military surplus aircraft subsequently entered into civil operation. Many nations have used the Tiger Moth in both military and civil applications, and it remains in widespread use as a recreational aircraft in several countries. It is still occasionally used as a primary training aircraft, particularly for those pilots wanting to gain experience before moving on to other tailwheel aircraft.

Overseas manufacturing of the type commenced in 1937, the first such overseas builder being de Havilland Canada at its facility in Downsview, Ontario. In addition to an initial batch of 25 Tiger Moths that were built for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), the Canadian firm began building fuselages which were exported to the UK for completion. Canadian-built Tiger Moths featured modifications to better suit the local climate, along with a reinforced tail wheel, hand-operated brakes (built by Bendix Corporation), shorter undercarriage radius rods and the legs of the main landing gear legs being raked forwards as a safeguard against tipping forwards during braking. In addition the cockpit had a large sliding canopy fitted along with exhaust-based heating; various alternative undercarriage arrangements were also offered. By the end of Canadian production, de Havilland Canada had manufactured a total of 1,548 of all versions. Wikipedia

Wkikpedia Wikipedia de Havilland Tiger Moth

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

YouTube YouTube de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth

last update: 2022-08-24 12:34:41

Moth, Tiger I 4003

Category A damage on 14 February 1941 while with No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School at Fort William, Ontario.

1940-04-10 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
1941-February-14 Accident: 2 Elementary Flying Training School Loc: Bishop's Field Names: Griffin | Harris
1941-02-25 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20

Moth, Tiger 4209

Moth, Tiger I 4209

Category A damage on 14 February 1941 while with No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School at Fort William (today Thunder Bay), Ontario.

1940-10-08 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
1940-December-22 Accident: 2 Elementary Flying Training School Loc: Aerodrome Fort William Ontario Names: Fanning
1941-February-14 Accident: 2 Elementary Flying Training School Loc: Bishop's Field Names: Brander
1941-02-25 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20

2 EFTS (2 Elementary Flying Training School)

An Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS) gave a trainee 50 hours of basic flying instruction on a simple trainer like the De Havilland Tiger Moth, Fleet Finch, or Fairchild Cornell over 8 weeks.Elementary schools were operated by civilian flying clubs under contract to the RCAF and most of the instructors were civilians. For example, No. 12 EFTS Goderich was run by the Kitchener-Waterloo Flying Club and the County of Huron Flying Club.The next step for a pilot was the Service Flying Training School.
NO2 EFTS August 1941

The School was established at Fort William, Ontario. The former school is now the Thunder Bay, Ontario Airport.

More information on the RCAF Station at Fort William can be found at

RCAF Roundel RCAF.info - RCAF Station Fort William ON

General NW Ontario Heritage Center - 2 EFTS

© Canadian Warplane Heritage 2024

To search on any page:
PC — Ctrl-F
Mac — ⌘-F
Mobile — or …