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Irvine, Douglas George (Leading Aircraftman)

Killed in Flying Accident 1942-January-18

Birth Date: 1921-February-20 (age 20)

Born: Vancouver, British Columbia

Son of Sholto Douglas and Hazel Mary (ne McCourt) Irvine, of Vancouver, British Columbia. Leading Aircraftsman Irvine was an only child. He enjoyed baseball, golf, lacrosse, tennis, boxing and swimmin

Home: Vancouver, British Columbia

Service
RCAF
Unit
10 SFTS- Service Flying Training School
Base
Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada
Rank
Leading Aircraftman
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/106928
Cessna Crane aircraft If 7968 and Cessna Crane 7875 were engaged in a formation flying exercise when they collided in mid-air three miles north-east of Sifton, Manitoba. LAC. Irvine and F/O. T.H. Caulkin were killed in aircraft 7968.

Canada Primary Source School Daily Diary Entry "“ 1942-01-18

This incident involved multiple aircraft:

  1. Crane Mk. I Serial: 7875
  2. Crane Mk. I Serial: 7968

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

Canada Primary Source Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Leading Aircraftman Douglas George Irvine was cremated.

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Crane 7968

Cessna Crane

Cessna Crane Mk. I
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

The Cessna T-50 Crane was the RCAF version of the Cessna AT-17 Bobcat, a twin-engined advanced trainer designed and made in the USA during the Second World War. It served to bridge the gap between single-engined trainers and twin-engined combat aircraft.

First flown in 1939, the American-built Cessna Crane was developed as a five-seat, light transport civilian aircraft. It was originally intended to serve only a minor role within the BCATP (an initial 180 were ordered in 1940) until the Canadian-built Avro Ansons became available in greater numbers. This was the first large order that Cessna had received for one of its products. Eventually, more than 5,400 Cranes would be produced, of which 826 saw service with the RCAF. Cessna Cranes were used primarily to teach future bomber pilots, after they had received their initial training, to fly multi-engined aircraft at Service Flying Training Schools in western Canada.

Powered by 245-horsepower Jacobs R-755-9 radial engines, Cessna Cranes featured wooden wings and tail married to a fuselage constructed of welded steel tubing. Most of the aircraft was fabric-covered. It was cheap, reliable and relatively easy to fly, with a top speed of 315 kilometres (195 miles) per hour.

The Crane provided twin-engined complexity with economy of operation and went on to become one of the most important aircraft used by the BCATP. Cranes continued to serve with the RCAF until 1947, after which many were purchased by private individuals and companies.

Nicknamed the Bamboo Bomber because of its largely wood construction, the Crane had a reputation as a stable and reliable aircraft. Although not an ideal training aircraft because of its poor single-engined performance and load-carrying capability, it performed its duties satisfactorily and helped train several thousand bomber pilots. Bomber Command Museum of Canada

YouTube Cessna Crane Trainer

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Crane Trainer

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

last update: 2021-08-30 15:20:54

Crane Mk. I 7968

With No. 10 Service Flying Training School at Dauphin, Manitoba when it received Category A damage at 10:45 on 18 January 1942, 3 miles north-east of Sifton, Manitoba (20 miles north of Dauphin aerodrome) in a collision with Crane 7875. Other aircraft received Category C damage. This aircraft scrapped by No. 10 SFTS.

1941-09-20 Taken on Strength No. 2 Training Command 2019-08-20
1942-January-18 Accident: 10 Service Flying Training School Loc: West Of Sifton Names: Catrano | Caulkin | Dodd | Irvine
1942-01-22 Struck off Strength Struck off, reduced to spares and produce 2019-08-20

Crane 7875

Crane Mk. I 7875

With No. 10 Service Flying Training School at Dauphin, Manitoba when it received Category C damage at 10:45 on 18 January 1942, 3 miles north-east of Sifton, Manitoba (20 miles north of Dauphin aerodrome) in a collision with Crane 7968. Other aircraft destroyed. To Prairie Airways for overhaul, 28 April to 6 July 1943. To storage with No. 2 Training Command when completed. Issued from storage on 16 August 1943. To No. 2 Training Command on 1 December 1944. Pending disposal from 17 April 1945. Stored at No. 12 Service flying Training School at Brandon, Manitoba, where it was noted with 2762:55 total time, 1684:05 since overhaul. Sold to A.J. Leeward. To US civil register as N69490.

1941-08-09 Taken on Strength No. 2 Training Command 2019-08-20
1942-January-18 Accident: 10 Service Flying Training School Loc: West Of Sifton Names: Catrano | Caulkin | Dodd | Irvine
1943-February-11 Accident: 10 Service Flying Training School Loc: Aerodrome Names: Osborne
1946-06-20 Struck off Strength Struck off, to War Assets Corporation for disposal 2019-08-20

10 SFTS (10 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.

No10 SFTS Dauphin

For More Information on RCAF Station Dauphin see here

RCAF Roundel RCAF.Info - RCAF Station Dauphin Manitoba

RCAF Roundel RCAF.Info - Relief Landing Field North Junction MB

RCAF Roundel RCAF.Info - Relief Landing Field Valley River MB

General Manitoba Historical Society - 10 SFTS Dauphin

General Manitoba Historical Society - North Junction Relief Landing Field

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