Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Finadagrave.com
Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)
Calgary, Alberta
Cessna Crane
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
Cessna Crane Trainer
Wikipedia Crane Trainer
Harold A Skaarup Web PageCASPIR Aircraft Groups:
RCAF Owned (826) RCAF 400 Squadrons (3) Canadian Crewed (81) Canadian Museum (1)Crane Mk. I 7787
First assigned to No. 12 Service Flying Training School at Brandon, Manitoba. Category C2 damage at Brandon at 00:45 on 24 October 1941. Damaged again at Brandon aerodrome at 05:20 on 17 January 1942, in collision with Crane 7824. Originally classified as Category C20, revised to Category B on 16 May 1942. Damaged again at 23:15 on 14 May 1941, at Chater relief aerodrome. To Prairie Airways for repairs, 22 May to 21 August 1942. To No. 4 Training Command when completed, for use by No. 15 Service Flying Training School at Claresholm, Alberta. To Prairie Airways for overhaul, 17 March to 10 May 1943. To storage with No. 2 Training Command when completed, issued from storage on 22 May 1943. To storage on 19 October 1944. To No. 2 Air Command on 1 December 1944, still in storage. Pending disposal from 28 June 1945. Stored by No. 10 Repair Depot at No. 2 Reserve Equipment Maintenance Satellite, where it was noted with 2816:55 total time, 1603:35 since overhaul. Sold to A.J. Leeward of Montreal.1941-06-26 Taken on Strength No. 2 Training Command 2019-08-20
1941-October-24 Accident: 12 Service Flying Training School Loc: Brandon Manitoba Names: St Evens
1942-January-17 Accident: 12 Service Flying Training School Loc: Names: Davey | Del Campo
1942-May-14 Accident: 12 Service Flying Training School Loc: Chater Aerodrome Names: Reynolds
1943-November-20 Accident: 11 Service Flying Training School Loc: Aerodrome Names: Wood
1946-07-15 Struck off Strength Struck off, to War Assets Corporation for disposal 2020-10-05
RCAF.info - Station Brandon MB
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