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Record, Gay Thomas (Civilian)

Killed in Flying Accident 1943-November-08

Male Head

Birth Date: 1913 (age 30)

Born: Hamilton, Hamilton Municipality, Ontario, Canada

Home: Hamilton, Ontario

Service
RAF
Unit
45 Group (RAF)
Base
Dorval, Quebec
Rank
Civilian
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 (Captain)
Service Numbers

Mitchell Mk. ll FR203

Ferry Flight 1943-November-08 to 1943-November-08

45 Group RAF Transport Command Dorval, Quebec. Mitchell II aircraft FR 203, engaged in a trans-Atlantic ferry flight from Canada to the UK. On the flight between Bluie West-1, Greenland and Reykjavik, Iceland, a distress signal was sent stating that the aircraft was on fire approximately 50 miles west of Reykjavik. A second contact was made a few moments later but then now further contact could be established. Air-Sea Rescue operations were initiated but no trace of the aircraft or crew was ever found

Canadian Civilian Pilot, Gay Thomas Record, Navigator F/O Frederick Avery Beyer (RAAF) and British Civilian Radio Officer Owen Geraint Davies were all missing, presumed killed in this flying accident

The missing have no known grave and all are commemorated on the Ottawa Memorial

Ocean Bridge, The History of RAF Ferry Command by Carl A Christie page 321

General [Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...

General World War II Crash Sites in Iceland - B25 Mitchell, Crashed into Sea...

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Find-A-Grave.com Find-A-Grave.com

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

Civilian Gay Thomas Record has no known grave.

Crew on Mitchell Mk. ll FR203

North American Mitchell B-25 B-25D B-25J

North American B-25J Mitchell Mk. III
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

The North American B-25 Mitchell is an American medium bomber that was introduced in 1941 and named in honor of Major General William "Billy" Mitchell, a pioneer of U.S. military aviation. Used by many Allied air forces, the B-25 served in every theater of World War II, and after the war ended, many remained in service, operating across four decades. Produced in numerous variants, nearly 10,000 B-25s were built.

The North American B-25 Mitchell was flown by the RCAF during and after the Second World War. The RCAF flew the B-25 Mitchell for training during the war and continued flying operations after the war, in Canada with most of 162 Mitchells received. The first B-25s had originally been diverted to Canada from RAF orders. These included one Mitchell Mk. I, 42 Mitchell Mk. IIs, and 19 Mitchell Mk. IIIs. No 13 (P) Squadron was formed unofficially at RCAF Station Rockcliffe in May 1944 and flew Mitchell Mk. IIs on high-altitude aerial photography sorties. No. 5 OTU (Operational Training Unit) at Boundary Bay, British Columbia and Abbotsford, British Columbia, operated the B-25D Mitchell in a training role together with B-24 Liberators for Heavy Conversion as part of the BCATP. The RCAF retained the Mitchell until October 1963.

No. 418 (Auxiliary) Squadron received its first Mitchell Mk. IIs in January 1947. It was followed by No. 406 (Auxiliary), which flew Mitchell Mk. IIs and Mk. IIIs from April 1947 to June 1958. No. 418 Operated a mix of Mk. IIs and Mk. IIIs until March 1958. No. 12 Squadron of Air Transport Command also flew Mitchell Mk. IIIs along with other types from September 1956 to November 1960. In 1951, the RCAF received an additional 75 B-25Js from USAF stocks to make up for attrition and to equip various second-line units.. Wikipedia and Harold Skaarup web page

YouTube Mitchell Bomber

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Mitchell Bomber

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

CASPIR Aircraft Groups:
RCAF On Strength (164), Canadian Aircraft Losses (73), Canadian Ferried (5)
last update: 2021-09-23 15:53:49

Mitchell Mk. ll FR203

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