Calgary, Alberta
Died in the midair collision of Cessna Crane aircraft 8743 and Cessna Crane aircraft 8669, while both aircraft were engaged in a cross-country formation flying training exercise. The aircraft crashed seventeen miles east of Carmangay, Alberta. LACs E.E. Guttridge and R.G. Johnston were killed in aircraft 8669, LACs W.C. MacDonald and Stearns were killed in aircraft 8743.
Stearns, Claude MacDonald (Sergeant)
Killed in Flying Accident 1942-July-08
Birth Date: 1920-February-14
Born:
Parents: Son of Harry Guy and Barabara E. Stearns, of Calgary.
Spouse:
Home: Calgary, Alberta
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: unkown date
Service
RCAF
Unit
15 SFTS- Service Flying Training School
Base
Claresholm, Alberta, Canada
Rank
Sergeant
Position
Pilot
Service Numbers
R/131519
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Finadagrave.com
Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)Crew or Other Personnel
Crane 8743
Accident Card - Cessna Crane Mk. I serial:8743
This accident involved 2 aircraft on 1942-July-08. They are: Cessna Crane s/n 8743, Cessna Crane s/n 8669.
This accident involved 4 people. Gutteridge EE, Johnston RG, MacDonald WC, Stearns CM
This accident had 4 fatalities. Sergeant Edward Ernest Gutteridge RCAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:R/121025 Crane 8669, Sergeant Robert Guthrie Johnston RCAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:R/122066 Crane 8669,Sergeant Claude MacDonald Stearns RCAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:R/131519 Crane 8743, Leading Aircraftman William Claude MacDonald RCAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:12176A Crane 8743
Unit Desciption
15 SFTS (15 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.
SFTS15 Patch
For More Information on RCAF Station Claresholm see here
RCAF.info - RCAF Station Claresholm AB
RCAF.info - Relief Landing Field Woodhouse AB
RCAF.info - Relief Landing Field Champion AB
15 SFTS Claresholm History
Vintage Wings - Ghosts Of Southern Alberta
BCMC Claresholm History
Bomber Command Museum of Canada - 14 SFTS Claresholm AB
Wings Over Claresholm Alberta Video
Project 44 BCATP
YouTube - Wings over Claresholm