Stevens, Ralph Arnold

Killed in Flying Accident 1942-03-10

Male Head

Birth Date: 1921

Born:

Son of Arnold and Dorothy Daisy Stevens, of Marston Green, Warwickshire, England.

Home:

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: Unknown

Service

RAFVR

Unit

36 SFTS- Service Flying Training School (RAF)

Base

Penhold, Alberta, Canada

Rank

Leading Aircraftman

Position

Leading Aircraftman

Service Numbers

1197657

First Burial

Red Deer Cemetery, Red Deer, Alberta

Died of injuried sustained in the mid air collision of Oxford - AR972 and Oxford - AS674. "657470 Sgt. Gulliver, S. in Oxford AS674 and 1197657 Leading Aircraftman Stevens, R.A. in Oxford A.R.972 both carrying out solo landing practice at Innisfail at approx. 1500 hours when they collided on approach. The aircraft piloted by Sgt. Gulliver struck the tail of the aircraft piloted by Leading Aircraftman Stevens causing it to rear up, flick over and hit the ground nose first. Sgt. Gulliver swing port and opened his throttles and made a crash landing on the aerodrome ahead. He was unhurt and immediately ran to the other aircraft where he put out a small fire which had started and then began to cut Leading Aircraftman Stevens free. Leading Aircraftman was badly injured suffering from fractured scull and brain laceration and died at 22.30 hours."

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

www.findagrave.com

Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Findagrave.com

Oxford AR972

Male Head

Leading Aircraftman Stevens, Ralph Arnold (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1942-March-10
Red Deer Cemetery, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada

Airspeed Oxford

(Bob Brown Photo)(Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page)
Airspeed A.S. 10 Oxford Mk. II, RCAF (Serial No. AS277), 25, in flight over Saskatchewan, 1942.

60f81560a49c57323928b13e_Airspeed-A-S-10-Oxford-Mk--II--RCAF--Serial-No--A5277----in-flight-over-Saskatchewan--1942---Bob-Brown.jpeg image not found

The Airspeed AS.10 Oxford was a twin-engine monoplane aircraft developed and manufactured by Airspeed. It saw widespread use for training British Commonwealth aircrews in navigation, radio-operating, bombing and gunnery roles throughout the Second World War.

The Oxford was developed by Airspeed during the 1930s in response to a requirement for a capable trainer aircraft that conformed with Specification T.23/36, which had been issued by the British Air Ministry. Its basic design is derived from the company's earlier AS.6 Envoy, a commercial passenger aircraft. Performing its maiden flight on 19 June 1937, it was quickly put into production as part of a rapid expansion of the Royal Air Force (RAF) in anticipation of a large-scale conflict.

As a consequence of the outbreak of war, many thousands of Oxfords were ordered by Britain and its allies, including Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, Poland, and the United States. Following the end of the conflict, the Oxford continued to achieve export sales for some time, equipping the newly formed air forces of Egypt, India, Israel, and Yugoslavia. It was considered to be a capable trainer aircraft throughout the conflict, as well as being used a general-purpose type. A large number of Oxfords have been preserved on static display.Wikipedia

YouTube Oxford Trainer

Wikipedia Oxford Trainer

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

36 SFTS (36 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.