Swanson, William Rufus

Killed in Flying Accident 1940-09-10

Birth Date: 1914

Born:

Son of Robert Clarence and Helen Swanson, of Long Beach; husband of Beatrice Arlene Swanson, of Long Beach. Myrtle

Home: Long Beach, California, USA

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: Unknown

Service

RCAF

Unit

CFS- Central Flying School

Base

RCAF Trenton

Rank

Flying Officer

Position

Flying Officer

Service Numbers

C/2409

Home
Google MapLong Beach, California, USA
First Burial
Google MapPark Cemetery At Inglewood, California, Usa
Central Flying School, Trenton, Ontario. Fleet Finch aircraft 1015 did not recover from an inverted spin and crashed five miles south of Belleville, Ontario. Flying Officer F.L. Sims was also killed. Flying Officer Pilot Swanson is buried in the Park Cemetery at Inglewood, California, U.S.A.

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

www.findagrave.com

Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

This incident involved multiple aircraft:

  1. Finch Finch I Serial: 1015

All the above aircraft in the above list are referenced in this report.

Findagrave.com

Finch 1015

Flying Officer Sims, Frederick Lindley (RCAF)
Pilot
Killed in Flying Accident
1940-September-10
Mount Pleasant Cemetery, London, Ontario, Canada

Flying Officer Swanson, William Rufus (RCAF)
Pilot
Killed in Flying Accident
1940-September-10
Park Cemetery, Inglewood, California, USA

Fleet Finch

Fleet Finch Mk. II Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
Fleet_Finch_274.jpg image not found

The Fleet Finch was the final version of a whole family of light biplane trainers, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of Buffalo, NY and intended for civilian use. Few of these aircraft were marketed under the Consolidated name, as most were sold through Fleet Aircraft Canada, under a range of model numbers. Only the RCAF gave any of these models names, calling the Model 7 the Fawn and the Model 16 the Finch. These aircraft were built from 1930 to 1941, all at Fort Erie, Ontario.

The Finch was developed to meet an RCAF requirement for a fully aerobatic, primary trainer. The RCAF ordered the first batch of aircraft in July 1939 and powered by a Kinner R5-2, 160 hp engine, they were designated the Fleet Finch Mk. I. Most of these aircraft were delivered to the RCAF Central Flying School at Trenton, Ontario by early 1940.

The RCAF placed a further order for primary trainers with Fleet in January 1940. The Fleet Finch Mk. II, powered by a Kinner B-5R, 130 hp engine, first flew from Fort Erie in March 1940. During the following year, over 400 Fleet Finch Mk. IIs were delivered to BCATP Elementary Flying Schools right across Canada.

The Fleet Finch was well liked by the RCAF as it was a rugged aircraft, was relatively easy to fly and withstood the abuse of novice pilots. Some Fleet Finches remained in service with the RCAF until 1947, but most were retired by October 1944. Their role as a primary trainer was taken over by Fairchild PT-26 Cornell.Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

YouTube Fleet Finch

Finch 1015

Finch Finch I 1015

With Central Flying School when it crashed 5 miles south of Belleville at 14:30 on 10 September 1940, from an inteverted spin. Flying Officer W.R. Swanson and Flying Officer F.L. Sims killed. Also reported (by Wilson) as classified as Instructional Airframe on 3 December 1942. Had 252:55 logged time when struck off.

1940-02-02 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
1940-September-10 Accident: CENTRAL FLYING SCHOOL TRENTON Loc: Belleville Ontario Names: Sims | Swanson
1941-03-17 Struck off Strength Struck off, scraped at Trenton 2019-08-20