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Taylor, George William (Leading Aircraftman)

Killed in Flying Accident 1942-January-12

Male Head

Birth Date: 1913 (age 29)

Son of George and Hannah Elizabeth Taylor, of Tamworth, Staffordshire, England.

Service
RAFVR
Unit
31 GRS- General Reconnaissance School (RAF)
Base
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Rank
Aircraftman 1st Class
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
Service Numbers
946790
31 GRS, Charletettown, P.E.I.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Commonwealth War Graves Commission

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

This incident involved multiple aircraft:

  1. Anson Mk. I N5358
  2. Anson Mk. I 6279

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

Burial

Air Force Sec Grave 13

Crew on Anson Mk. I N5358

Crew on Anson Mk. I 6279

Avro Anson

Avro Anson Mk. V
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
The Museum's Anson Mk. V was built by MacDonald Brothers in Winnipeg in 1944. It flew with No. 7 Photographic Wing and No. 414 Squadron in Ottawa on photo survey work until the late 1940s. In 1956, it was purchased by INCO and used for mineral surveying until 1980, when it was donated to the Museum. The exterior is painted in the yellow colour common to all BCATP trainers and is in its same wartime RCAF markings.

The Avro Anson was known by a number of nicknames including "Faithful Annie" or "Flying Greenhouse". It was the first aircraft to be flown by the Royal Canadian Air Force to have a retractable undercarriage, which was a comparative novelty in 1936. In 1940, a Canadian government owned company, Federal Aircraft Limited, was created in Montreal to manufacture the Anson for Canadian use. Nearly 3,000 Anson aircraft were produced and, in the early days of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), the Anson was the standard trainer for many pilots, observers (navigators), wireless operators and bomb aimers. More than 20,000 aircrew received training on the Anson. In Canadian service, the aircraft was substantially re-designed with the substitution of North American engines and many other airframe and equipment changes. Harold Skaarup web pages

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

YouTube Avro Anson History

YouTube Avro Anson Construction

CASPIR Aircraft Groups:
RCAF On Strength (4404), RCAF 400 Squadron (6), Canadian Aircraft Losses (257)
last update: 2022-02-22 21:45:24

Anson Mk. I N5358

To No. 3 Training Command on 14 May 1941, for use by No. 31 General Reconnaissance School at Charlottetown, PEI. To Eastern Air Command with this School on 5 November 1941. Category A crash on 12 January 1942, 3 miles east of Charlottetown, while with this School. Mid-air with Anson 6279, while both aircraft were involved in "unauthorized maneuvers". All crew on both aircraft killed. To No. 4 Repair Depot at Scoudouc, NB for write off on 14 January 1942. Airframe and engines were complete write offs, with no salvaged parts.
1941-03-19 Taken on Strength Canada Car & Foundry 2019-08-20
1942-January-12 Accident: 31 General Reconnaissance School Loc: Charlottetown Names: Agar | Beaumont | Calderhead | Compton | Ellis | Rofe | Taylor
1942-02-24 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20

Anson Mk. I 6279

Ex RAF W1722. To No. 3 Training Command on 21 January 1941, noted as on loan to RAF school pending arrival of RAF Ansons. Back to Eastern Air Command on 5 November 1941, for use by No. 31 General Reconnaissance School at Charlottetown, PEI. Category C damage at Charlottetown at 09:50 on 4 April 1941. Category A crash on 12 January 1942, 3 miles east of Charlottetown, while with this School. Mid-air with Anson N5358, while both aircraft were involved in "unauthorized manoeuvres". All crew on both aircraft killed. To No. 4 Repair Depot at Scoudouc, NB on 14 January 1942, for scrapping. Had 436:35 logged time when struck off.
1940-12-14 Taken on Strength Eastern Air Command 2019-08-20
1941-April-04 Accident: 31 General Reconnaissance School Loc: Charlottetown Airport Names: Harrison | Jobling | Long | Teggart
1942-January-12 Accident: 31 General Reconnaissance School Loc: Charlottetown Names: Agar | Beaumont | Calderhead | Compton | Ellis | Rofe | Taylor
1942-02-24 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20

31 GRS- General Reconnaissance School (RAF) (31 General Reconnaisance School)

The General Reconnaissance School trained pilots and air observers in the techniques required for ocean patrol. It was the equivalent to an Operational Training Unit (OTU), and last stop before aircrew were assigned to operations. The topics included DR Navigation, Astro Navigation, Compasses and Instruments, Meteorology, Signals, Reconnaissance, Coding, Ship Recognition, Aerial Photography, and Visual Signals.

  • RCAF Roundel RCAF.info - RCAF Station Charlottetown PEI

  • General Charlottetown Stories

    • 1941-01-01 Primary Location Charlottettown PEI Canada Current Site of Charlottetown Airport CYYG

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