Thomas, Norman William
Killed in Flying Accident 1941-11-20
Birth Date: 1914
Born:
Son of William and Hannah Thomas
Home:
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: Unknown
Service
RAFVR
Unit
31 GRS- General Reconnaissance School (RAF)
Base
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Rank
Aircraftman 1st Class
Position
Aircraftman 1st Class
Service Numbers
982678
First Burial
Ottawa Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)This incident involved multiple aircraft:
- Anson Mk. I Serial: N4894
All the above aircraft in the above list are referenced in this report.
Anson N4894
Avro Anson
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
Harold A Skaarup Web Page 
Avro Anson History31 GRS (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.info - RCAF Station Charlottetown PEI Anson N4894
Anson Mk. I N4894
To No. 3 Training Command on 11 July 1941, for use by No. 31 General Reconnaissance School at Charlottetown, PEI. Winter conversion kit installed by 22 August 1941. To Eastern Air Command with this School on 5 November 1941. Still with this School when it crashed at 21:17 on 20 November 1941. 3 fatalities.1941-05-09 Taken on Strength Canada Car & Foundry 2019-08-20
1941-November-20 Accident: 31 General Reconnaissance School Loc: Names: Clench | Ficken | Freeman | Thomas
1942-03-10 Struck off Strength Struck off after crash, see comments 2019-08-20