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Townsend, Earl Lewis (Leading Aircraftman)

Died 1944-December-15

Birth Date: 1921-May-11 (age 23)

Son of Bert and Amy Edith Townsend, of Winnipeg; husband of Lerena Jean Townsend, of Winnipeg.

Husband of Lerena Jean Townsend, of Winnipeg.

Home: Winnipeg, Manitoba

Service
RCAF
Unit
18 SFTS- Service Flying Training School
Base
Gimli, Manitoba, Canada
Rank
Leading Aircraftman
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
air frame mechanic
Service Numbers
R/134116
18 Service Flying Training School, Gimli, Manitoba. Death by natural causes while in the Deer Lodge Hospital, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Find-A-Grave.com Finadagrave.com

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

Home
Google MapWinnipeg, Manitoba
Burial
Google MapBrookside Cemetery
Mil Sec Lot 1971

18 SFTS (18 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.

CWHM Avro Anson

No 18 Service Flying Training School was formed in Gimli, Manitoba on 1943/09/06. The school had a relief landing field at Netley Lake, a few miles south of the school. The unit was disbanded at Gimli on 31 May 1945.

On 1 June 1945 the school was reformed at Souris, Manitoba. Replacing No 17 Service Flying Training School which had been disbanded shortly before. The school had relief landing fields at Hartney and Elgin. The school was again disbanded on 5 September 1945.

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