Fairchild Cornell
In early 1942, an agreement was signed between the Canadian Government and Fairchild Aircraft, which licenced Fleet Aircraft of Fort Erie, Ontario to construct the PT-26 Cornell in Canada. The first 800 Cornells used by the RCAF were supplied from Fairchild, until production commenced at Fort Erie in November 1942. By the end of the war in 1945, 2,853 Cornells had been built by Fleet - 1,565 for the RCAF and 1,288 for the RAF.
PT-26 Cornells were flown at many of the Elementary Flying Training Schools (EFTS) of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, where they replaced the Fleet Finch and the de Havilland Tiger Moth biplane trainers. After the Second World War, many Cornells were sold to the civilian market, but some were retained by the RCAF, where they were finally retired in 1948. CWPHM
last update: 2021-08-30 13:45:56
Cornell Mk. I FH976
Ex USAAF PT-26-FA, serial number 42-15455. Taken on strength at Calgary, Alberta. First assigned to No. 34 Elementary Flying Training School at Assiniboia, Saskatchewan. Destroyed in Category A crash on 21 July 1943, 5 miles south of Willows, Saskatchewan (about 6 miles east of town of Assiniboia). Stalled from a climbing turn at low altitude, during unauthorized low flying. Spun in from 400 feet, destroyed on impact. Instructor Sgt. P.J. Vizor, RAF killed, had 249 logged flying hours. Student Leading Aircraftman C.W. Taylor also killed.1943-02-23 Taken on Strength No. 4 Training Command 2019-08-20
1943-July-01 Accident: 34 Elementary Flying Training School Loc: Willows Names: Taylor | Vizor
1943-09-21 Struck off Strength Struck off, reduced to spares and produce by No. 10 Repair Depot at Calgary 2019-08-20