Wheeler, Thomas Digby (Flying Officer)

The Canadair CT-133 Silver Star (company model number CL-30) is the Canadian license-built version of the Lockheed T-33 jet trainer aircraft, in service from the 1950s to 2005.

The Canadair CT-133 was the result of a 1951 contract to build T-33 Shooting Star trainers for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The powerplant is a Rolls-Royce Nene 10 turbojet instead of the Allison J33 used by Lockheed in the production of the original T-33. A project designation of CL-30 was given by Canadair and the name was changed to Silver Star. The appearance of the CT-133 is very distinctive due to the large fuel tanks usually carried on each wingtip. A total of 656 CT-133 aircraft were built by Canadair.

The CT-133 entered service in the RCAF as its primary training aircraft for fighter/interceptors. The designation of the Silver Star in the Canadian Forces was CT-133.

The CT-133's service life in the RCAF (and later the Canadian Forces) was extremely long. One of the more unusual roles it played was as an aerobatic demonstration aircraft, the RCAF's Red Knight. Although the aircraft stopped being used as a trainer in 1976, there were still over 50 aircraft in Canadian Forces inventory in 1995. The youngest of these airframes was then 37 years old and had exceeded its expected life by a factor of 2.5. During this period, the Canadair T-33 was employed in communication, target towing, and enemy simulation. Wikipedia

Wikipedia Canadair CT-133 Silver Star

Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Aircraft Images

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Silver Star 21048

Silver Star 3PT 21048

Received at 3 Advanced Flying School RCAF Station Gimli July 1953. Mid-air collision with 21252 21 Oct 1954. FrenchAF pilot ejected 21252 and survived. Scrapped.
2 fatal.

1953-07-10 Taken on Strength . per record Card 2022-06-09
1954-October-21 Accident: 3 Advanced Flying School Loc: 50 miles north of Gimli Names: Ciret | Fletcher | Wheeler
1954-10-21 Accident Crash 2022-04-08
1954-11-08 Struck off Strength 2022-02-07

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Silver Star 21252

Silver Star 3PT 21252

Received at 3 Advanced Flying School RCAF Station Gimli. Cat A crash 21 Oct 1954. Strike off.

1954-03-19 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
1954-October-21 Accident: 3 Advanced Flying School Loc: 50 miles north of Gimli Names:
1954-10-21 Accident Category A 50 miles north of Gimili on Lake Winnipeg shore CA Mid-air with 21048 2023-01-15
1954-11-08 Struck off Strength 2022-02-07