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Wilkes, Robert (Leading Aircraftman)

Killed in Flying Accident 1943-April-18

Male Head

Birth Date: 1922 (age 21)

Son of Hubert and Lily Wilkes, of Shenstone, Worcestershire, England.

Service
RAFVR
Unit
31 GRS- General Reconnaissance School (RAF)
Base
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, 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
Service Numbers
1486409
31 GRS, Charlettown, P.E.I.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Anson R9599

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

last update: 2022-02-22 21:45:24

Anson Mk. I R9599

To No. 3 Training Command on 26 June 1941, for use by No. 31 General Reconnaissance School at RAF Station Charlottetown, PEI. To Eastern Air Command with this School on 5 November 1941. To Canada Car & Foundry at Amherst, NS for overhaul, 6 October 1942 to 12 January 1943. To Eastern Air Command when completed. With No. 31 General Reconnaissance School at RAF Station Charlottetown, PEI when it crashed into the Gulf of St. Lawrence 9 miles north of Cape Tyron, PEI while on a navigation exercise, on 18 April 1943. All 4 crew never found. Allocated to No. 4 Repair Depot at Scoudouc, NB on 19 April 1943 for write off.

1941-05-30 Taken on Strength Canada Car & Foundry 2019-08-20
1943-February-03 Accident: 31 General Reconnaissance School Loc: Aerodrome Names: McLeod | Montgomery | Moore | Patterson | Rodda | Trotter | Watson | Way
1943-April-18 Accident: 31 General Reconnaissance School Loc: Capetryon Pei Names: Bell | Hamment | Wilkes | Wise
1943-06-05 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20

31 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 Roundel RCAF.info - RCAF Station Charlottetown PEI

General Charlottetown Stories

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