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York, Douglas (Leading Aircraftman)

Killed in Flying Accident 1942-August-26

Birth Date: 1922-November-26 (age 19)

Son of Percy Henry and Sarah A. York, of Toronto. Naval and

Home: Toronto, Ontario

Service
RCAF
Unit
12 EFTS- Elementary Flying Training School
Base
Goderich, Ontario, 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
Pilot
Service Numbers
R/144253
Tiger Moth aircraft 8909 was engaged in a cross-country training exercise when it collided in mid-air with Yale aircraft 3391 from 14 SETS, Aylmer. Leading Aircraftman York and Warrant Officer R.B. Reid were killed in the Tiger Moth when it crashed at Rostock, near Stratford, Ontario. Please see Mosher J.E. for the Yale casualties.

This incident involved multiple aircraft:

  1. Moth, Tiger I Serial: 8909
  2. Yale Serial: 3391
  3. Yale Serial: 3391
  4. Moth, Tiger I Serial: 8909

All the aircraft in the above list are referenced in this report.

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 MapToronto, Ontario
Burial
Google MapProspect Cemetery
Mil Plot Sec 1 Grave 551

Moth, Tiger 8909

Yale 3391

Yale 3391

de Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth

Source: Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (serial # RCAF 8922), credit Rick Radell

The de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth is a 1930s British biplane designed by Geoffrey de Havilland and built by the de Havilland Aircraft Company. It was operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and many other operators as a primary trainer aircraft. In addition to the type's principal use for ab-initio training, the Second World War saw RAF Tiger Moths operating in other capacities, including maritime surveillance and defensive anti-invasion preparations; some aircraft were even outfitted to function as armed light bombers.

The Tiger Moth remained in service with the RAF until it was succeeded and replaced by the de Havilland Chipmunk during the early 1950s. Many of the military surplus aircraft subsequently entered into civil operation. Many nations have used the Tiger Moth in both military and civil applications, and it remains in widespread use as a recreational aircraft in several countries. It is still occasionally used as a primary training aircraft, particularly for those pilots wanting to gain experience before moving on to other tailwheel aircraft.

Overseas manufacturing of the type commenced in 1937, the first such overseas builder being de Havilland Canada at its facility in Downsview, Ontario. In addition to an initial batch of 25 Tiger Moths that were built for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), the Canadian firm began building fuselages which were exported to the UK for completion. Canadian-built Tiger Moths featured modifications to better suit the local climate, along with a reinforced tail wheel, hand-operated brakes (built by Bendix Corporation), shorter undercarriage radius rods and the legs of the main landing gear legs being raked forwards as a safeguard against tipping forwards during braking. In addition the cockpit had a large sliding canopy fitted along with exhaust-based heating; various alternative undercarriage arrangements were also offered. By the end of Canadian production, de Havilland Canada had manufactured a total of 1,548 of all versions. Wikipedia

Wkikpedia Wikipedia de Havilland Tiger Moth

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

YouTube YouTube de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth

last update: 2022-08-24 12:34:41

Moth, Tiger I 8909

Delivered to long term stored reserve. Issued from storage on 15 July 1942, for use by No. 12 Elementary Flying Training School at Goderich, Ontario. Still with this School when it suffered a Category A crash near Goderich on 26 August 1942. Collided with Yale 3391 from No. 14 Service Flying Training School, north of Stratford, Ontario. Both aircraft were on cross country exercises. All 4 occupants of both aircraft killed. Approval to scrap sent to No. 31 Air Navigation School at nearby Port Albert, Ontario.

Canada Primary Source RCAF - Accident Investigation File



1942-06-03 Taken on Strength No. 1 Training Command 2019-08-20
1942-August-07 Accident: 12 Elementary Flying Training School Loc: Aerodrome Names: Barret
1942-August-26 Accident: 14 Service Flying Training School Loc: Stratford Names: Mcvicar | Mosher | Reid | York
1942-August-26 Accident: 12 Elementary Flying Training School Loc: Rostock Names: Reid | York
1942-10-19 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20
1942-November-07 Accident: 9 Elementary Flying Training School Loc: Queenston Names: Minns

Yale 3391

Yale 3391

With No. 1 Service Flying Training School at Camp Borden, Ontario. Category A damage on 26 August 1942, while with No. 14 Service Flying Training School at RCAF Station Aylmer, Ontario. Mid air north of Stratford, Ontario with Tiger Moth 8909 of No. 12 Elementary Flying Training School at Goderich, Ontario. Flying Officer Mosher and Leading Aircraftman McVicar, RAFVR killed in this aircraft.

1940-09-05 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
1941-July-22 Accident: 1 Service Flying Training School Loc: Camp Borden Names: Hoar | Whelan
1941-September-08 Accident: 1 Service Flying Training School Loc: Camp Borden Names: Shaw
1942-August-26 Accident: 14 Service Flying Training School Loc: Stratford Names: Mcvicar | Mosher | Reid | York
1942-August-26 Accident: 12 Elementary Flying Training School Loc: Rostock Names: Reid | York
1942-11-12 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20

Yale 3391

Yale 3391

With No. 1 Service Flying Training School at Camp Borden, Ontario. Category A damage on 26 August 1942, while with No. 14 Service Flying Training School at RCAF Station Aylmer, Ontario. Mid air north of Stratford, Ontario with Tiger Moth 8909 of No. 12 Elementary Flying Training School at Goderich, Ontario. Flying Officer Mosher and Leading Aircraftman McVicar, RAFVR killed in this aircraft.

1940-09-05 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
1941-July-22 Accident: 1 Service Flying Training School Loc: Camp Borden Names: Hoar | Whelan
1941-September-08 Accident: 1 Service Flying Training School Loc: Camp Borden Names: Shaw
1942-August-26 Accident: 14 Service Flying Training School Loc: Stratford Names: Mcvicar | Mosher | Reid | York
1942-August-26 Accident: 12 Elementary Flying Training School Loc: Rostock Names: Reid | York
1942-11-12 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20

12 EFTS (12 Elementary Flying Training School)

An Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS) gave a trainee 50 hours of basic flying instruction on a simple trainer like the De Havilland Tiger Moth, Fleet Finch, or Fairchild Cornell over 8 weeks.Elementary schools were operated by civilian flying clubs under contract to the RCAF and most of the instructors were civilians. For example, No. 12 EFTS Goderich was run by the Kitchener-Waterloo Flying Club and the County of Huron Flying Club.The next step for a pilot was the Service Flying Training School.

NO5 Class NO12 EFTS

Information on RCAF Station Goderich can be found here

RCAF Roundel RCAF.info - RCAF Station Goderich Ontario

Information on RCAF Station Goderich Relief Field can be found here

RCAF Roundel RCAF.info - Relief Landing Field Goderich South Ontario

Notable students from 12 ETFS

Flight Lieutenant Hornell, David Ernest VC and Flight Officer and Dambuster Joe McCarthy

General Huron County Historical Society

Museum 12 EFTS Course Photos

General 12 EFTS History - Blog

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