Pilot with 7 AOS, likely civilian contractor through Canadian Pacific Airlines. Anson 6503 night navigation. From Bradley: 6503 (Crashed 6 miles south of Birtle, Manitoba on 1 March 1943 while on a night navigational exercise. The aircraft was destroyed. N.B. The cause of the crash was never determined).
Saskatchewan death records indicate: Born 1917, Husband of Marie [Babes].
Other recorda spell ANDROSIN and record death as 1943-02-28 (date/time of take-off). Grave marker photo shows "ANDROSEN"
Androsen, Nicholaus W (Civilian)
Killed in Flying Accident 1943-March-01
Birth Date: 1917
Born:
Parents:
Spouse:
Home:
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: unkown date
Service
RCAF
Unit
7 AOS- Air Observer School
Base
RCAF Stn. Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
Rank
Civilian
Position
Pilot
Service Numbers
XX0000000
Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)Crew or Other Personnel
Anson 6503
Accident Card - Avro Anson Mk. I serial:6503
This accident involved 1 aircraft on 1943-March-01. Anson I s/n 6503.
This accident involved 4 people. Spence AB, Opie DJ, Androsen NW, Marshall AD
This accident had 4 fatalities. Flight Sergeant Dudley John Opie RNZAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:414911 Anson 6503, Leading Aircraftman Arthur Dennison Marshall RNZAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:422303 Anson 6503, Civilian Nicholaus W Androsen RCAF Killed in Flying Accident service no: Anson 6503, Leading Aircraftman Alexander Balfour Spence RNZAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:425001 Anson 6503
Unit Desciption
7 AOS (7 Air Observer School)
Air Observers were later called "navigators". For recruits in this stream, the training path after ITS was 8 weeks at an Air Observer School (AOS), 1 month at a Bombing & Gunnery School, and finally 1 month at a Navigation School. The Air Observer schools were operated by civilians under contract to the RCAF. For example, Nos. 7, 8, and 9 were run by CP Airlines. However, the instructors were RCAF. The basic navigation techniques throughout the war years were dead reckoning and visual pilotage, and the tools were the aeronautical chart, magnetic compass, watch, trip log, pencil, Douglas protractor, and Dalton Navigational Computer. They trained in the Avro Anson.
NO7 AOS Course
RCAF.info - RCAF Station Portage la Prairie Manitoba
Manitoba Historical Society - Portage Airport
Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum - 7 AOS History
YouTube - Valour Canada Aerodrome of Democracy