Beachcroft, Michael Melvill (Leading Aircraftman)

Killed in Flying Accident 1943-February-02

Male Head

Birth Date: 1924

Born:

Parents: Son of Maj. Maurice Beachcroft O.B.E. and Mrs. Beachcroft, of Chalfont St. Giles, Buckinghamshire, England.

Spouse:

Home:

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: unkown date

Service

RN FAA

Unit

31 SFTS- Service Flying Training School (RAF)

Base

RCAF Stn. Kingston, Ontario

Rank

Leading Aircraftman

Position

Service Numbers

FX90853

Final Burial
Google MapCataraqui Cemetery
Sec G Range 7 Grave 4
Collision with AJ645 piloted by WALFORD, Arthur David Flying Officer 133509 The mid-air accident occurred at 14:30 hours over Westbrook, Ontario while the pair were engaged in formation flying. Harvard Mk. II s/n AJ645 Pilot 46513 Flight Lieutenant P. Paterson Uninjured, Pilot 430202 Pilot Officer A. D. Walford Killed. Harvard Mk. II s/n AJ643 Pupil Pilot 90853 ALA. M. M. Beachcroft Killed, Pupil Pilot 90727 ALA M. A. Vickers Slightly Injured

Unvetted Source Harvards Above, A book about 31 Service Flying Training School - In Memoriam

Commonwealth War Grave Commission Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Find-A-Grave Finadagrave.com

Accident Card - North American Harvard Mk. II serial:AJ643

This accident involved 2 aircraft on 1943-February-02. They are: Harvard II s/n AJ645, Harvard II s/n AJ643.

This accident involved 4 people. Beachcroft MM, Paterson P, Vickers MA, Walford AD

This accident had 2 fatalities. Pilot Officer Arthur David Walford RAFVR Killed in Flying Accident service no:133509 Harvard AJ645,Leading Aircraftman Michael Melvill Beachcroft RN FAA Killed in Flying Accident service no:FX90853 Harvard AJ643

Unit Desciption

31 SFTS (31 Service Flying Training School)

Graduates of the EFTS "learn-to-fly" program went on a Service Flying Training School (SFTS) for 16 weeks. For the first 8 weeks the trainee was part of an intermediate training squadron; for the next 6 weeks an advanced training squadron and for the final 2 weeks training was conducted at a Bombing & Gunnery School. The Service schools were military establishments run by the RCAF or the RAF.

There were two different types of Service Flying Training Schools. Trainees in the fighter pilot stream went to an SFTS like No. 14 Aylmer, where they trained in the North American Harvard or North American Yale. Trainees in the bomber, coastal or transport pilot stream went to an SFTS like No. 5 Brantford where they learned multi-engine technique in an Airspeed Oxford, Avro Anson or Cessna Crane.

SFTS31 Kingston ON

For More information on RCAF Station Kingston see here

Royal Canadian Air Force RCAF.Info - RCAF Station Kingston ON

Royal Canadian Air Force RCAF.Info - Relief Landing Field Ganaoque ON

Royal Canadian Air Force RCAF.Info - Relief Landing Field Sandhurst ON

Project 44 BCATP

Unvetted Source Project 44 BCATP

YouTube YouTube - Valour Canada Aerodrome of Democracy