Clark, Albert George (Pilot Officer)

Killed in Flying Accident 1942-July-29

Male Head

Birth Date: 1911-June-06

Born:

Home:

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: Unknown

Service

RAFVR

Unit

36 EFTS- Elementary Flying Training School (RAF)

Base

RCAF Stn. Pearce, Alberta

Rank

Pilot Officer

Position

Service Numbers

116582

Final Burial

Mountain View Cemetery
Lot 13 Block B Grave 5W

Died in the mid air collision of Stearman FD980 and FD990. Leading Aircraftman F.J. Brand, Leading Aircraftman D.M. Gross, and Pilot Officer A.G. Clark were all killed in this crash.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

www.findagrave.com

Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

This incident involved multiple aircraft:

Stearman (Kaydet) Serial: FD990
Stearman (Kaydet) Serial: FD980

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

Crew or Other Personnel

Stearman (Kaydet) FD980

Leading Aircraftman Frederick James Brand RAFVR

Leading Aircraftman Brand, Frederick James (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1942-July-29
Mountain View Cemetery, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

Pilot Officer Albert George Clark RAFVR

Pilot Officer Clark, Albert George (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1942-July-29
Mountain View Cemetery, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

Stearman (Kaydet) serial: FD980

Boeing PT-17 Stearman
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

The prototype Stearman PT-13 Kaydet two seat biplane first flew from Wichita, Kansas in October 1934. Fitted with Lycoming R-680 radial engines, the first trainers, designated PT-13s, were delivered to the US Air Corps in mid 1936 together with more aircraft in 1937 and 1938. In 1940 demand for the trainer increased rapidly and outstripped Lycoming's capacity to supply engines. This led to the Continental engined version, the PT-17.

The importance of the Stearman PT-13/PT-17 to the US war effort cannot be overemphasized. Approximately 70% of all US military pilots, who fought in WW II received their initial flight training in this sturdy aircraft. A further 10,000 RAF and Fleet Air Arm pilots used the Stearman trainer for primary training, at British Flying Training Schools throughout the United States, between 1941 and 1944.

8,430 Stearmans were built before manufacturing ended in 1944. No other biplane was ever produced in such numbers. Over 1,000 Stearman trainers remain in flying condition today.

The RCAF was supplied with 300 PT-17s in the summer of 1942, to expand its fleet of basic trainers. They served with No. 3 Flying Instructors' School, Arnprior, Ontario and four Elementary Flying Training Schools, in the Prairies. After about four months they were traded in for Fairchild Cornells, because the open cockpit was found unsuitable for winter training. Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

YouTube Kaydet trainer

Wikipedia Kaydet trainer

unvetted Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page

RCAF PT-27 Serials - Kestrel Publications

Aircraft Images

Stearman (Kaydet) FD990

Equivalent to USAAF PT-17. With No. 36 Elementary Flying Training School at Pearce, Alberta. Destroyed in mid-air collision with Stearman FD980 on 29 July 1942. Total of 3 fatalities.

1942-03-19 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
1942-July-29 Accident: 36 Elementary Flying Training School Loc: Aerodrome Names: Brand | Clark | Gross
1943-02-11 Struck off Strength 2022-02-07

Stearman (Kaydet) FD980

Equivalent to USAAF PT-17. With No. 36 Elementary Flying Training School at Pearce, Alberta. Destroyed in mid-air collision with Stearman FD990 on 29 July 1942. Total of 3 fatalities.

1942-03-19 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
1942-July-29 Accident: 36 Elementary Flying Training School Loc: Aerodrome Names: Brand | Clark | Gross
1943-02-11 Struck off Strength 2022-02-07

Unit Desciption

36 EFTS (36 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.