Cook, Francis Ross
Killed in Flying Accident 1941-12-04
Birth Date: 1917-May-28
Born:
Francis & Mabel Cook
Home: Newmarket, Ontario (parents)
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: Unknown
Service
RCAF
Unit
16 SFTS- Service Flying Training School
Base
Hagersville, Ontario, Canada
Rank
Leading Aircraftman
Position
Leading Aircraftman
Service Numbers
R/100837
First Burial
Newmarket Cemetery, Newmarket, Ontario
16 Service Flying Training School, Hagersville, Ontario. Anson aircraft 6477 and Anson 6734 collided during the landing approach at the aerodrome.
LAC Cook was in aircraft 6477 and was the only casualty. The occupants of 6734 as survivors, are not identified, nor is the instructor in 6477.
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
www.findagrave.comThis incident involved multiple aircraft:
- Anson Mk. I Serial: 6734
- Anson Mk. I Serial: 6477
All the above aircraft in the above list are referenced in this report.
Avro Anson
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
Harold A Skaarup Web Page 
Avro Anson History16 SFTS (16 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.
For More Info on RCAF Station Hagersville see here
RCAF.info - RCAF Station Hagersville ON
RCAF.info - Relief Landing Field Cayuga ON
RCAF.info - Relief Landing Field Dufferin ON
Anson 6734
Anson Mk. I 6734
Ex RAF W2521. To No. 1 Training Command on 5 August 1941, for use by No. 16 Service Flying Training School at Hagersville, Ontario. Minor damage at 11:30 on 27 September 1941, when Anson 6735 struck this aircraft while taxiing. Category A crash at Hagersville aerodrome at 17:10 on 4 December 1941. Collided on approach with Anson 6477. No fatalities in this aircraft, but student pilot in 6477 was killed. Scrapped by No. 6 Repair Depot.1941-07-17 Taken on Strength de Havilland Canada 2020-10-05
1941-September-27 Accident: 16 Service Flying Training School Loc: Aerodrome Names: Fadden
1941-December-04 Accident: 16 Service Flying Training School Loc: Aerodrome Names: Cook | Toupin
1942-05-01 Struck off Strength Struck off, reduced to spares and produce 2019-08-20
Anson 6477
Anson Mk. I 6477
Ex RAF W2226. To No. 1 Training Command on 2 May 1941, for use by No. 5 Service Flying Training School at Brantford, Ontario. Category C10 damage at 08:35 on 19 June 1941, at Ononadaga, Ontario. Category A crash at 17:00 on 4 December 1941 at the Hagersville aerodrome, reported by No. 16 Service Flying Training School at Hagersville. Collided on approach with Anson 6734. Pilot in this aircraft, Leading Aircraftman F.R. Cook, killed. Scrapped by No. 6 Repair Depot.1941-04-23 Taken on Strength Ottawa Car & Aircraft 2019-08-20
1941-June-19 Accident: 5 Service Flying Training School Loc: Onondaga Ontario Names: Barnard | Croft | Taylor
1941-December-04 Accident: 16 Service Flying Training School Loc: Aerodrome Names: Cook | Toupin
1942-03-27 Struck off Strength Struck off, reduced to spares and produce 2019-08-20