Crosthwaite, Thomas Banks Rendell (Leading Aircraftman)

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 History

Avro Anson Construction

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Anson 11287

Anson Mk. II 11287

Delivered to user unit 18 December 1942. With No. 5 Bombing & Gunnery School at Dafoe, Saskatchewan when it crashed and was destroyed by post impact fire on 26 November 1943 after crashing 8 miles north of Leroy, Saskatchewan. Leading Aircraftman J. Barnes and Leading Aircraftman T. Crosthwaite, both RAF, plus Sgt. P.E. Galgan and Flight Sergeant W.L. Hill, both RCAF, killed. Allocated to No. 8 Repair Depot on 3 December 1943 for write off.

1943-November-26 Accident: 5 Bomb & Gunnery School Loc: Leroy Names: Barnes | Crosthwaite | Galgan | Hill
1943-12-11 Taken on Strength No. 2 Training Command 2020-10-11
1944-01-12 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20