Penryn, Cornwall, England (parents)
This accident occured after 18 Service Flying Training School moved to Souris, Manitoba.
Davison, Anthony William Curling (Leading Aircraftman)
Killed in Flying Accident 1945-August-02
Birth Date: 1925
Born:
Parents: Mr. & Mrs. Anthony W. C. Davison
Spouse:
Home: Penryn, Cornwall, England (parents)
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: unkown date
Service
RAFVR
Unit
18 SFTS- Service Flying Training School
Base
RCAF Stn. Souris, Manitoba
Rank
Leading Aircraftman
Position
Service Numbers
1851418
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
www.findagrave.com
Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)This incident involved multiple aircraft:
- Anson Mk. II Serial: 11257
- Anson Mk. II Serial: 8480
All the above aircraft in the above list are referenced in this report.
Crew or Other Personnel
Anson 11257
Anson serial: 11257
Avro Anson Mk. V
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.
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 HistoryAircraft Images
Anson 11257
Anson Mk. II 11257
Delivered to stored reserve. Issued from storage on 8 April 1943. Delivered to user unit on 29 April 1943. To No. 2 Training Command on 28 October 1943. To No. 2 Air Command on 1 December 1944, used by No. 18 Service Flying Training School. Category A damage in a collision at Souris on 2 August 1945, collided with Anson 8480 of the same School. Three fatalities (at least). Instruction dated 21 August 1945 said aircraft to be scrapped by No. 18 SFTS, serviceable parts to be forwarded to No. 8 Repair Depot at Winnipeg.1943-02-24 Taken on Strength No. 3 Training Command 2019-08-20
1945-August-02 Accident: 18 Service Flying Training School Loc: Aerodrome Names: Davison | Leigh | Mackenzie
1945-09-13 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20
Anson 8480
Anson Mk. II 8480
To No. 2 Air Command on 1 December 1944. Category A damage on 2 August 1945 at Souris, Manitoba, reported by No. 18 Service Flying Training School at Gimli, Manitoba. Reported as "unserviceable aircraft involved in a collision", collided with Anson 11257 of the same School. At least three fatalities. Salvageable parts to be shipped to No. 8 Repair Depot. Ownership to No. 8 Repair Depot on 21 August 1945.1942-11-28 Taken on Strength No. 2 Training Command 2019-08-20
1944-May-02 Accident: 18 Service Flying Training School Loc: Aerodrome Names: Fowler | Parker
1945-August-02 Accident: 18 Service Flying Training School Loc: Aerodrome Names: Davison | Leigh | Mackenzie
1945-09-13 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20
Unit Desciption
18 SFTS (18 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.
CWHM Avro Anson
No 18 Service Flying Training School was formed in Gimli, Manitoba on 1943/09/06. The school had a relief landing field at Netley Lake, a few miles south of the school. The unit was disbanded at Gimli on 31 May 1945.
For More Information on RCAF Station Gimli see here
RCAF.Info - RCAF Station Gimli MB
RCAF.Info - Relief Landing Field Netley Lake MB
On 1 June 1945 the school was reformed at Souris, Manitoba. Replacing No 17 Service Flying Training School which had been disbanded shortly before. The school had relief landing fields at Hartney and Elgin. The school was again disbanded on 5 September 1945.
For more Information on RCAF Station Souris see here
RCAF.info - RCAF Station Souris MB
RCAF.info - Relief Landing Field Hartney MB