Red Deer Cemetery
LAC L. Mann and Leading Aircraftman G.R. Flisher were killed when Oxford - AT464 crashed at a steep angle while engaged in a cross country mutual exercise. The accident occurred 15 minutes after take off. The cause of the accident was obscure.
Flisher, Gerald Robert (Leading Aircraftman)
Killed in Flying Accident 1944-April-24
Birth Date: 1924
Born:
Parents: Son of Walter Reginald and Geraldine Elizabeth Flisher, of Monkseaton, Northumberland, England.
Spouse:
Home:
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: unkown date
Service
RAF
Unit
36 SFTS- Service Flying Training School (RAF)
Base
Penhold, Alberta, Canada
Rank
Leading Aircraftman
Position
Service Numbers
1606838
School Daily Diary Entry - 1944-04-24
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
www.findagrave.com
Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)Oxford serial: AT464
(Bob Brown Photo)(Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page)
Airspeed A.S. 10 Oxford Mk. II, RCAF (Serial No. AS277), 25, in flight over Saskatchewan, 1942.
Airspeed A.S. 10 Oxford Mk. II, RCAF (Serial No. AS277), 25, in flight over Saskatchewan, 1942.
The Airspeed AS.10 Oxford was a twin-engine monoplane aircraft developed and manufactured by Airspeed. It saw widespread use for training British Commonwealth aircrews in navigation, radio-operating, bombing and gunnery roles throughout the Second World War.
The Oxford was developed by Airspeed during the 1930s in response to a requirement for a capable trainer aircraft that conformed with Specification T.23/36, which had been issued by the British Air Ministry. Its basic design is derived from the company's earlier AS.6 Envoy, a commercial passenger aircraft. Performing its maiden flight on 19 June 1937, it was quickly put into production as part of a rapid expansion of the Royal Air Force (RAF) in anticipation of a large-scale conflict.
As a consequence of the outbreak of war, many thousands of Oxfords were ordered by Britain and its allies, including Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, Poland, and the United States. Following the end of the conflict, the Oxford continued to achieve export sales for some time, equipping the newly formed air forces of Egypt, India, Israel, and Yugoslavia. It was considered to be a capable trainer aircraft throughout the conflict, as well as being used a general-purpose type. A large number of Oxfords have been preserved on static display. Wikipedia
Oxford Trainer
Wikipedia Oxford TrainerAircraft Images
Oxford AT464
Oxford Mk. I AT464
With No. 35 Service Flying Training School at Penhold, Alberta. Received minor damage at 03:30 on 25 August 1942, when it collided with Oxford AS384 over the Penhold aerodrome. Crashed at 13:45 on 24 April 1944, during a cross country mutual exercise. Aircraft was observed to spin in 3 miles west of Red Deer, Alberta. Leading Aircraftman J. Mann and Leading Aircraftman G.R. Flisher, both RAF, killed.1941-09-25 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
1944-April-24 Accident: 36 Service Flying Training School Loc: Red Deer Names: Flisher | Mann
1944-05-26 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20
Unit Desciption
36 SFTS (36 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.
Airspeed Oxford Crash SFTS36
For Information on RCAF Station Penhold see here
RCAF.Info - RCAF Station Penhold AB
RCAF.Info - Relief Landing Field Innisfail AB
RCAF.Info - Relief Landing Field Blackfalds AB
Harvard Historical Aviation Society
Midland Aircraft Recovery Group - Men Of 36 SFTS
Bomber Command Museum Of Canada - 36 SFTS