Gagne, Irvin (Sergeant)

Killed in Flying Accident 1942-01-23

Birth Date: 1917

Born:

Son of Raymond F. and Rose Gagne; husband of Eleanor E. (nee Powers) Gagne (remarried as Patton). Father of Margaret Ann, of Caribou, Maine. Sgt Gagne was employed as a civilian training instructor un

Home: Caribou, Maine, USA

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: Unknown

Service

RCAF

Unit

21 EFTS- Elementary Flying Training School

Base

Chatham, New Brunswick, Canada

Rank

Sergeant

Position

Sergeant

Service Numbers

R/104921

Home

Caribou, Maine, USA

Final Burial

Evergreen Cemetery
Plot 170 Row 6

21 Elementary Flying Training School, Chatham, New Brunswick. Sergeant Gagne was engaged in instrument practice (spinning under the hood) and failed to recover from a spin. He was killed when his Fleet Finch aircraft 4797 crashed on the south side of the Little Black River, Bay du Vin, New Brunswick.

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

www.findagrave.com

Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Finch 4797

Sergeant Gagne, Irvin (RCAF)
Pilot
Killed in Flying Accident
1942-January-23
Evergreen Cemetery, Caribou, Maine, USA

Fleet Finch

Fleet Finch Mk. IICanadian Warplane Heritage Museum

The Fleet Finch was the final version of a whole family of light biplane trainers, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of Buffalo, NY and intended for civilian use. Few of these aircraft were marketed under the Consolidated name, as most were sold through Fleet Aircraft Canada, under a range of model numbers. Only the RCAF gave any of these models names, calling the Model 7 the Fawn and the Model 16 the Finch. These aircraft were built from 1930 to 1941, all at Fort Erie, Ontario.

The Finch was developed to meet an RCAF requirement for a fully aerobatic, primary trainer. The RCAF ordered the first batch of aircraft in July 1939 and powered by a Kinner R5-2, 160 hp engine, they were designated the Fleet Finch Mk. I. Most of these aircraft were delivered to the RCAF Central Flying School at Trenton, Ontario by early 1940.

The RCAF placed a further order for primary trainers with Fleet in January 1940. The Fleet Finch Mk. II, powered by a Kinner B-5R, 130 hp engine, first flew from Fort Erie in March 1940. During the following year, over 400 Fleet Finch Mk. IIs were delivered to BCATP Elementary Flying Schools right across Canada.

The Fleet Finch was well liked by the RCAF as it was a rugged aircraft, was relatively easy to fly and withstood the abuse of novice pilots. Some Fleet Finches remained in service with the RCAF until 1947, but most were retired by October 1944. Their role as a primary trainer was taken over by Fairchild PT-26 Cornell.Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

unvetted Source Harold Skaarup Web Page

YouTube Fleet Finch

Finch 4797

Finch Finch II 4797

Category A damage on 23 January 1942 while with No. 21 Elementary Flying Training School at Chatham, NB.

1941-03-04 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
1942-January-23 Accident: 21 Elementary Flying Training School Loc: Black River Bayduvin Names: Chambers | Gagne
1942-02-28 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20

21 EFTS (21 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.