Hodgkison, Douglas Henry (Pilot Officer)

Killed in Flying Accident 1941-09-30

Male Head

Birth Date: 1915

Born:

Son of Frederick Harold and Ethel Maude Hodgkison, of Enfield, Middlesex, England.

Home:

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: Unknown

Service

RAFVR

Unit

35 SFTS- Service Flying Training School (RAF)

Base

North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada

Rank

Pilot Officer

Position

Pilot Officer

Service Numbers

63109

Final Burial

North Battleford City Cemetery
Plan M Block 18 Grave 1

35 SFTS, North Battleford, Sask.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

www.findagrave.com

Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

This incident involved multiple aircraft:

Oxford Mk. II Serial: AS186
Oxford Mk. I Serial: AS550

All the above aircraft in the above list are referenced in this report.

Oxford AS550

Male Head

Leading Aircraftman Evans, Bruce Trevor (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1941-September-30
North Battleford City Cemetery, North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada

Male Head

Pilot Officer Hodgkison, Douglas Henry (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1941-September-30
North Battleford City Cemetery, North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada

Airspeed Oxford

(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.

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

YouTube Oxford Trainer

Wikipedia Oxford Trainer

unvetted Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Oxford AS186

Oxford Mk. II AS186

Taken on strength at No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School at Fort William, Ontario. To No. 2 Training Command on 11 September 1941, for use by With No. 35 Service Flying Training School at North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Still with this School when it collided with Oxford AS550 from the same School on 10 September 1941. Both aircraft came down 5 miles north of the aerodrome. Pilot of this aircraft inured, two fatalities in other aircraft. Total flying time in Canada noted as 78:00 when struck off (original log book had been lost in transit from UK.)

1941-08-07 Taken on Strength No. 2 Training Command 2019-08-20
1941-September-30 Accident: 35 Service Flying Training School Loc: North Battleford Saskatchewan Names: Evans | Hall | Hodgkinson
1941-10-14 Struck off Strength Struck off, reduced to spares and produce 2019-08-20

Oxford AS550

Oxford Mk. I AS550

To No. 35 Service Flying Training School at North Battleford, Saskatchewan on 28 August 1941. Still with this School when it collided with Oxford AS186 from the same School at 11:00 on 30 September 1941, in good weather. Both came down 5 miles north of the aerodrome. Instructor Pilot Officer H.D. (or H.D.?) Hodgkinson and student Leading Aircraftman B.T. Evans, both RAF, killed in this aircraft. Court of Enquiry blamed both pilots for failing to keep a good look out. Had 60:30 logged time when struck off. Scraped at No. 35 SFTS.

1941-07-21 Taken on Strength Eastern Air Command at No. 1 Port Detachment 2019-08-20
1941-September-30 Accident: 35 Service Flying Training School Loc: North Battleford Saskatchewan Names: Evans | Hall | Hodgkinson
1941-10-14 Struck off Strength Struck off, reduced to spares and produce 2019-08-20

35 SFTS (35 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.