Knights, Albert John Reginald
Killed in Flying Accident 1943-11-23
Birth Date: 1921
Born:
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Knights, of Kingsbury, Middlesex, England.
Home:
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: Unknown
Service
RAFVR
Unit
35 SFTS- Service Flying Training School (RAF)
Base
North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada
Rank
Flying Officer
Position
Flying Officer
Service Numbers
135128
North Battleford City Cemetery, North Battleford, Saskatchewan
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
www.findagrave.com
Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)This incident involved multiple aircraft:
- Oxford Mk. I Serial: V3312
- Oxford Mk. II Serial: AS207
All the above aircraft in the above list are referenced in this report.
Airspeed Oxford
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 Trainer 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.
For More Information on RCAF Station North Battleford see here
RCAF.Info - RCAF Station North Battleford SK
RCAF.Info - Relief Landing Field Hamlin SK
RCAF.Info - Relief Landing Field Brada SK
Elinor Florence - Brada Relief Field - Air Force Ghosts
Saskatchewan Virtual War Memorial - Base History
Vintage Wings - Ghosts Of Saskatchewan
Oxford V3312
Oxford Mk. I V3312
Taken on strength by No. 3 Training Command at No. 1 Wireless School at St. Hubert, Quebec. To No. 4 Training Command on 16 May 1941, for use by No. 34 Service Flying Training School at Medicine Hat, Alberta. Category C14 damage at Medicine Hat aerodrome at 20:25 on 7 January 1942. Category C14 damage again at Medicine Hat at 18:20 on 26 March 1942. To Aircraft Repair for crash repairs, 17 December 1942 to 20 April 1943. To No. 4 Training Command when completed. Pending disposal in 1944. To No. 2 Air Command on 1 December 1944, still pending disposal. Stored at No. 3 Surplus Equipment Holding Unit, where it was noted with 1850:45 total time, 1420:30 since overhaul.1941-05-12 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
1942-January-07 Accident: 34 Service Flying Training School Loc: Medicine Hat Aerodrome Names: Grant
1942-March-26 Accident: 34 Service Flying Training School Loc: Medicine Hat Names: Smith
1943-August-17 Accident: 35 Service Flying Training School Loc: Aerodrome Names: Barber
1943-November-23 Accident: 35 Service Flying Training School Loc: Chauvin Alberta Names: Crane | Knights | Nuttall | Sutcliffe
1946-10-02 Struck off Strength Struck off, to War Assets Corporation for disposal 2019-08-20
Oxford AS207
Oxford Mk. II AS207
Taken on strength at No. 1 Port Detachment at Halifax, NS. To No. 2 Training Command on 28 August 1941, for use by No. 35 Service Flying Training School at North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Category B damage at 09:15 on 4 October 1941. Location reported as "Hamlyn", this is probably the Hamlin relief field, 8 miles north of the main aerodrome at North Battleford, which opened on 4 September 1941. To No. 4 Training Command, with No. 35 SFTS on 10 November 1941. Category A crash on 22 November 1943.1941-08-01 Taken on Strength Eastern Air Command 2019-08-20
1941-October-04 Accident: 35 Service Flying Training School Loc: Reserve Aerodrome Names: Driver | Stitt | Sutherland | Watson
1943-November-23 Accident: 35 Service Flying Training School Loc: Chauvin Alberta Names: Crane | Knights | Nuttall | Sutcliffe
1944-03-19 Struck off Strength Struck off, reduced to spares and produce 2019-08-20