Lewis, Albert Anthony (Leading Aircraftman)

Killed in Flying Accident 1941-May-30

Male Head

Birth Date: 1921

Born:

Son of Frederick and Mary A. Lewis, of Montreal.

Home: Montreal, Quebec

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: Unknown

Service

RCAF

Unit

13 EFTS- Elementary Flying Training School

Base

St Eugene, Ontario, Canada

Rank

Leading Aircraftman

Position

Pilot

Service Numbers

R/77452

Home

Montreal, Quebec

Final Burial

Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery
Sec3Lot 1806 Grave 2594

13 Elementary Flying Training School, St Eugene, Quebec. LAC. Lewis was flying Fleet Finch aircraft it 4410, was practising forced landings and crashed near St Marthe, Quebec on May 26, 1941. He succumbed to his injuries while in the Neurological Hospital, Montreal, Quebec.

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

www.findagrave.com

Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Crew or Other Personnel

Finch 4410

Leading Aircraftman Albert Anthony Lewis RCAF

Leading Aircraftman Lewis, Albert Anthony (RCAF)
Pilot
Killed in Flying Accident
1941-May-30
Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Finch serial: 4410

Fleet Finch Mk. II Canadian 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

Unit Desciption

13 EFTS (13 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.