Toronto, Ontario
18 Elementary Flying Training School, Boundary Bay, British Columbia. Tiger Moth aircraft 4327 was in a midair collision, during a landing approach, with Tiger Moth aircraft 4372. The aircraft crashed immediately adjacent to the eastern boundary of the aerodrome at Westminster. LACs J.H. Willett and FS Muckle were killed in aircraft 4327 and Leading Aircraftman G.D. Waltham was killed in aircraft 4272. FS Muckle had been slightly injured on May 31, 1941 in Tiger Moth aircraft 4278 while practicing a forced landing south of the aerodrome at 18 EFTS, Patricia Bay, British Columbia.
Addendum: FS. Muckle was the lone occupant of Tiger Moth 4322. LAC.s Willett and Waltham were killed in Tiger Moth 4372. Detail provided by F. McFee, Regina, SK.
Muckle, Stuart James (Flight Sergeant)
Killed in Flying Accident 1942-January-19
Birth Date: 1918
Born:
Parents: Son of Chester Kennard Muckle and Amy Louisa Muckle, of Toronto, Ontario.
Spouse: Husband of Irene Elizabeth Muckle, of Burnaby.
Home: Toronto, Ontario
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: unkown date
Service
RCAF
Unit
18 EFTS- Elementary Flying Training School
Base
Boundary Bay, British Columbia, Canada
Rank
Flight Sergeant
Position
Pilot
Service Numbers
R/85568
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)Crew or Other Personnel
Tiger Moth 4327
Accident Card - de Havilland Moth, Tiger I serial:4327
This accident involved 2 aircraft on 1942-January-19. They are: Tiger Moth s/n 4372, Tiger Moth s/n 4327.
This accident involved 3 people. Muckle SJ, Wartham GD, Willett JHR
This accident had 3 fatalities. Leading Aircraftman John Henry Reginald Willett RCAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:R/122014 Moth, Tiger 4372,Flight Sergeant Stuart James Muckle RCAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:R/85568 Moth, Tiger 4327, Leading Aircraftman Gordon Duncan Waltham RCAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:R/109139 Moth, Tiger 4327
Unit Desciption
18 EFTS (18 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.
Boundary Bay 1943
More information on RCAF Station Boundary bay can be found here
Project 44 BCATP
RCAF.info - RCAF Station Boundary Bay (Ladner) BC
Project 44 BCATP
YouTube - Valour Canada Aerodrome of Democracy