Redwood, Robert Edward Wilson

Killed in Flying Accident 1942-10-10

Male Head

Birth Date: 1923-October-09

Born:

Son of Albert Victor and Lilian Elsie Redwood, of Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England.

Home:

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: Unknown

Service

RAFVR

Unit

5 EFTS- Elementary Flying Training School

Base

High River, Alberta, Canada

Rank

Leading Aircraftman

Position

Leading Aircraftman

Service Numbers

1324380

Died in the crash of Tiger Moth - 5963. The crash occured at approximately 1700 hours, 6 miles south east of High River. Leading Aircraftman Redwood later died of his injuries at approximately 2100 hours.

This incident involved multiple aircraft:

  1. Moth, Tiger I Serial: 5963

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

de Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth

Source: Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (serial # RCAF 8922), credit Rick Radell
CCI20160514_0006.jpg image not found

The de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth is a 1930s British biplane designed by Geoffrey de Havilland and built by the de Havilland Aircraft Company. It was operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and many other operators as a primary trainer aircraft. In addition to the type's principal use for ab-initio training, the Second World War saw RAF Tiger Moths operating in other capacities, including maritime surveillance and defensive anti-invasion preparations; some aircraft were even outfitted to function as armed light bombers.

The Tiger Moth remained in service with the RAF until it was succeeded and replaced by the de Havilland Chipmunk during the early 1950s. Many of the military surplus aircraft subsequently entered into civil operation. Many nations have used the Tiger Moth in both military and civil applications, and it remains in widespread use as a recreational aircraft in several countries. It is still occasionally used as a primary training aircraft, particularly for those pilots wanting to gain experience before moving on to other tailwheel aircraft.

Overseas manufacturing of the type commenced in 1937, the first such overseas builder being de Havilland Canada at its facility in Downsview, Ontario. In addition to an initial batch of 25 Tiger Moths that were built for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), the Canadian firm began building fuselages which were exported to the UK for completion. Canadian-built Tiger Moths featured modifications to better suit the local climate, along with a reinforced tail wheel, hand-operated brakes (built by Bendix Corporation), shorter undercarriage radius rods and the legs of the main landing gear legs being raked forwards as a safeguard against tipping forwards during braking. In addition the cockpit had a large sliding canopy fitted along with exhaust-based heating; various alternative undercarriage arrangements were also offered. By the end of Canadian production, de Havilland Canada had manufactured a total of 1,548 of all versions.Wikipedia

Wikipedia Wikipedia de Havilland Tiger Moth

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

YouTube YouTube de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth

5 EFTS (5 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.

Established in 1940 at the present site of Lethbridge Airport CYQL.

More information on the RCAF Station at Lethbridge AB can be found at

Canada Primary Source RCAF.Info - RCAF Station Lethbridge AB

NO5 EFTS moved to High River AB 28 June 1941

Canada Primary Source RCAF.info - RCAF Station High River AB

Canada Primary Source RCAF.Info - Relief Landing Field Frank Lake AB

Museum Bomber Command Museum Of Canada

Museum Vintage Wings - Ghosts Of Alberta

Project 44 BCATP

General Project 44 BCATP

YouTube YouTube - Valour Canada Aerodrome of Democracy


Moth, Tiger 5963

Moth, Tiger I 5963

Delivered to stored reserve. Issued to No. 33 Elementary Flying Training School at Caron, Saskatchewan on 30 December 1941. To storage with No. 4 Training Command 17 June 1942. Issued from storage on 12 September 1941, probably for use by No. 5 Elementary Flying Training School at High river, Alberta. Category A crash at High River on 10 October 1942.

1941-12-06 Taken on Strength No. 4 Training Command 2019-08-20
1942-March-09 Accident: 33 Service Flying Training School Loc: Aerodrome Names: Ellis | Jackson | Pattison | Pryde
1942-October-10 Accident: 5 Elementary Flying Training School Loc: Aerodrome Names: Redwood
1943-02-19 Struck off Strength Struck off, reduced to spares and produce by No. 10 Repair Depot 2020-10-05