Robinson, Thomas (Leading Aircraftman)

Killed in Flying Accident 1943-July-05

Male Head

Birth Date: 1924

Born:

Son of Grace Robinson, of West Benwell, Newcastle-on-Tyne, England.

Home:

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: Unknown

Service

RAFVR

Unit

35 SFTS- Service Flying Training School (RAF)

Base

North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada

Rank

Leading Aircraftman

Position

Leading Aircraftman

Service Numbers

1670058

Final Burial

North Battleford City Cemetery
Plan M Block 10 Grave 4

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

www.findagrave.com

Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Crew or Other Personnel

Oxford AT460

Sergeant Lawrence Stanley Hodgkins RAFVR

Sergeant Hodgkins, Lawrence Stanley (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1943-July-05
North Battleford City Cemetery, North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada

Leading Aircraftman Thomas Robinson RAFVR

Leading Aircraftman Robinson, Thomas (RAFVR)

Killed in Flying Accident
1943-July-05
North Battleford City Cemetery, North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada

Oxford serial: AT460

(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

Aircraft Images

Oxford AT460

Oxford Mk. I AT460

Used by No. 35 Service Flying Training School at North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Category C4 damage at 00:30 on 30 April 1942 (or 1943?), when a tire burst on landing at North Battleford and the starboard undercarriage collapsed. No injuries. Category A crash on 5 July 1943. Crashed into a hillside near Prongua, Saskatchewan at 08:15, after striking a tree during unauthorized low flying. Part of the starboard wing was severed, the aircraft rolled over and flew into a nearby hill. Totally destroyed by post impact fire. The RAF instructor pilot had dinner the previous night at a farm house near the accident scene. Sgt. Laurence Stanley HODGKINS, RAF 1353529 and Leading Aircraftman Thomas ROBINSON, RAF 1670056 killed.

1941-09-19 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
1943-April-26 Accident: 35 Service Flying Training School Loc: Aerodrome Names: Cook | Marshall
1943-July-05 Accident: 35 Service Flying Training School Loc: Prongua Saskatchewan Names: Hodgkins | Robinson
1943-08-23 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20

Unit Desciption

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.