Ross, Donald Hugh
Killed in Flying Accident 1941-06-29
Birth Date: 1918-August-10
Born:
Son of Hugh V. Ross and Alys C. Ross, of Duffield.
Home: Duffield, Alberta
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: Unknown
Service
RCAF
Unit
33 SFTS- Service Flying Training School (RAF)
Base
Carberry, Manitoba, Canada
Rank
Leading Aircraftman
Position
Leading Aircraftman
Service Numbers
R/4032
Home
Duffield, Alberta
First Burial
Roman Catholic Cemetery, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
www.findagrave.comThis incident involved multiple aircraft:
- Anson Mk. I Serial: 6391
All the above aircraft in the above list are referenced in this report.
Avro Anson
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
The Museum's Anson Mk. V was built by MacDonald Brothers in Winnipeg in 1944. It flew with No. 7 Photographic Wing and No. 414 Squadron in Ottawa on photo survey work until the late 1940s. In 1956, it was purchased by INCO and used for mineral surveying until 1980, when it was donated to the Museum. The exterior is painted in the yellow colour common to all BCATP trainers and is in its same wartime RCAF markings.
The Avro Anson was known by a number of nicknames including "Faithful Annie" or "Flying Greenhouse". It was the first aircraft to be flown by the Royal Canadian Air Force to have a retractable undercarriage, which was a comparative novelty in 1936. In 1940, a Canadian government owned company, Federal Aircraft Limited, was created in Montreal to manufacture the Anson for Canadian use. Nearly 3,000 Anson aircraft were produced and, in the early days of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), the Anson was the standard trainer for many pilots, observers (navigators), wireless operators and bomb aimers. More than 20,000 aircrew received training on the Anson. In Canadian service, the aircraft was substantially re-designed with the substitution of North American engines and many other airframe and equipment changes.Harold Skaarup web pages
Avro Anson History33 SFTS (33 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.
Notable student Actor Richard Burton
For Information on RCAF Station Carberry see here
RCAF.Info - RCAF Station Carberry MB
RCAF.Info - Relief Landing Field Petrel MB
RCAF.Info - Relief Landing Field Oberon MB
Manitoba Historical Society - Carberry Airport
Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum Anson 6391
Anson Mk. I 6391
Ex RAF W1911. To No. 2 Training Command on 24 February 1941, for use by No. 33 Service Flying Training School at Carberry, Manitoba. Noted on 17 March 1941 as one of 15 dual control Ansons exchanged with the RAF for single control Ansons. Ownership to RAF account on 16 April 1941. Winter conversion kit installed by 3 July 1941. Category A crash at 15:30 on 29 June 1941, near Pleasant Point Station, Manitoba (8 miles east-south-east of Carberry aerodrome). Reported to have crashed in steep spiral dive, exploded on impact. Leading Aircraftman E.C. Helmer, RCAF killed. Had 360:00 logged time when written off.1941-01-18 Taken on Strength No. 8 Repair Depot 2019-08-20
1941-May-02 Accident: 33 Service Flying Training School Loc: Carberry Aerodrome Names: Browne
1941-June-29 Accident: 33 Service Flying Training School Loc: Pleasant Point Names: Helmer | Ross
1941-08-23 Struck off Strength Struck off, reduced to spares and produce 2019-08-20