Winnipeg, Manitoba
2 Wireless School, Calgary, Alberta. Leading Aircraftman Ryan was on a wireless training exercise and was killed when his Menasco Moth aircraft crashed. The aircraft crashed at Midnapore, Alberta during an attempted forced landing. Leading Aircraftman E.A. Lowry was injured and died the next day.
Ryan, Gordon Fleming (Leading Aircraftman)
Killed in Flying Accident 1941-December-11
Birth Date: 1919-June-12
Born:
Son of William H. Ryan and Jessie M. Ryan, of Winnipeg.
Home: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: Unknown
Service
RCAF
Unit
2 WS- Wireless School
Base
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Rank
Leading Aircraftman
Position
Leading Aircraftman
Service Numbers
R/56876
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
www.findagrave.comCrew or Other Personnel
Moth, Menasco 4837
Mission
Moth, Menasco serial: 4837
(DND Archives Photo, PCN-4631)(Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page)
de Havilland DH 82C2 Menasco Moth Mk. I (Serial No. 4861),
preserved with the Canada Air and Space Museum, Ottawa, Ontario.
de Havilland DH 82C2 Menasco Moth Mk. I (Serial No. 4861),
preserved with the Canada Air and Space Museum, Ottawa, Ontario.
In the event that U-boat attacks caused a break in supply of British-made engines to Canada, American-built Menasco engines were installed in some Canadian-built Tiger Moths. This is the major difference between the Menasco and de Havilland Tiger Moths. Because this engine could drive a large generator, most Menasco Moths were used for radio training.
The Menasco engine was not as powerful as the Gypsy engine, resulting in a somewhat reduced performance. This loss of power made the Menasco Moth a less than ideal pilot-training airplane and contributed to the Menasco Moth being used almost exclusively for radio training.
Features Menasco engined Tiger Moth
Harold A Skaarup Web PageAircraft Images
Moth, Menasco 4837
Moth, Menasco II 4837
Category A damage on 11 December 1941 while with No. 2 Wireless School at Calgary, Alberta.1941-03-11 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
1941-December-11 Accident: 2 Wireless School Loc: Midnapore Alberta Names: Lowry | Ryan
1942-08-18 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20
Unit Desciption
2 WS (2 Wireless School)
Trainees in the "Wireless Air Gunner" (WAG) stream spent 24 weeks at a Wireless Schoo learning the theory and application of wireless communications. This included signalling with lights and flags as well as radio. Their "WAG" training was completed with four weeks at a Bombing & Gunnery School.
NO2 WS Calgary Mascot
RCAF.info - RCAF Station Calgary AB - 2 WS