Gordon Elgin Vance

Killed in Action 1944-April-15

Flying Officer Gordon Elgin Vance RCAF

Birth Date: 1922

Born:

Parents: Son of Samuel and Beatrice Emily Vance, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Spouse:

Home: Winnipeg, Manitoba

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: unkown date

Service

RCAF

Unit

290 Sqn- Squadron (RAF)

Base

Rank

Flying Officer

Position

Pilot

Service Numbers

J/24133

Home

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Final Burial

Eglantine Church of Ireland Cemetery
Sec E Grave 41

290 Squadron. Oxford aircraft BG 601 crashed in the sea two miles east of Copeland Island, Ireland whilst carrying out dummy torpedo attacks on convoy escort. One of the crew, not Canadian, was also killed. Flying Officer Vance had been seriously injured on August 8, 1943 when his Miles Magister aircraft dived into the ground near Gourdon, Kincardinshire.

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Oxford serial: BG601

(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