Wheeler, Thomas Digby
Killed in Flying Accident 1954-10-21
Birth Date: 1919-October-12
Born: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Son of Walter and Mary (nee Playford) Wheeler of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Home: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Enlistment: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Enlistment Date: 1941-01-16
Service
RCAF
Unit
3 AFS- Advanced Flying School
Base
Gimli, Manitoba, Canada
Rank
Flying Officer
Position
Flying Officer
Service Numbers
38438
Home
Winnipeg, Manitoba
First Burial
Manitoba, Canada
1954-10-21 - A serious air accident occurred at 1330 hours, involving a mid-air collision between Silver Stars 21048 and 21252. Flight Lieutenant C Fletcher and Flying Officer TD Wheeler were killed and Sergeant C Ciret (French Air Force) parachuted to safety. Following the collision, which occurred 50 miles north on the shores of Lake Winnipeg, a successful para-jump was carried out by para-rescue personnel to assist Sergeant Ciret at the scene of the crash and during the following 7 days, rescue and salvage work were greatly aided by 111 C and R flight and the helicopter from CJATC, Rivers, Manitoba
Cremated and ashes sprinkled into Lake Winnipeg.
Canadian Virtual War MemorialThis incident involved multiple aircraft:
- Silver Star 3PT Serial: 21048
- Silver Star 3PT Serial: 21252
All the above aircraft in the above list are referenced in this report.
Lockheed CT-133 Silver Star Shooting Star T-33 T-33A CT-33
The Canadair CT-133 Silver Star (company model number CL-30) is the Canadian license-built version of the Lockheed T-33 jet trainer aircraft, in service from the 1950s to 2005.
The Canadair CT-133 was the result of a 1951 contract to build T-33 Shooting Star trainers for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The powerplant is a Rolls-Royce Nene 10 turbojet instead of the Allison J33 used by Lockheed in the production of the original T-33. A project designation of CL-30 was given by Canadair and the name was changed to Silver Star. The appearance of the CT-133 is very distinctive due to the large fuel tanks usually carried on each wingtip. A total of 656 CT-133 aircraft were built by Canadair.
The CT-133 entered service in the RCAF as its primary training aircraft for fighter/interceptors. The designation of the Silver Star in the Canadian Forces was CT-133.
The CT-133's service life in the RCAF (and later the Canadian Forces) was extremely long. One of the more unusual roles it played was as an aerobatic demonstration aircraft, the RCAF's Red Knight. Although the aircraft stopped being used as a trainer in 1976, there were still over 50 aircraft in Canadian Forces inventory in 1995. The youngest of these airframes was then 37 years old and had exceeded its expected life by a factor of 2.5. During this period, the Canadair T-33 was employed in communication, target towing, and enemy simulation.Wikipedia
Wikipedia Canadair CT-133 Silver Star
Harold A Skaarup Web Page 3 AFS (3 Advanced Flying School)
RCAF.info - RCAF Station Gimli Manitoba Silver Star 21048
Silver Star 3PT 21048
Received at 3 Advanced Flying School RCAF Station Gimli July 1953. Mid-air collision with 21252 21 Oct 1954. FrenchAF pilot ejected 21252 and survived. Scrapped.2 fatal.
1953-07-10 Taken on Strength . per record Card 2022-06-09
1954-October-21 Accident: 3 Advanced Flying School Loc: 50 miles north of Gimli Names: Ciret | Fletcher | Wheeler
1954-10-21 Accident Crash 2022-04-08
1954-11-08 Struck off Strength 2022-02-07
Silver Star 21252
Silver Star 3PT 21252
Received at 3 Advanced Flying School RCAF Station Gimli. Cat A crash 21 Oct 1954. Strike off.1954-03-19 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
1954-October-21 Accident: 3 Advanced Flying School Loc: 50 miles north of Gimli Names:
1954-10-21 Accident Category A 50 miles north of Gimili on Lake Winnipeg shore CA Mid-air with 21048 2023-01-15
1954-11-08 Struck off Strength 2022-02-07