Wilkes, Robert
Killed in Flying Accident 1943-04-18
Birth Date: 1922
Born:
Son of Hubert and Lily Wilkes, of Shenstone, Worcestershire, England.
Home:
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: Unknown
Service
RAFVR
Unit
31 GRS- General Reconnaissance School (RAF)
Base
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Rank
Leading Aircraftman
Position
Leading Aircraftman
Service Numbers
1486409
First Burial
Ottawa Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)This incident involved multiple aircraft:
- Anson Mk. I Serial: R9599
All the above aircraft in the above list are referenced in this report.
Anson R9599
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
Harold A Skaarup Web Page 
Avro Anson History31 GRS (31 General Reconnaisance School)
The General Reconnaissance School trained pilots and air observers in the techniques required for ocean patrol. It was the equivalent to an Operational Training Unit (OTU), and last stop before aircrew were assigned to operations. The topics included DR Navigation, Astro Navigation, Compasses and Instruments, Meteorology, Signals, Reconnaissance, Coding, Ship Recognition, Aerial Photography, and Visual Signals.
RCAF.info - RCAF Station Charlottetown PEI Anson R9599
Anson Mk. I R9599
To No. 3 Training Command on 26 June 1941, for use by No. 31 General Reconnaissance School at RAF Station Charlottetown, PEI. To Eastern Air Command with this School on 5 November 1941. To Canada Car & Foundry at Amherst, NS for overhaul, 6 October 1942 to 12 January 1943. To Eastern Air Command when completed. With No. 31 General Reconnaissance School at RAF Station Charlottetown, PEI when it crashed into the Gulf of St. Lawrence 9 miles north of Cape Tyron, PEI while on a navigation exercise, on 18 April 1943. All 4 crew never found. Allocated to No. 4 Repair Depot at Scoudouc, NB on 19 April 1943 for write off.1941-05-30 Taken on Strength Canada Car & Foundry 2019-08-20
1943-February-03 Accident: 31 General Reconnaissance School Loc: Aerodrome Names: McLeod | Montgomery | Moore | Patterson | Rodda | Trotter | Watson | Way
1943-April-18 Accident: 31 General Reconnaissance School Loc: Capetryon Pei Names: Bell | Hamment | Wilkes | Wise
1943-06-05 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20