Vancouver, British Columbia
Died in the crash of Cessna Crane - 7776.
Willis, Robert Edgar (Leading Aircraftman)
Killed in Flying Accident 1942-July-25
Birth Date: 1922-May-24
Born: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Parents: Son of Charles and Harriet (ne Burnand) Willis, of Vancouver. Brother of Priscilla J. Willis of Vancouver, and Ida B. Wilson of Minstrel Island.
Spouse:
Home: Vancouver, British Columbia
Enlistment: Vancouver, British Columbia
Enlistment Date: 1941-July-09
Service
RCAF
Unit
12 SFTS- Service Flying Training School
Base
Brandon, Manitoba, Canada
Rank
Leading Aircraftman
Position
Pilot
Service Numbers
R/118031
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)Crew or Other Personnel
Crane 7776
Accident Card - Cessna Crane Mk. I serial:7776
This accident involved 1 aircraft on 1942-July-25. Cessna Crane s/n 7776.
This accident involved 3 people. Mcintosh G, Priday LR, Willis EA
This accident had 3 fatalities. Leading Aircraftman Lionel Ralph Priday RNZAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:416538 Crane 7776, Corporal George McIntosh RCAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:R/80675 Crane 7776, Leading Aircraftman Robert Edgar Willis RCAF Killed in Flying Accident service no:R/118031 Crane 7776
Unit Desciption
12 SFTS (12 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.
Cessna Crane
For More information on RCAF Station Brandon see here
RCAF.info - Station Brandon MB
RCAF.info - Relief Landing Field Chater MB
12 SFTS Brandon MB History
YouTube - Valour Canada Aerodrome of Democracy