The two Polish airmen in this photograph trained as navigators in Canada somewhere between mid 1943 and mid 1944. Can anyone please identify the aircraft and tell me where in Canada (if at all) it was used for that purpose. Many thanks
Hi, Sorry can't help on your queries but there is a lot general info available below - Good Luck Steve Y https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_British_Commonwealth_Air_Training_Plan_facilities_in_Canada
Thanks Steve, Comparing the photo with photos on that link, it looks to me like an Avro Anson - but I will leave that for more knowledgeable people to comment on. I hope it will be confirmed as an Anson Mk V, built in Canada and used for navigator training over there. All I need now is information on where in Canada he trained! Thanks again.
I have to say that you are right. It certainly does look more than a little like the Lockheed C-40. I have had a quick look and they were operated by the Canadian Air Force - who were obviously the mainstay of the BCATP in Canada. Now, all I have to do is establish whether they were used to train navigators -and if so, where? Thank you Alan, your input is greatly appreciated. My interest in these menis mainly after training when they flew Battles, Wellingtons, Halifaxes etc., so my recognition skills on other aircraft are virtually non-existent. Neville
Neville, Can you make out the script on the nose in the original photo if you have it? Bottom word could possibly be Trenton? According to this list a Lockheed 10 was used at the Central Flying School, Trenton Ontario. Wild guess as I know very little about the different makes of Lockheeds. http://www.flightontario.com/BCATP/bcatp-schools.htm Regards ...
Hello Cee, I am no expert but the Lockheed 10 looks identical to the C-40 mentioned by AlanW and they both look like the aircraft in my picture. The Lockheed 10 was in use at the No 1 Flying Instructor School at Trenton. The man I am researching was a navigator which doesn't quite tally, but I have not been able to find any other Lockheed aircraft in use in the navigator schools. It is possible that he was retained for a while after qualifying, or it is possible that he was flying in this aircraft for experience as a qualified navigator. I will just have to hope that his family can find the log book or other documentation to prove it one way or the other. Many thanks for your contribution Neville
Neville, No.1 Air Navigation School was located at Trenton for a period (?) in the early 40s before moving to Rivers Manitoba in May of 1942. In both cases the Anson is given as the training plane. There are 4 Electras (1526-29) with histories listed on this page. http://rwrwalker.ca/RCAF_1500_1549_detailed.html Two of these have survived and are preserved in Canadian aeronautical museums. I'm not sure if there were others. The one currently in the Ottawa museum was said to have been used as a transport plane. http://casmuseum.techno-science.ca/en/collection-research/artifact-lockheed-l-10a-electra.php Regards ...
Neville, I think AlanW was right in the first instance. The bulging cowling around the engine is characteristic of the Lockheed Model 12 Electra Junior a similar but smaller version of the Model 10. Some of these aircraft did show up at Trenton as can be seen by 7837 and 7838 on this page: http://rwrwalker.ca/RCAF_7800_7849_detailed.html But I'll leave it there for fear of causing more confusion. Regards ...
Hello Cee, This is brilliant information, all the more so since the family have told me that they think his flying logs still exist and they are trying to find them for me. With luck and the information you have provided, I hope to be able to confirm the ID of the aircraft and solve the mystery of why he was with it! Many thanks Neville
Neville, For comparison's sake I'll add a picture of a an Electra 10 taken at Trenton. To my eyes it stands taller and is a larger aircraft to the one shown in your photo. Also included is general info and a list of serials for both models from Harold A. Skaarup's book Canadian Warplanes. Later ...
The script on the nose of the aircraft reads: CENTRAL FLYING SCHOOL TRENTON and it has now been confirmed that he completed his training as a navigator there. He also completed his bomb aimer course at No 1 Bombing and Gunnery School, Jarvis, Ontario. By a miracle, his Flying Log turned up yesterday, and confirmed the details. Thanks to all who responded. Neville
The unveiling of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Second World War British Commonwealth Air Training Program (BCATP) Memorial took place September 10, 2014 in Brandon, Manitoba. It pays tribute to the airmen and airwomen of the British Commonwealth who lost their lives in the Second World War. The memorial is impressive in both size and scope. It comprises 300 feet of black granite etched with 19,256 names, an eight-foot bronze airman and 12,000 square feet of paving stone, including a 60-foot RCAF wing in full colour.
