IDENTIFICATION & SERVICE HISTORY

  • Aircraft Type: Fairey Battle Mk 1 (Trainer Aircraft)
  • Manufacturer: Fleet Aircraft Ltd.
  • Location Built: Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada
  • Service Entry Date: November 12, 1940
  • Assigned to: Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), No. 1 Training Command
  • Operating Unit: No. 31 Service Flying Training School (SFTS), Kingston, Ontario
  • Final Status: Struck off inventory on February 26, 1941

INCIDENT OVERVIEW

On December 21, 1940, the Fairey Battle Mk 1 R7418, freshly integrated into RCAF service for training purposes, embarked on a routine training flight under adverse weather conditions.

The aircraft was piloted by a student undergoing advanced flight training at No. 31 SFTS, part of Canada’s war effort to train Allied aircrew during World War II. Unfortunately, severe winter weather led to the student pilot becoming disoriented. While attempting to navigate the deteriorating conditions, the pilot made the decision to bail out of the aircraft, a choice that saved their life. However, the plane was lost, crashing east of Watertown, New York.

FLIGHT DETAILS

  • Date of Incident: December 21, 1940
  • Time: 11:30 AM
  • Location: East of Watertown, New York, USA
  • Weather Conditions: Adverse; low Visibility and icing likely
  • Pilot: Student pilot (name not recorded)

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CRASH

While flying a training mission from Kingston, Ontario, the aircraft entered inclement weather, leading to the pilot’s disorientation and loss of control. After exhausting efforts to regain orientation, the student bailed out, landing safely. The aircraft, however, crashed, marking the end of its short service life of 28 hours and 40 minutes of logged flight time.

AIRCRAFT STATUS

  • Flight Time Logged: 28 hours, 40 minutes
  • Crashed: December 21, 1940
  • Struck Off: February 26, 1941

FINAL DISPOSITION

Following the crash, the aircraft was declared a Total Loss and removed from the RCAF’s inventory in early 1941. Its remains were left at the crash site, contributing to the historical record of wartime aviation training challenges.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The Fairey Battle Mk 1 R7418’s crash highlights the risks faced by trainee pilots during World War II. Weather conditions, inexperience, and the demands of wartime accelerated training schedules often led to incidents such as this. Despite these challenges, aircraft like the R7418 played an essential role in preparing airmen who would go on to serve on the frontlines.

The survival of the pilot is a testament to the RCAF’s emphasis on pilot safety measures, even during a time of high operational demand.

RESOURCES & EXTERNAL LINKS

  • Fleet Aircraft Ltd. History: Manufacturer details and its wartime role.
  • RCAF Historical Records: Detailed documentation of aircraft assignments and incidents.
  • Local Archives, Watertown, NY: Potential eyewitness accounts or local reports.
  • Canadian Aviation Historical Society: Insights into RCAF training programs during WWII.

KEYWORDS Fleet Aircraft Ltd. RCAF trainer aircraft No. 31 SFTS, Kingston, Ontario Fairey Battle Mk 1 crash Watertown, NY aviation incident World War II training missions Canadian military aviation history