Canadian Warplanes 3: Avro Anson, RCAF

Avro Anson

(DND Photo, PL-9661)

Avro Anson Mk. II, RCAF (Serial No. 7150), 12 August 1942.

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.

Avro 652A Anson Mk. I (1,528), (Serial Nos. 3541-3542), (Serial Nos. 6001-7068), (Serial Nos.10497-10499), A84, A85, A97, A103, A115, A116, K6197, K6207, K6230, K6241, K6251, K6264, K6265, K6278, K6281, K6293, K6297, K6298, K6300, K6302, K6303, K6316, K6324, K8706, K8709, K8714, K8724, K8727, K8729, K8730, K8734, K8743, K8745, K8751, K8752, K8756, K8760, K8761, K8770, K8774, K8775, K8777, K8782, K8786, K8818, K8820, K8824, K8830, L7046, L7054, L7056, L7062, L7070, L7910, L7911, L7931, L7946, L7959, L7961, L7962, L7966, L7967, L7970, L7971, L9158, L9159, N4856, N4859, N4861, N4862, N4874, N4886, N4888, N4894, N4897, N4898, N4901, N4905, N4907, N4909, N4915, N4924, N4928, N4932, N4938, N4942, N4963, N4964, N4967, N4968, N4978, N4979, N4998, N5008, N5011, N5012, N5015, N5016, N5018, N5023, N5035, N5036, N5038, N5041, N5042, N5047, N5049, N5051, N5058, N5087, N5088, N5092, N5104, N5107, N5108, N5148, N5162, N5189, N5195, N5201, N5202, N5207, N5208, N5211, N5212, N5214, N5216, N5217, N5219, N5236, N5241, N5243, N5249, N5250, N5253, N5258, N5261, N5268, N5273, N5292, N5298, N5300, N5301, N5304, N5306, N5316, N5320, N5341, N5347- N5350, N5352, N5353, N5357, N5358, N5361, N5362, N5370, N5375, N5380, N5384, N9526, N9528, N9529, N9539- N9542, N9547- N9549, N9555, N9557, N9559, N9560, N9564, N9566, N9572, N9574, N9575, N9588, N9591- N9597, N9600, N9602- N9604, N9607, N9615, N9640, N9644, N9650- N9652, N9655, N9658, N9659, N9661, N9665, N9670, N9672, N9675, N9688, N9713, N9715, N9719, N9724, N9725, N9728, N9746, N9750, N9752, N9766, N9770, N9779, N9786, N9816, N9818- N9820, N9836- N9838, N9843- N9845, N9850, N9851, N9854, N9856, N9870- N9872, N9874, N9887, N9888, N9891, N9893, N9894, N9899- N9901, N9905, N9907, N9938, N9943, N9982, N9983, N9985, R3338, R3350, R3372, R3377, R3380, R3383, R3390, R3401, R3404, R3413, R3431, R3434, R3438, R3442, R3447, R3463, R9568, R9577, R9588- R9591, R9598, R9599, R9601, R9609, R9631, R9633, R9635, R9641, R9651, R9664, R9666, R9668- R9670, R9685, R9686, R9688, R9691, R9692, R9696, R9700, R9703, R9714, R9715, R9720, R9722, R9723, R9725, R9739- R9741, R9768, R9775, R9778, R9798, R9800, R9818- R9821, R9823, R9826, W1654, W1672, W1729, W1768, W2617, W2621, W2623, W2624, W2640, W2643, W2653, W2654, W2658, W2661, W2665, AW964, AW968, AX105, AX109- AX111, AX114, AX116, AX137, AX146, AX163- AX172, AX181- AX187, AX218, AX219, AX221, AX222, AX227, AX239, AX242- AX248, AX283, AX284, AX287, AX288, AX343, AX347- AX349, AX356, AX365- AX372, AX396, AX397, AX414, AX415, AX418, AX419, AX422, AX423, AX426, AX427, AX436, AX444, AX445, AX469, AX472, AX473, AX482- AX496, AX507, AX508, AX572, AX573, AX611, AX612, AX640, AX641, DG812, DG813, DG817, DG820, DG823, DG872- DG875, DG893, DG894, DG898, DG899), Mk. II (1,833), (Serial Nos. 7069-7622), (Serial Nos. 8203-8648), (Serial Nos. 11181-11580), FP687-FP999, JS100-JS218, Mk. IV (1), (Serial No. 10257), Mk. V (1,049), (Serial Nos. 11581-12628, 13231), Mk. VI (1), (Serial No. 13881), for a total of 4,413 aircraft.

RCAF On Strength (4404), RCAF 400 Squadron (6), Canadian Aircraft Losses (257). Detailed records of all known RCAF and Canadian casualties in the RAF during the Second World War may be viewed on line in the Canadian Aircraft Serials Personnel Information Resource (CASPIR). The  CASPIR website is researched, coded, maintained entirely by Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum(CWHM) volunteers with only one staff assisting periodically. This work has taken several years, and is unlikely to be finished as continuing research leads to “new finds” and rediscovered Canadian aviation heritage and history.  The CWHM volunteer team looks forward to continuing to update and correct the record as additional information and photos are received.

(DND Photo, PL-9663)

Avro Anson Mk. II, RCAF (Serial No. 7150), 12 August 1942.

(NDIL Photo via Tom Walsh)

Avro Anson Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No. 6453), built in the United Kingdom. Taken on strength by the RCAF on 8 March 1941. Struck off strength on 27 April 1945. 6453 served with No. 1 Air Navigation School at Rivers Camp, Manitoba.

(DND Photo, PL4209, via James Craik)

Avro Anson Mk. I (Serial No. 6169), No. Air Observers School, London, Ontario.

(DND Photo, PL4211, via James Craik)

Avro Anson Mk. I (Serial No. 6169), No. Air Observers School, London, Ontario.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3650332_

Avro Anson I, RCAF (Serial No. 6842), c1943.

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.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3199048)

Avro Anson Mk. 5, (Serial No. 12082), coded VG for the Dartmouth Naval Station, Fleet Requirement Unit 743 at Shearwater, Nova Scotia, 28 August 1951. Later Reg. No. CF-IVK.

(No. 438 Squadron Archives via Francois Dutil)

Avro Anson of No. 1 Air Navigation School, RCAF Station Rivers, Manitoba.  Sgt Jack Beirnes piloting, 27 Feb 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 5722206)

Navigators In Training. A trio of Commonwealth airmen( L to R: J.A. Mahoud, RAF; E.M. Romilly, RCAF and W.H. Betts, RAAF).walk down a line of Avro Ansons to the aircraft which will carry them on a navigation training flight out of Rivers, Manitoba, on 4June 1941. From left to right, the airmen pictured here represent the air forces of Britain, Canada and Australia. They were being trained in Canada by the RCAF under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.

(IWM Photo, CH 624)

Original wartime caption: The Avro “Anson” is a general reconnaissance and advanced training machine of unusually roomy construction and good visibility. A low-wing cantilever monoplane, powered by two Armstrong-Siddeley “CHEETAH IX” engines each developing 310 h.p. The navigator of an Anson bomber checks his course.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, PA-052347)

Avron Ansons, No. 2 Air Observer School, RCAF, Edmonton, Alberta, 11 June 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3222582)

Avro Anson Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No. R3373), Uplands, Ontario, 12 Apr 1940.

(RCAF Photo via Chris Charland)

Avro Anson Mk. II, RCAF (Serial No. 7366), from No. 6 Bombing & Gunnery School at Mountain View, Ontario.  7366 was severely damaged when the landing gear collapsed while making a heavy landing during a thunderstorm at Mountain View on 23 June 1942.  The aircraft was transported to No. 6 Repair Depot at RCAF Station Trenton, Ontario, and patched up.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581652)

Avro Anson Mk. I, RCAF, 12 Apr 1940.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581893)

Avro Anson Mk. III, RCAF (Serial No. 6008), 25 Oct 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581894)

Avro Anson Mk. III, RCAF (Serial No. 6008), RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 25 Oct 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581909)

Avro Anson Mk. III, RCAF (Serial No. 6339), RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 24 Oct 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581910)

Avro Anson Mk. III, RCAF (Serial No. 6339), Rockcliffe, Ontario, 24 Oct 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3643683)

Avro Anson Mk. III, RCAF, cockpit, 25 Oct 1941.

(RCAF Photo)

Avro Anson Mk. II, RCAF (Serial No. 7359) in flight.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3388099)

Avro Anson Mk. II, RCAF (Serial No. 7069), Rockcliffe, 30 June 1942.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3582132)

Avro Anson Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No. 6195). 20 Apr 1942.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3643700)

Avro Anson Mk. II, RCAF (Serial No. 7069), Rockcliffe, 30 June 1942.

(DND Photo via James Craik)

Avro Anson Mk. II, RCAF (Serial No. 7069), Rockcliffe, c1942.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3582082)

Avro Anson Mk. II, RCAF (Serial No. 7150), 24 Mar 1942.

(DND Archives Photo, PL-9658)

Avro Anson Mk. II, RCAF (Serial No. 7150), 24 Mar 1942.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3582409)

Propeller damage to Avro Anson, RCAF (Serial No. 7162), RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 15 Feb 1943. This Anson Mk. II was from the Conversion Training Squadron. Both engines failed on final to Rockcliffe where the unit was based. Note the accident took place at 16:30 hours on the 12th of February, 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, PA-065112)

Sergeant, No. 14 (P) Squadron, RCAF, installing a vertical camera in an Avro Anson Mk. V, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 4 July 1944.

(DND Photo via James Craik)

Avro Anson Mk. V (Serial No. 11581), RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario. Royal Canadian Air Force aeronautical engineers redesigned many features of the British-built Avro Anson twin-engined trainer aircraft to produce the “Anson V”, adapted for Canadian conditions for use on scores of British Commonwealth Air Training Plan aerodromes in Canada. The glassed-in “greenhouse” cabin gave way to a molded plywood veneer fuselage. The gun turret was replaced with a less bulky astral dome for sextant “shots”. The British “Cheetah” engines, were replaced by Pratt and Whitney Junior radials made in the United States. The Anson’s redesign in 1943 was improved greatly in speed, comfort and reliability. (DND)

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, PL3765)

Avro Anson Mk. I (Serial No. R3438) was assigned to No. 31 Bombing & Gunnery School at Picton, Ontario. It sustained significant damage to most of the airframe after crashing. The pilot had been trying to carry out an overshoot during landing when he struck the ground at the end of the runway on the 3rd of July, 1944. The Anson was a write off.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3582869)

Avro Anson Mk. IV, RCAF (Serial No. 10257).

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583111)

Avro Anson Mk. IV, RCAF (Serial No. R9692), 3 Jan 1944.

(T.F.J. Leversedge Photo)

Avro Anson Mk. II, RCAF (Serial No. 11534) in flight.  This Anson Mk. II served with the Central Testing Establishment at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, and the Photo Reconnaissance Flight also based at Rockcliffe.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3643727)

Avro Anson Mk. V, RCAF (Serial Nos. 11919 & 11891), No. 13 (P) Squadron, Rockcliffe, Ontario, 4 July 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo)

Avro Anson Mk. V (Serial No. 12518), coded CK-D, RCAF Central Experimental & Proving Establishment (CEPE) at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario.  In the background are Beech Expeditors, a US military de Havilland L-20A Beaver and an RCAF Douglas Dakota.

(RCAF Photo via James Craik)

Avro Anson Mk. V (Serial No. 12518), coded CK-D, RCAF Central Experimental & Proving Establishment (CEPE) at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3545923)

Avro Anson Mk. V, RCAF, No. 414 Sqn, 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 358214)

Avro Anson Mk. VI, RCAF (Serial No. 13881), 18 Apr 1944.  This prototype Mk. VI was completed by Federal Aircraft and first flown on 21 September 1943 by E. Leigh Capreol.  It was fitted with a Bristol Mk. IV hydraulically-operated gun turret. The turret arrangement was deemed unsatisfactory which led to the Mk. VI program being cancelled.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4327502)

Four Leading aircraftmen, J.W. Dean [Doan], P.E. Milward, H.H. Miller, and A.J.B. Monk, in front of an Avron Anson with a Bristol Mk. IV hydraulically-operated gun turret at No. 8 Elementary Flying Training School, Vancouver, British Columbia, 30 Sep 1940.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583061)

Avro Anson Mk. VI, RCAF (Serial No. 13881), 20 Oct 1943. This aircraft was completed by Federal Aircraft and first flown at Cartierville, Quebec by legendary pilot E. Leigh Capreol on the 21st of September, 1943. There were major issues with the turret which sealed its fate. The Anson Mk. VI programme was subsequently cancelled. (Chris Charland)

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583215)

Avro Anson Mk. VI, RCAF (Serial No. 13881), 18 April 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4327567)

Pilots G.M. Auld, S.W. Shapton, H.B. Hallet and E.A. Hayes climb into an Avro Anson at No. 4 Service Flying Training School, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, 4 October 1940.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4327568)

Avro Anson, No. 4 Service Flying Training School, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, 4 October 1940.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4327287)

Avro Anson, PO E.E. Creed, RCAF, 23 August 1940.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583348)

Avro Anson, RCAF  aircrew, 4 July 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3388008)

Avro Anson Mk. I on skis, RCAF (Serial No. 6195), RCAF Rockcliffe, Ontario, January 1942.

(Shearwater Aviation Museum Photo)

Avro Anson Mk. V (Serial No, 12435) in RCN service with red and blue roundel.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584259)

Avro Anson Mk. V, RCAF (Serial No. 12563), with post-war Maple Leaf roundels, Arnprior, Ontario, 11 June 1949.

Casualties

A significant number of BCATP students became casualties in flying accidents and crashes during their training. We mention a few of them here:

RCAF Station Chatham, New Brunswick:

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