Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum logo

Click on CASPIR logo to go to the entire CASPIR system.

Use the panel to:

  • select Optional Sections
  • Remove Page Breaks, that is, return to the non-print formatted document.
  • Click on the ⇩ to go directly to that section.

Koehler, William Gordon (Leading Aircraftman)

Killed in Flying Accident 1943-May-26

Birth Date: 1920-November-04 (age 22)

Born: Caron, Saskatchewan

Son of William and Emma Jane (ne Hans) Koehler, of Lake Valley, Saskatchewan. He was the brother of Ernest, Calvin, Edith and June.

Home: Lake Valley, Saskatchewan

Enlistment Date: 1942-02-24

Service
RCAF
Unit
2 FIS- Flying Instructor School
Base
Pearce, Alberta, Canada
Rank
Leading Aircraftman
Marshal
Air Chief MarshalA/C/M
Air MarshalA/M
Air Vice MarshalA/V/M
Air CommodoreA/C
Group CaptainG/C
Wing CommanderW/C
Squadron LeaderS/L
Flight LieutenantF/L
Flying OfficerF/O
Pilot OfficerP/O
Warrant Officer 1st ClassWO1
Warrant Officer 2nd ClassWO2
Flight SergeantFS
SergeantSGT
CorporalCPL
Senior AircraftmanSAC
Leading AircraftmanLAC
Aircraftman 1st ClassAC1
Aircraftman 2nd ClassAC2
Position
aero engine mechanic
Service Numbers
R/155628
Cornell aircraft FH 659 was being tested after a major inspection, when it struck the ground and broke up seven miles west of Barons, Alberta, LAC W.G. Koehler and Sgt R.A. Ridgeway were killed in this crash. He was single and worked as a farmer.

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Canada Primary Source Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Crew on Cornell Mk. I FH659

Fairchild Cornell

Fairchild Cornell Mk. II
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

In early 1942, an agreement was signed between the Canadian Government and Fairchild Aircraft, which licenced Fleet Aircraft of Fort Erie, Ontario to construct the PT-26 Cornell in Canada. The first 800 Cornells used by the RCAF were supplied from Fairchild, until production commenced at Fort Erie in November 1942. By the end of the war in 1945, 2,853 Cornells had been built by Fleet - 1,565 for the RCAF and 1,288 for the RAF.

PT-26 Cornells were flown at many of the Elementary Flying Training Schools (EFTS) of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, where they replaced the Fleet Finch and the de Havilland Tiger Moth biplane trainers. After the Second World War, many Cornells were sold to the civilian market, but some were retained by the RCAF, where they were finally retired in 1948. CWPHM



YouTube Cornell Trainer

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Cornell Trainer

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

CASPIR Aircraft Groups:
RCAF On Strength (1590), Canadian Aircraft Losses (54)
last update: 2021-08-30 13:45:56

Cornell Mk. I FH659

Ex USAAF PT-26, serial number 42-14307. To RCAF in Canada, retained RAF serial number.
1942-07-10 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
1943-May-26 Accident: 2 Flying Instructor School Loc: West Barons Alberta Names: Koehler | Ridgway
1943-07-19 Struck off Strength 2022-02-07

2 FIS- Flying Instructor School (2 Flying Instructors School)

Formed as a sub-unit of No 15 Service Flying Training School at Claresholm, Alberta on 27 April 1942 Formed as an Independent Unit at Vulcan, Alberta on 3 August 1942. Moved to Pearce, Alberta on 3 May 1943 became inactive on 29 December 1944 disbanded on 20 January 1945

1942-04-27 Primary Location Claresholm, Alberta Canada
1942-08-03 Primary Location Vulcan, Alberta Canada
1943-05-03 Primary Location Pearce, Alberta Canada

© Canadian Warplane Heritage 2024

To search on any page:
PC — Ctrl-F
Mac — ⌘-F
Mobile — or …