Bill Mackay from the Harvard Historical Aviation Society, Canada, has sent the following information:-
Charles William Thorp, LAC, RAF no. 1504541. Stationed at No. 36 S.F.T.S. Penhold. Died October 29, 1942 as a result of a crash of the Oxford Mk II aircraft no. BM767 he was piloting. He was 20 years old.
From official death record: “LAC Thorp was carrying out solo night flying circuits and landings and had successfully completed two circuits and landing and taken off on his third circuit when a sudden and unexpected snow flurry came over the area at 2115 hours. Shortly after information was received from a civilian that the aircraft had crashed. LAC Thorp sustained multiple injuries causing instantaneous death.”
Religion – Church of England
Next of kin – Mr. Charles William Thorp, (Father) “Talbot Villa” Birtley, Co. Durham, England. Mother – Mrs. Elizabeth Thorp, Same address
Date of birth – 10th January, 1922
He was in course 61 at No. 36 SFTS, Penhold
LAC Charles William THORP 1504541 29/10/1942 killed when Oxford BM767 crashed during a snow flurry, 4 miles south west of Penhold
From Daily Log of No. 36 S.F.T.S.: 29.10.42 No. 1504541
LAC Thorp C.W. in Oxford aircraft No. BM767[3] at Penhold had successfully completed two circuits and landings and had taken off on his third circuit when a sudden unsuspected snow flurry came over the aerodrome at approximately 2115 hours. Information was received shortly afterwards that an aircraft crashed 4 miles south west of the aerodrome and that the sole occupant had been killed. The aircraft was wrecked and an Investigation is being held.
We do know something of the sorts of lives the airmen lived when they were here but not specifics for many individuals. There were dances in the nearby towns several times a week and it seems like many of the trainees travelled to the nearby cities (Calgary and Edmonton) during their free time and it seems like many of them were able to visit Banff and Lake Louise as well. Many were hosted by local families during holidays like Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving. During Christmas half the men were given a one week off and the other half were given time off the next week. The trainees were only at the base for about 4 months and when they were there the training schedule was pretty demanding so they didn't have lots of free time. We have quite a few letters home that provide some perspective on their lives when they were here. In the case of No. 36 SFTS the entire base, save for the nurse, were RAF personnel. At any one time there were a little over 1,000 men on the base. The population of the nearest town (Red Deer) was around 3,000. The village of Penhold had a population of a little over 100 and the next town south, Innisfail, near where I live, was about 1,200. Then there was another RAF base (No. 32 EFTS, Bowden) about 10 miles south of Innisfail. The village of Bowden had a population of about 300 and the base (No. 32 EFTS) would have had a population of maybe 500 during the few years it operated. Most of the time No.32 EFTS operated the support staff was civilian and about half of them were women. The instructional staff were, of course, male RAF personnel. So there was a fair amount of interaction between RAF personnel from the two bases and locals. Even some reverse war brides - RAF men who married local women.
Charles William Thorp is remembered in Birtley on B127.01and at Chester-le-Street on C105.38
