LEST WE FORGET
Leading Aircraftman Frederick George PIKE
Service No: 411639
Born: Kurri Kurri NSW, 5 April 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 24 May 1941
Unit: No. 3 Service Flying Training School (RCAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 3 Service Flying Training School aircraft), Alberta, 22 February 1942, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Calgary (Burnsland) Cemetery, Alberta
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Ernest Myhill Pike and Beatrice Maud Pike; husband of Frances Emma Pike, of North Bondi, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Kurri Kurri NSW
Remembered: Panel 133, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 22 February 1942, a No. 3 Service Flying Training School aircraft took off at 1500 hours detailed to carry out a target assessment at Lake McGregor, Alberta. The aircraft was in the process of letting down from 6,000 feet when it dived straight into the ground from a considerable altitude. The aircraft crashed at 1615 hours 3.5 miles east of Calgary Municipal Airport and the three pilots on board were killed. The accident was apparently caused by the occupants losing consciousness owing to the presence of carbon monoxide inside the cabin, and as a result the Pilots slumped forward on the control column causing the aircraft to dive.
The crew members were:
Leading Aircraftman Oliver James Nichols (14236) (Student Pilot, Supernumerary)
Leading Aircraftman Frederick George Pike (411639) (Student Pilot)
Sergeant Harold Ernest Pitt (R/68214) (RCAF) (Instructor Pilot)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/151/172