THE ANSON GOES TO WAR

(Colour Photograph showing - Trainees preparing for Navigation Exercises in Canada.)

In late 1939 agreement was finalised on a training scheme called the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan(BCATP). The countries involved were Australia (their Air Force had been equipped with the Anson since late 1937),South Africa, New Zealand, Southern Rhodesia and Canada.

The Plan proposed that these countries would undertake the training of aircrew, both their own nationals and from the UK on detachment. This massive undertaking required large quantities of aircraft, which the UK agreed to supply, many of which were to be Ansons. Canada received the largest number, accepting over 1,500. Many were sent without Cheetah engines.

These machines were fitted with suitable American Jacobs L6MB engines on arrival. Shipping large numbers of aircraft across the North Atlantic was not without its problems, so production of the Anson commenced in Canada. Many modifications were made to make the aircraft more suitable for the climate, thus the resulting machine together with the American engines became the Mark 2. This work commenced in August 1941 and over 1,800 were built. These were followed by the Anson Mark 5 with a completely new moulded wooden fuselage developed in Canada, resulting in a further 1,000 being produced.

The Anson Mark 1 was also used widely in the U.K by a wide variety of training units.

Affectionally known as "Annie" it proved capable of a wide range of duties, not the least being their use by the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) which delivered all types of aircraft from Tiger Moths to Lancasters, from manufactures to wherever they were required in the UK.

(Colour Photograph Left showing - An Anson Mk.2 of the BCAPT over the prairies.)

(Colour Photograph Right showing - A communications Anson ready for a hard day's work, probably with the ATA.)