Course 103 commenced training February 27, 1944. Tragedy stuck April 3 when LAC’s Joseph Roy and John Carey Gardner were killed when their Ansons collided in the circuit and crashed. The Accident Investigation Board recommended: “that consideration should be given to the method of aerodrome control on take-off on this and other Units.” LAC Gardner was taking off from one of the runways in Anson 7619. LAC Roy was attempting to land Anson 7434. An Instructor in a third aircraft attempted to attract the attention of Roy so as to have the aircraft pull away. The Board concluded: “It is possible that LAC Roy may have been watching his instructor’s aircraft and not looking elsewhere.” Gordon Sluman recalls the incident: “During my time at Centralia, one incident took place that I’ll never forget. Two pilot trainees crashed head-on while doing "circuits and bumps" off the end of one runway. Both were killed and remarkably the fabric and debris still fluttered down 20 minutes later! I did not witness the crash but did view the tragic aftermath.”

Joseph Armand Jacques Roy was a resident of Montreal. While at Initial Training School, he was assessed as “Smart, confident French-Canadian lad. Has ability, mature for age, dependable, co-operative and well liked by flight.” During his Elementary Flying Training Roy received the following assessment: “Always eager to get into the air, behaviour good, always on time for flying, neat and clean and could be depended on to carry out his duties. Elder brother in the Army. Parents approve this one joining in aircrew. Best friends are in the RCAF, in Nfld and already overseas. Highly intelligent. Willing – will accept heartily any aircrew duty, but looks like a natural.”

John Carey Gardner was an accountant with a Toronto newspaper at the time of his RCAF enlistment. While at No. 1 Initial Training School, Gardner was assessed as “A very keen outstanding airman who has worked and played hard. Lots of determination, excellent service spirit.” Gardner received his Elementary Flying Training at Windsor, Ontario where he was assessed “Appearance and bearing good. Keen and shows interest in his work.” From Windsor, Gardner was posted to Centralia where he was sentenced to five days confined to barracks after he failed to appear for ground lectures. On April 17, 1944, Gardner’s mother wrote the following letter to the RCAF Casualties Officer: “Thank you for the kind letter sent to my daughter-in-law, when my dear son, John Carey Gardner, was killed at Centralia on April 3rd. His father died only four months ago. Therefore his death has been a greater shock for me. There have been several crashes at Centralia reported in area papers, therefore it has been in my mind, well, just wondering, if perhaps the boys in training could be protected in some better way. My son leaves his wife and two children. Perhaps there could be more protection – a light system – some sort of practice place for beginners such as my John. Yet I know it was the other boy who crashed my son’s plane. It is just my over-burdened heart, crying out for other boys in training. I know the task is a very trying one, and may God help you one and all in my prayer.”