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Bird, William (Flying Officer)

Killed in Flying Accident 1941-February-20

Birth Date: 1915-November-18 (age 25)

Born: Kidderminster, Wyre Forest District, Worcestershire, England

Home: Kidderminster, Worcestershire

Service
RAFVR
Unit
ATFERO- Atlantic Ferry Organization (RAF)
Base
DRCAF Stn. orval, Quebec
Rank
Flying Officer
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
2nd Pilot
Service Numbers
79749

Hudson Mk. lll T9449

Ferry Flight 1941-February-20 to 1941-February-20

() Ferry Command (RAF) Dorval, Quebec

(ATFERO) Atlantic Ferry Organization, Dorval Quebec. Lockheed Hudson III aircraft T9449 was one of five such aircraft which took flight from Gander, Newfoundland, 1941-02-20 for a trans-Atlantic delivery flight to England. There were three aircrew and one passenger aboard. Shortly after take-off, out over the Atlantic Ocean about 50 miles from Gander the oil supply to the Hudson's starboard engine failed. The pilot, Captain Joseph Mackey, attempted to shut down the engine and feather the propeller (i.e. the propeller blades are rotated parallel to the airflow in order to reduce the drag if an engine fails) but found that it would not feather. The decision to head back to Gander was made, but then the port engine failed in a similar manner. Hudson T9449 crashed in trees at Seven Mile Pond Lake, near Musgrave Newfoundland.

Canadian civilian Radio Officer William Snailham and Navigator, Flying Officer William Bird (RAFVR) both died in the crash

Passenger Sir Frederick Banting KBE MC, initially survived the crash but died before the aircraft crash site could be located

The sole survivor of the crash was, American Civilian Pilot Captain J C Mackey

It took some five days after the crash of Hudson T9449 before search and rescue teams were able to find and reach the remote site

Ocean Bridge, The History of RAF Ferry Command by Carl A Christie page 309

General The Loss of Flight T9449 - World War II

General Aviation Safety Network

General [Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...

General Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III in Seven Mile Pond: 3 killed I ...

Ocean Bridge, The History of RAF Ferry Command by Carl A Christie pages 64, 70, 72, 245 309

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Find-A-Grave.com Finadagrave.com

Home
Google MapKidderminster, Worcestershire
Burial
Google MapFort Massey Cemetery
Section E Grave 198

Hudson T9449

Major Banting, Sir Frederick Grant (Army)
Passenger
Killed in Flying Accident
1941-February-20
cemetery unknown

Flying Officer Bird, William (RAFVR)
2nd Pilot
Killed in Flying Accident
1941-February-20
Fort Massey Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Civilian Mackey, Joseph Creighton (RAF)
Pilot (Captain)
Survived
1941-February-20
cemetery unknown

Civilian Snailham, William (RAF)
Radio Officer
Killed in Flying Accident
1941-February-20
Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Lockheed Hudson A-28 A-29 AT-18

Lockheed Hudson
Source National Air Force Museum of Canada.

The Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force (RAF) shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter. The Hudson served throughout the war, mainly with Coastal Command, but also in transport and training roles, as well as delivering agents into occupied France. They were also used extensively with the Royal Canadian Air Force's (RCAF) anti-submarine squadrons. National Air Force Museum of Canada.

YouTube Hudson

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Hudson

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Kestrek Publications Hudon - Kestrel Publications

CASPIR Aircraft Groups:
RCAF Owned (247) RCAF 400 Squadrons (39) Canadian Crewed (245)
last update: 2021-12-21 01:36:53

Hudson Mk. lll T9449

Lockheed Hudson III (#T9449) was one of five aircraft which took flight from Gander, the Dominion of Newfoundland, on 20 Feb 1941 on a delivery flight to England. There were three aircrew and one passenger aboard. Shortly after take-off and over the Atlantic Ocean about 50 miles from Gander the oil supply to the Hudson's starboard engine failed. The pilot, Captain Joseph Mackey, attempted to shut down the engine and to feather the propeller (i.e.-the blades are rotated parallel to the airflow in order to reduce the drag if an engine fails) but found that it would not feather. The decision to head back to Gander was made, but then the port engine failed in a similar manner. Hudson T9449 crashed in trees near Seven Mile Pond Lake; the navigator, RAFVR Flying Officer William BIRD, and the radio operator, Radio Operator William SNAILHAM, died in the crash.

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