Bradford, E T

Killed in Flying Accident 1941-11-27

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Birth Date: unkown date

Born:

Home:

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: Unknown

Service

RAF

Unit

118 Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Occido Redeoque I kill and return

Base

RAF Ibsley

Rank

Pilot Officer

Position

Pilot Officer

Service Numbers

This incident involved multiple aircraft:

  1. Sea Hurricane Serial: BW840

All the above aircraft in the above list are referenced in this report.

Sea Hurricane BW840

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Pilot Officer Bradford, E T (RAF)

Killed in Flying Accident
1941-November-27
cemetery unknown

Hawker Sea Hurricane

Source: Harold A Skaarup Web Page (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4982739)
Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk. XIIA (Serial No. BW850), coded BV-T, No. 126 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, patrolling from its base at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, 9 Aug 1942. This Hurricane has been converted to the Mk. XIIA version by Canadian Car and Foundry (CCF). This aircraft retains its eight-gun wing and the tail hook.
60f9983cb349435ca5985742_Hawker-Hurricane--RCAF-No--126-Sqn--BV-code---9-Aug-1942--MIKAN-No--4982739.jpg image not found

While the Sea Hurricane never served in the Royal Canadian Navy, it was, ironically, operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force.  In late 1941, the RCAF found itself without any frontline fighters, having sent its earlier Hawker Hurricanes off to the UK along with 1 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, and was having a hard time procuring additional fighters to meet its needs.

For reasons that are still slightly unclear, the RCAF received 50 Sea Hurricanes in 1942.  It is assumed that these aircraft, built in Thunder Bay, Ontario by Canadian Car and Foundry, were to be used as part of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) Merchant Ship Fighting Unit (MSFU) based in Canada, but were diverted to the RCAF.  These Sea Hurricanes were basically a Hurricane Mk. I with a tail-hook, catapult spools, a short blunt de Havilland spinner, and an eight gun wing.  Harold A Skaarup Web Page

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Wikipedia Wikipedia Hawker Hurricane variants

Sea Hurricane BW840

Sea Hurricane BW840

Lost on 27 November 1941, after becoming lost en route from Saint John, NB to Dartmouth. RAF pilot Pilot Officer E. Bradford never found, presumed to have bailed out over the Atlantic after running out of fuel. RCAF records of this crash appear to be confused with that of BW838 . My version of events is based on the book "The Hurricats" by R. Barker. Taken on strength by No. 118 (F) Squadron on 9 December 1941, for book keeping purposes.

1941-November-27 Accident: MISC FerryING Loc: Atlantic Ocean Names: Bradford
1941-12-09 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
1942-03-17 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20