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Merrithew, Wilbert James (Flight Sergeant)

Killed in Action 1942-June-02

Birth Date: 1915 (age 27)

Son of Wilbert James Merrithew and of Murrel Merrithew (nee Pennick); husband of Emma Louise Merrithew, of Plaster Rock, New Brunswick.

Husband of Emma Louise Merrithew, of Plaster Rock, New Brunswick.

Home: Plaster Rock, New Brunswick

Service
RCAF
Unit
32 (F) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Rank
Flight Sergeant
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
Pilot
Service Numbers
R/73228
32 Squadron (Adeste Comites). FS Merrithew was killed when his Hurricane aircraft Z 3842 was in a mid-air collision and with either Havoc W8257or Hurricane BN383 and crashed at Saint Road, off the Maidstone Tonbridge Road, Kent.

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Canada Primary Source Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Home
Google MapPlaster Rock, New Brunswick
Burial
Google MapMaidstone Cemetery
Plot CC1 Grave 119

Hurricane Z3842

Hawker Hurricane

Hawker Hurricane Mk IIc.
Source BBMF

The Hawker Hurricane is a single-seat fighter aircraft of the 1930s"“1940s that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. for service with the Royal Air Force (RAF). The Hurricane developed through several versions, as bomber-interceptors, fighter-bombers, and ground support aircraft in addition to fighters. Versions designed for the Navy were popularly known as the Sea Hurricane, with modifications enabling their operation from ships. Some were converted to be used as catapult-launched convoy escorts. By the end of production in July 1944, 14,487 Hurricanes had been completed in Britain and Canada.

A major manufacturer of the Hurricane was Canadian Car and Foundry at their factory in Fort William (now Thunder Bay), Ontario. The facility's chief engineer, Elsie MacGill, became known as the "Queen of the Hurricanes". The initiative was commercially led rather than governmentally, but was endorsed by the British government; Hawker, having recognized that a major conflict was all but inevitable after the Munich Crisis of 1938, drew up preliminary plans to expand Hurricane production via a new factory in Canada. Under this plan, samples, pattern aircraft, and a complete set of design documents stored on microfilm, were shipped to Canada; the RCAF ordered 20 Hurricanes to equip one fighter squadron and two more were supplied to Canadian Car and Foundry as pattern aircraft but one probably did not arrive. The first Hurricane built at Canadian Car and Foundry was officially produced in February 1940. As a result, Canadian-built Hurricanes were shipped to Britain to participate in events such as the Battle of Britain. Canadian Car and Foundry (CCF) was responsible for the production of 1,451 Hurricanes. Wikipedia and Harold A Skaarup Web Page


YouTube Hurricane

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Hurricane

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Kestrek Publications Hurricane - Kestrel Publications

last update: 2021-12-21 01:11:03

Hurricane IIC Z3842

Part of the 5th production batch by Hawker's )Kingston-on-Thames and Langley), Z3842 was flying with #1 Squadron in August 1941. On the 29th of that month, the aircraft crash-landed, with Sergeant George Metcalf (1014918) at the controls. After repair, it flew with #32 Squadron (Adeste Comites).It was involved in a mid-air collision with Hurricane BN383 and crashed at Saint Road, off the Maidstone, Tonbridge Road, Kent. There seems to be uncertainty about whether the collision was with BN383 or with Havoc W8527 on a Turbinlite training flight. It seems possible that all 3 aircraft were involved (information from rafcommands website and Mason)

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