Swindells, Lawrence William

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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

Hurricane

Wikipedia Hurricane

Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Hurricane - Kestrel Publications

1 OTU (1 Operational Training Unit)

The Operational Training Unit (OTU) was the last stop for aircrew trainees. They spent 8 to 14 weeks learning to fly operational aircraft (Hawker Hurricane or Fairey Swordfish, e.g.). The instructors had experience in actual operations, and often were posted to OTUs after their operational tour.

RCAF.info - RCAF Station Bagotville QC

Project 44 BCATP

Project 44 BCATP

YouTube - Valour Canada Aerodrome of Democracy

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Hurricane 1361

Hurricane Mk. I / XIIA 1361

Diverted from RAF contract, was RAF Mk. I AG312. Delivered to stored reserve, issued on 30 April 1942. To Canada Car & Foundry for conversion to Mk. XIIA, 6 May to 20 August 1943. To No. 1 (F) Operational Training Unit at RCAF Station Bagotville, Quebec when completed. Assigned to No. 4 Repair Depot at RCAF Stn Scoudouc, NB on 10 Nov 1943, following Cat "A" crash near Bagotville. The a/c crashed out of control on 8 Nov 1943 near St. Charles, QC. The a/c was making a deflection attack on two other a/c at 2,200 ft when it went into a steep spiral dive and never recovered. The pilot, Flight Sergeant L.W. Swindells, was killed. The wreckage was buried at the crash site.

1942-01-28 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
1943-August-24 Accident: 1 Operational Training Unit Loc: Aerodrome Names:
1943-November-08 Accident: 1 Operational Training Unit Loc: St Charles Chicoutimi Names: Swindells
1944-02-10 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20