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Wright, Gordon (Sergeant)

Killed in Action 1941-January-22

Birth Date: unkown date (age unknown)

Home: Montreal, Quebec

Service
RCAF
Unit
110 Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Nec Timeo Nec Sperno I neither fear nor despie
Rank
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
aero engine mechanic
Service Numbers
A/8165
110 Hyderabad Squadron (Nes Timeo Nec Sperno). Blenheim aircraft lost.

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

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

Home
Google MapMontreal, Quebec
Burial
Google MapBrookwood Military Cemetery
30 B 5

Lysander R9004

Westland Lysander

Westland Lysander Mk. IIIA
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

Westland Aircraft of Yeovil, UK, started to design an Army Cooperation aircraft for the British Air Ministry, in June 1935. The first Lysander flew a year later and demonstrated a remarkable short field performance that today would be seen in a STOL aircraft. At the outbreak of war in September 1939, seven RAF squadrons equipped with Lysanders were sent to France in support of the British Army. In May-June 1940, 118 Lysanders were destroyed in action and 120 aircrew were killed or taken prisoner. These severe losses showed that the old ideas about army support aircraft were out of date and the future lay in fighters like the Hurricane.

The most daring use of Lysanders in WW II was with the Special Operations Executive, which supported the Resistance in German occupied France and Belgium, by flying in agents and picking up escapees. It was during these night operations, that the Lysander came into its own, using its remarkable STOL capabilities to fly into the small fields marked out by the Resistance.

The first Canadian built Lysanders rolled out of National Steel Car factory at Malton, Ontario in September 1939 and later were delivered to RCAF No. 110 (Army Co-operation) Squadron at Rockcliffe, Ontario. In February 1940, No. 110 became the first RCAF squadron to be ordered overseas to Britain, becoming No. 400 Sqn..

By late 1941, most Canadian built Lysanders had been transferred to the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), where they were used for target towing at gunnery training schools. National Steel Car, which became Victory Aircraft, stopped building Lysanders in September 1942, as it started to gear up to manufacture Lancaster bombers. 1,652 Lysanders were built between 1938 and 1943; 225 of them in Canada. Lysanders served with the RAF, RCAF and the RAAF, as well as the air forces of seven other nations. Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

YouTube Lysander

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Lysander

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Kestrek Publications Lysander - Kestrel Publications

General Century of Flight Web Page

last update: 2022-11-15 18:46:26

Lysander Mk. III R9004

With No. 110 (AC) Squadron, RCAF when it crashed on 19 January 1941, 2 miles west of Odiham. Engine lost power shortly after take off, flew into raising ground. Also reported as controlled flight into terrain, encountered mist while night flying. Official report states "The accident was almost certainly due to loss of control in black-out conditions shortly after takeoff". Pilot Flight Lieutenant A.H.F. Alloway killed. Alloway's mother was a reporter for the Winnipeg Tribune, owned by Montreal millionaire J.W. McConnell. McConnell paid for several "presentation" aircraft during the war, including Spitfire W3441, named "Alloway", presented in June 1941. Also killed was mechanic passenger, Sgt. G. Wright.

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