Wilfred Lawrie Cameron

Killed in Action 1942-May-31

Flight Lieutenant Wilfred Lawrie Cameron RCAF

Birth Date: 1920

Born:

Parents:

Spouse:

Home: Edmonton, Alberta

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: unkown date

Service

RCAF

Unit

14 (B) OTU- Operational Training Unit (RAF)

Base

Rank

Flight Lieutenant

Position

Pilot

Service Numbers

1403
Prev: C/1403

Home

Edmonton, Alberta

Final Burial

Norwich Cemetery
Sec 54 Grave 6

Hampden aircraft L 4173 lost an engine to enemy action and flew on one engine to the coast. Pilot asked for and was given permission to land at RAF Horsham St. Faith but his approach was too fast and he tried to go 'round again, but the other engine cut out at 500 feet and he crashed in Overbury Rd. Hellesdan, Norwich.

Killed includes Cameron: Sergeant John Edward Sheridan RAAF KIA Norwich Cemetery, Norfolk Sec. 54. Grave 675.

Injured: Flight Sergeant M F Porter RAF Sergeant E.H. East DFM RAAF Seriously Injured.

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Hampden serial: L4173

(RCAF Photo via Chris Charland)(Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page)
Handley Page Hampden (Serial No. P5428), of No. 32 Operational Training Unit at RCAF Patricia Bay, British Columbia, in the torpedo-bomber training role between May 1942 and February 1944.

Handley Page developed a modern stressed-skin mid-wing monoplane, powered by Bristol Pegasus radial air cooled engines, with its first flight in 1936. It had the most advanced wings available at the time, giving it a remarkably low landing speed of 73 mph for an aircraft of its size, with a top speed of 265 mph. The Hampden had a short, narrow but tall main fuselage with a very slender tail unit. This configuration led to the nicknames "Flying Panhandle" and "Flying Suitcase". At the end of the war, no complete or partial Hampden aircraft were retained for museum display.

The Hampden served in the early stages of the war, bearing the brunt of the early bombing war over Europe, taking part in the first night raid on Berlin and in the first 1000-bomber raid on Cologne. In Canada, Hampdens were built by six companies that formed Associated Aircraft. There were three in Ontario and three in Quebec, hence they were identified as the Ontario Group and Quebec Group. They supplied all the the components to the two assembly plants. The Ontario Group's assembly plant was at the Malton Airport, while the Quebec group's assembly plant was at the St. Hubert Airport. Canadian Museum of Flight and Harold A Skaarup web page

YouTube Handley Page Hampden in Flight