Hammill, Arthur Douglas

Killed in Flying Accident 1942-06-17

Birth Date: 1917-February-07

Born:

Son of Frank Arthur and Isabella Hammill, of Winnipeg, Manitoba

Home: Winnipeg, Manitoba

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: Unknown

Service

RCAF

Unit

4 WS- Wireless School

Base

Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Rank

Sergeant

Position

Sergeant

Service Numbers

R/80083

Sergeant Hammill was engaged in a wireless training exercise when his Menasco Moth aircraft 4912 went Warrant Officer a spin. He was killed When he crashed two miles east of Simcoe, Ontario.

This incident involved multiple aircraft:

  1. Moth, Menasco II Serial: 4912

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

de Havilland Menasco Moth DH82-C4

(DND Archives Photo, PCN-4631)(Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page)
de Havilland DH 82C2 Menasco Moth Mk. I (Serial No. 4861),
preserved with the Canada Air and Space Museum, Ottawa, Ontario.
60f95361d78e8a4981fa58f1_de-Havilland-D-H-82-Tiger-Moth--Serial-No--4861---pcn-4631.jpeg image not found

In the event that U-boat attacks caused a break in supply of British-made engines to Canada, American-built Menasco engines were installed in some Canadian-built Tiger Moths. This is the major difference between the Menasco and de Havilland Tiger Moths. Because this engine could drive a large generator, most Menasco Moths were used for radio training.

The Menasco engine was not as powerful as the Gypsy engine, resulting in a somewhat reduced performance. This loss of power made the Menasco Moth a less than ideal pilot-training airplane and contributed to the Menasco Moth being used almost exclusively for radio training.

YouTube Features Menasco engined Tiger Moth

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

4 WS (4 Wireless School)

Trainees in the "Wireless Air Gunner" (WAG) stream spent 24 weeks at a Wireless Schoo learning the theory and application of wireless communications. This included signalling with lights and flags as well as radio. Their "WAG" training was completed with four weeks at a Bombing & Gunnery School.

Canada Primary Source RCAF.info - RCAF Station Guelph ON - 4 WS

General Guelph Historical Society

Project 44 BCATP

General Project 44 BCATP

YouTube YouTube - Valour Canada Aerodrome of Democracy


Moth, Menasco 4912

Moth, Menasco II 4912

Category A damage on 17 June 1942 while with No. 4 Wireless School at Guelph, Ontario.

1941-07-02 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
1942-June-17 Accident: 4 Wireless School Loc: Simcoe Names: Hammill | Lippincott
1942-08-20 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20