Birth Date: 1924
Born:
Son of Dr H M Little, and of Mary C Little, of Montreal, Province of Quebec.
Home: Montreal, Quebec
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: Unknown
Service
RCNVR
Unit
768 Sqn- Squadron (FAA)
Base
HMS Ravager or HMS Heron
Rank
Lieutenant
Position
Lieutenant
Service Numbers
042250
Prev: 053132
Montreal, Quebec
768 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm, HMS Heron, RNAS Yeovilton
Grumman Wildcat V aircraft JV 356 lost when it spun into the sea while practicing deck landings from off HMS Ravager
Lt(A) HM Little (RCNVR) was missing, presumed killed. Lt(A) Little has no known grave and is commemorated on the Halifax Memorial (www.fleetairarmarchive.netwww.naval-history.net)
Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) Officers 1939-1945
The Grumman F4F Wildcat is an American carrier-based fighter aircraft that began service in 1940 with the United States Navy, and the British Royal Navy where it was initially known as the Martlet. First used by the British in the North Atlantic, the Wildcat was the only effective fighter available to the United States Navy and Marine Corps in the Pacific Theater during the early part of the Second World War. The disappointing Brewster Buffalo was withdrawn in favour of the Wildcat and replaced as aircraft became available.
The overall performance of Grumman's new monoplane was felt to be inferior to that of the Brewster Buffalo. The XF4F-2 was marginally faster, but the Buffalo was more maneuverable. It was judged superior and was chosen for production. After losing out to Brewster, Grumman completely rebuilt the prototype as the XF4F-3 with new wings and tail and a supercharged version of the Pratt & Whitney R-1830 "Twin Wasp" radial engine. Testing of the new XF4F-3 led to an order for F4F-3 production models, the first of which was completed in February 1940. France also ordered the type, powered by a Wright R-1820 "Cyclone 9" radial engine, but France fell to the Axis powers before they could be delivered and the aircraft went instead to the British Royal Navy, who christened the new fighter the Martlet.
Royal Canadian Navy: RCN personnel assigned to the Royal Navy HMS Puncher, were to provide the RCN with experience in aircraft carrier operations. The RCN flew 14 Martlets as part of 881 (RN) Squadron from February"“July 1945. Wikipedia
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
www.findagrave.com
Wikipedia Grumman F4F Wildcat
YouTube Grumman F4F Wildcat