Ottawa, Ontario
1 Operational Training Unit, Bagotville, Quebec. Pilot Officer Nettleton was flying Hurricane aircraft BW 873 in air to ground firing practise over St Gedeon, Lac St Jean, Quebec when he abandoned the aircraft at a low altitude. His parachute did not have time to open and he was killed by the impact.
Nettleton, Thomas Gordon (Pilot Officer)
Killed in Flying Accident 1944-June-20
Birth Date: 1924
Born:
Parents: Son of George G. Nettleton and Anna I. Nettleton, of Ottawa, Ontario.
Spouse:
Home: Ottawa, Ontario
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: unkown date
Service
RCAF
Unit
1 OTU- Operational Training Unit
Base
Bagotville, Quebec, Canada
Rank
Pilot Officer
Position
Pilot
Service Numbers
J/44038
Canadian Virtual War MemorialCrew or Other Personnel
Sea Hurricane BW873
Sea Hurricane serial: BW873
Source: Harold A Skaarup Web Page (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4982739)
Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk. XIIA (Serial No. BW850), coded BV-T, No. 126 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, patrolling from its base at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, 9 Aug 1942. This Hurricane has been converted to the Mk. XIIA version by Canadian Car and Foundry (CCF). This aircraft retains its eight-gun wing and the tail hook.
Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk. XIIA (Serial No. BW850), coded BV-T, No. 126 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, patrolling from its base at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, 9 Aug 1942. This Hurricane has been converted to the Mk. XIIA version by Canadian Car and Foundry (CCF). This aircraft retains its eight-gun wing and the tail hook.
While the Sea Hurricane never served in the Royal Canadian Navy, it was, ironically, operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force. In late 1941, the RCAF found itself without any frontline fighters, having sent its earlier Hawker Hurricanes off to the UK along with 1 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, and was having a hard time procuring additional fighters to meet its needs.
For reasons that are still slightly unclear, the RCAF received 50 Sea Hurricanes in 1942. It is assumed that these aircraft, built in Thunder Bay, Ontario by Canadian Car and Foundry, were to be used as part of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) Merchant Ship Fighting Unit (MSFU) based in Canada, but were diverted to the RCAF. These Sea Hurricanes were basically a Hurricane Mk. I with a tail-hook, catapult spools, a short blunt de Havilland spinner, and an eight gun wing. Harold A Skaarup Web Page
Harold A Skaarup Web Page
Wikipedia Hawker Hurricane variantsAircraft Images
Sea Hurricane BW873
Sea Hurricane Mk. XIIA BW873
Stored at Dartmouth, as reserve aircraft for the Merchant Ship Fighter Unit of the RAF. Back to Canada Car & Foundry at Fort William on 21 June 1943, for conversion to Mk. XIIA. Returned to Eastern Air Command on 21 August 1943. To No. 1 (F) Operational Training Unit at RCAF Station Bagotville, Quebec. Crashed June 1944. Remains to Jack Arnold Aviation Museum in Titusville, Florida in 1988. Being restored, used parts from Hurricanes 5301 and 5381.1942-01-19 Taken on Strength No. 118 (F) Squadron 2019-08-20
1943-December-02 Accident: 1 Operational Training Unit Loc: Aerodrome Names: McLeod
1944-June-20 Accident: 1 Operational Training Unit Loc: Lac St Jean Names: Nettleton
1944-08-15 Struck off Strength Struck off, reduced to spares and produce 2019-08-20