Johnson, RR (Sergeant)

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

Handley Page Hampden in Flight

Wikipedia Hampden Bomber

Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Hampden - Kestrel Publications

Aircraft Images

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Hampden AN132

Hampden Mk. I AN132

With No. 32 OTU at RCAF Station Patricia Bay, BC. Cat "B" accident when a/c ran off end of runway on attempted takeoff at Patricia Bay on 8 December 1942, collapsing landing gear. Later hit a hill and crashed near Maggie Lake close to Ucluelet, BC on a night navigation exercise on 16 October 1943. All 4 crew killed; Flight Sergeant R. Allcorn, Flight Sergeant P. Hornbrook, Flight Sergeant R. Porter and Flight Sergeant (RAAF) M. Smith. The wreckage was not located until 6 July 1945, and was then left on site. Wreckage
recovered post war, and pieces used to restore #P5436, now on display at Canadian Museum of Flight, Langley, BC.

1942-01-06 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
1942-December-08 Accident: 32 Operational Training Unit Loc: Patricia Bay Names: Cordingley | Johnson | Reid | Vevers
1943-October-16 Accident: 32 Operational Training Unit Loc: Names: Allcorn | Hornbrook | Porter | Smith
1943-11-25 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20