Birth Date: unkown date
Born:
Home:
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: Unknown
Service
RCAF
Unit
45 (Ferry) ADUME- Aircraft Delivery Unit Middel East (RAF)
Base
Rank
Flying Officer
Position
Flying Officer
Service Numbers
RAF Ferry Command, transit flight bound from Canada to Middle East, forced landing at Cotonou, Dahomey, (French) West Africa.
Crew uninjured and Interred until FWA came in on the side on the allies: F/Lt (later S/L) G H R Phillips RCAF Pilot Officer W G Campbell RCAF Sergeant G A Seward RAAF.
RAF Ferry Command Hudson aircraft FK 499 having originally departed from West Palm Beach, Florida, USA, made its way south, making several stops along the way before reaching Natal, Brazil. From here the crew flew out over the Atlantic Ocean. During the flight, fuel pump problems arose, which were repaired upon reaching Ascension Island. The crew then elected to continue their flight to Africa rather than wait until the next morning. Nightfall hampered their navigation and after a severe electrical storm knocked out the radio, they made a forced landing at Cotonou, Dahomey, West Africa, an area then under the control of the Vichy French Government. The crew survived the landing but George Phillips, William Campbell and Gordon Seward become interned prisoners until after the Allied landings in North Africa. They were returned to West Palm Beach Florida, USA 1943-01-20 and continued to work for Ferry Command. The impounded Hudson FK 499 was also saved, repaired and went on to serve with the RAF
Ocean Bridge, The History of RAF Ferry Command by Carl A Christie pages 166-8
The Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force (RAF) shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter. The Hudson served throughout the war, mainly with Coastal Command, but also in transport and training roles, as well as delivering agents into occupied France. They were also used extensively with the Royal Canadian Air Force's (RCAF) anti-submarine squadrons. National Air Force Museum of Canada.
RAF Ferry Command Hudson aircraft FK 499 having originally departed from West Palm Beach, Florida, USA, made its way south, making several stops along the way before reaching Natal, Brazil. From here the crew flew out over the Atlantic Ocean. During the flight, fuel pump problems arose, which were repaired upon reaching Ascension Island. The crew then elected to continue their flight to Africa rather than wait until the next morning. Nightfall hampered their navigation and after a severe electrical storm knocked out the radio, they made a forced landing at Cotonou, Dahomey, West Africa, an area then under the control of the Vichy French Government. The crew survived the landing but George Phillips, William Campbell and Gordon Seward become interned prisoners until after the Allied landings in North Africa. They were returned to West Palm Beach Florida, USA 1943-01-20 and continued to work for Ferry Command. The impounded Hudson FK 499 was also saved, repaired and went on to serve with the RAF
Ocean Bridge, The History of RAF Ferry Command by Carl A Christie pages 166-8
[Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...
Hudson
Wikipedia Hudson
Hudon - Kestrel Publications