Wood, Winthrop Frederick (Midshipman)

Killed in Flying Accident 1952-April-28

Birth Date: 1928-June-23

Born: Ottawa, Ontario

Parents: Son of Percy and Irene Wood of Ottawa, Ontario. Brother of Norma, Richard and Kenneth Wood.

Spouse:

Home: Ottawa, Ontario

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: unkown date

Service

RCN

Unit

(RCN)

Base

HMCS NIOBE (on Exchange)

Rank

Midshipman

Position

Service Numbers

079501

Home
Google MapOttawa, Ontario
Final Burial
Google MapSt Merryn Churchyard Cornwall
died in Devon England,Accident Fairey Firefly T Mk 2 PP581, 28 Apr 1952 (aviation-safety.net)Fairey Firefly T.Mk.2 PP581 "266/MF" of 796 Squadron FAA RN, HMS Vulture, RNAS St.Merryn, Cornwall. Written off (destroyed) 28/4/1952: Crashed at Mullacott Cross, Little Shelfin, two miles South South-West of Ilfracombe, Devon due to "rough running" engine while engaged on a night NAVEX (Navigation Exercise). Both crew killed:Crew of Firefly PP581:Lieutenant (E) William G. Lockhart, RN (Pilot) - killed on active service 24/4/1952Midshipman Winthrop F. Wood (Observer) - killed on active service 24/4/1952 Accident Fairey Firefly T Mk 2 PP581, 28 Apr 1952 (aviation-safety.net) Cornwall, England https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56829384/winthrop-frederick-wood Sailors Memorial Pt Pleasant

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

www.findagrave.com

Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Firefly (Fairey) serial: PP581

Fairey Firefly Mk. VI
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

The Firefly was designed by Fairey Aviation, UK, in 1940 to meet a British Admiralty requirement for a carrier borne, fighter reconnaissance aircraft. The Firefly prototype first flew in December 1941 from Fairey's Great West Aerodrome, (now Heathrow Airport). Successful flight trials were completed by the end of 1942 and the first production aircraft, Mk. Is were delivered to the Royal Navy in March 1943.

Fireflies went into squadron service in October 1943 and later saw action in July 1944 against the German battleship Tirpitz, in Norway, when flying from HMS Indefatigable. From January 1945 onwards, the main area of operations for the Firefly was the Far East. Flying from HMS Indefatigable and HMS Implacable, they fought against the Japanese in Sumatra, the Caroline Islands and in the waters surrounding Japan. Later, Fairey Fireflies served with the Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy, during the Korean War.

A total of 64 Fairey Fireflies served with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), between 1946 and 1952. Based at Dartmouth, NS, they were flown from the aircraft carriers HMCS Warrior and HMCS Magnificent by No. 825 and 826 Squadrons. The Mk. V anti submarine version was ordered in 1949 to meet a NATO role for the RCN in anti submarine warfare. Firefly Mk. Vs operated in this role until late 1950, when they were replaced by Grumman Avengers.

Manufacture of the Fairey Firefly ceased in April 1956, after 1,702 aircraft had been produced. About 20 Fireflies survive. Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

YouTube Firefly

unvetted Source CWHM Flightlines

unvetted Source Harold Skaarup Web Page