Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum logo

Click on CASPIR logo to go to the entire CASPIR system.

Use the panel to:

  • select Optional Sections
  • Remove Page Breaks, that is, return to the non-print formatted document.
  • Click on the ⇩ to go directly to that section.

Aitchison, Hugh Maclachlan (Pilot Officer)

Killed in Action 1941-September-15

Birth Date: 1913 (age 28)

Son of R. H. and Jessie C. Aitchison, of Glasgow. His brother George also died on service.

Home: Glasgow, Scotland

Service
RCAF
Unit
75 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Ake Ake Kia Kaha (For ever and ever be strong)
Rank
Pilot Officer
Marshal
Air Chief MarshalA/C/M
Air MarshalA/M
Air Vice MarshalA/V/M
Air CommodoreA/C
Group CaptainG/C
Wing CommanderW/C
Squadron LeaderS/L
Flight LieutenantF/L
Flying OfficerF/O
Pilot OfficerP/O
Warrant Officer 1st ClassWO1
Warrant Officer 2nd ClassWO2
Flight SergeantFS
SergeantSGT
CorporalCPL
Senior AircraftmanSAC
Leading AircraftmanLAC
Aircraftman 1st ClassAC1
Aircraftman 2nd ClassAC2
Position
Observer
Service Numbers
J/4782
75 New Zealand Squadron (Ake Ake Kia Kaha). Wellington I aircraft X 9759 lost during operations over Germany. Sgt A.H.R. Hawkins RNZAF, Sgt J.G. Foulkes RAF, Sgt D.P. Fawcett RAF killed. Sgt R.B. Blakeway RNZAF and Sgt W.E. Mullins (RCAF) taken Prisoner of War. (O. Clutton-Brock; R. McNeill PoW List for confirming Sgt Mullins RCAF). There were two 75 Sqdn. aircraft lost this same date. Those killed on Wellington I X3205 included: Sgt(s) H.G. Sloman (RAF), R.W. Toiler (RAF), K.H. Toothill (RAF), J.A. Ward V.C. (RNZAF), and P/O A.H.R. Hawkins (RNZAF). FS L.E. Peterson RCAF (USA) and Sgt H. Watson RAF taken Prisoner of War. Sgt Ward's citation reads, "On the night of June 7th, 1941, Sgt Ward was second pilot of a Wellington which was damaged by cannon shell and incendiary bullets from an attacking Messerchmitt 110. Fire broke out near the starboard engine which, fed by a split pipe, threatened to spread to the entire wing. Strenuous efforts by the crew failed to extinguish the fire, and they were warned to be ready to abandon the aircraft Sgt Ward then volunteered to try to smother the fire with an engine cover which chanced to be in use as a cushion. He got through the narrow astrohatch and, by breaking the fabric to make hand and foot holds, succeeded in climbing on to, and then along the wing to a position behind the engine. Lying precariously there he smothered the fire in the wing fabric, and tried to push the engine cover on to the leaking pipe. It was blown back by the terrific wind, and on the second attempt it was lost. Nevertheless, the fabric surrounding the pipe was destroyed, so that the fire could not spread and finally burnt itself out. Sgt Ward, with assistance from the navigator, was able to struggle back into the aircraft, which eventually reached home and safety. The flight back was made possible by Sgt Ward's most conspicuous bravery in extinguishing the fire at the risk of his life."

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Canada Primary Source Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Burial
Google Map CWG Cemetery, Germany
Coll grave 5A M 9-12

Crew on Wellington IC X9759

Vickers Wellington

Source: Harold A Skaarup Web Page
Vickers Wellington B. Mk. III (Serial No. X3763), coded KW-E, No. 425 'Alouette' (B) Squadron, RCAF, late summer of 1942

The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engined, long-range medium bomber. It was designed during the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey. Led by Vickers-Armstrongs' chief designer Rex Pierson, a key feature of the aircraft is its geodetic airframe fuselage structure, which was principally designed by Barnes Wallis. Development had been started in response to Air Ministry Specification B.9/32, issued in the middle of 1932, for a bomber for the Royal Air Force. This specification called for a twin-engined day bomber capable of delivering higher performance than any previous design.

The Wellington was used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, performing as one of the principal bombers used by Bomber Command. During 1943, it started to be superseded as a bomber by the larger four-engined "heavies" such as the Avro Lancaster. The Wellington continued to serve throughout the war in other duties, particularly as an anti-submarine aircraft.

It holds the distinction of having been the only British bomber that was produced for the duration of the war, and of having been produced in a greater quantity than any other British-built bomber. The Wellington remained as first-line equipment when the war ended, although it had been increasingly relegated to secondary roles. The Wellington was one of two bombers named after Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, the other being the Vickers Wellesley.

In August 1936, an initial order for 180 Wellington Mk I aircraft, powered by a pair of 1,050 hp (780 kW) Bristol Pegasus radial engines, was received by Vickers; it had been placed so rapidly that the order occurred prior to the first meeting intended to decide the details of the production aircraft. In October 1937, another order for a further 100 Wellington Mk Is, produced by the Gloster Aircraft Company, was issued; it was followed by an order for 100 Wellington Mk II aircraft with Rolls-Royce Merlin X V12 engines. Yet another order was placed for 64 Wellingtons produced by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft. With this flurry of order and production having been assured by the end of 1937, Vickers set about simplifying the manufacturing process of the aircraft and announced a target of building one Wellington per day.

A total of 180 Wellington Mk I aircraft were built; 150 for the RAF and 30 for the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) (which were transferred to the RAF on the outbreak of war and used by 75 Squadron). In October 1938, the Mk I entered service with 9 Squadron. The Wellington was initially outnumbered by the Handley Page Hampden (also ordered by the Ministry to B.9/32) and the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley (to B.34/3 for a 'night' bomber) but outlasted both rival aircraft in service. The Wellington went on to be built in 16 separate variants, in addition to two training conversions after the war. The number of Wellingtons built totalled 11,462 of all versions, a greater quantity produced than any other British bomber. On 13 October 1945, the last Wellington to be produced rolled out. Wikipedia

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Vickers Wellington

General RCAF - Vickers Wellington

YouTube YouTube Vickers Wellington documentary

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

CASPIR Aircraft Groups:
RCAF 400 Squadron (1), Canadian Aircraft Losses (1217), Canadian Ferried (1)
last update: 2021-08-30 20:19:05

Wellington IC X9759


75 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAF) Ake Ake Kia Kaha

© Canadian Warplane Heritage 2024

To search on any page:
PC — Ctrl-F
Mac — ⌘-F
Mobile — or …