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Helbock, Harley Joseph (Flight Sergeant)

Killed in Action 1942-April-05

Birth Date: 1919-November-28 (age 22)

Born: Onandaga New York USA

Son of Peter J. Helbock and Blanche Fox Helbock, of Clay, New York, U.S.A.

Home: Mexico, New York, USA

Service
RCAF
Unit
43 (F) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Gloria Finis (Glory the aim)
Base
Acklington
Rank
Flight Sergeant
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
Pilot
Service Numbers
R/67277
43 Squadron (Gloria Finis). FS Helbock was killed when his Hurricane aircraft Z 2893 stalled at low altitude and crashed near Belford at Lucker Village, Northumberland. He was apparently testing a Franks suit at the time.

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

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

Hawker Hurricane

Hawker Hurricane Mk IIc.
Source BBMF

The Hawker Hurricane is a single-seat fighter aircraft of the 1930s"“1940s that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. for service with the Royal Air Force (RAF). The Hurricane developed through several versions, as bomber-interceptors, fighter-bombers, and ground support aircraft in addition to fighters. Versions designed for the Navy were popularly known as the Sea Hurricane, with modifications enabling their operation from ships. Some were converted to be used as catapult-launched convoy escorts. By the end of production in July 1944, 14,487 Hurricanes had been completed in Britain and Canada.

A major manufacturer of the Hurricane was Canadian Car and Foundry at their factory in Fort William (now Thunder Bay), Ontario. The facility's chief engineer, Elsie MacGill, became known as the "Queen of the Hurricanes". The initiative was commercially led rather than governmentally, but was endorsed by the British government; Hawker, having recognized that a major conflict was all but inevitable after the Munich Crisis of 1938, drew up preliminary plans to expand Hurricane production via a new factory in Canada. Under this plan, samples, pattern aircraft, and a complete set of design documents stored on microfilm, were shipped to Canada; the RCAF ordered 20 Hurricanes to equip one fighter squadron and two more were supplied to Canadian Car and Foundry as pattern aircraft but one probably did not arrive. The first Hurricane built at Canadian Car and Foundry was officially produced in February 1940. As a result, Canadian-built Hurricanes were shipped to Britain to participate in events such as the Battle of Britain. Canadian Car and Foundry (CCF) was responsible for the production of 1,451 Hurricanes. Wikipedia and Harold A Skaarup Web Page


YouTube Hurricane

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Hurricane

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Kestrek Publications Hurricane - Kestrel Publications

CASPIR Aircraft Groups:
RCAF On Strength (454), RCAF 400 Squadron (1), Canadian Aircraft Losses (358)
last update: 2021-12-21 01:11:03

Hurricane IIB Z2893

Part of the 5th production batch by Hawkers at Kingston and Langley, Hurricane Z2893 was delivered to #20 MU in March 1941. It then passed to 249, 601 and 242 Squadrons before being involved in a crash landing in August 1941. After repair at #15 MU, it was posted to 151 squadron before being passed to 43 Squadron RAF in February 1942, flying from RAF Acklington . On 5 April 1942 it stalled at low level and crashed near Belford at Lucker Village, Northumberland .


43 (F) Sqn- Squadron (RAF) Gloria Finis

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