Operation: Ferry Flight

Date: 24th December 1940 (Tuesday - Christmas Eve)

Unit: No. HQ Service Ferry Pool. 41 Group

Type: Hurricane I

Serial: P3083

Code: -

Base: RAF Kemble, Gloucestershire

Location: Rodney Stoke, Somerset.

Pilot: F/O. John Warren Hamill 40909 RAF Age 24. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Assigned to ferry the Hurricane from 20 Maintenance Unit at Aston Down to 247 Squadron at Roborough near Plymouth in Devon.

Late in the morning was heard circling in cloud and rain over the Mendip Hills. The engine was heard to throttle back and then open up time and time again.

It is thought that the pilot was trying to make a landfall and when he saw the hills immediately in front he pulled up steeply, stalled and entered into a spin before crashing near the location shown.

Burial details:

F/O. John Warren Hamill. Wells Cemetery. Sec H Row D Grave 2. Born at Hamilton, Waikato on the 16th March 1916. Theatre manager of the Open House in Oamaru prior to service. Accepted for a short service commission in March 1938 and embarked on the RMS Rangitata for the UK on the 07th April 1938. Awarded his wings on the 16th May 1938. Son of John Edward and Ruth Myrtle Hamill (née Smith), of Rotorua, Auckland, New Zealand. 400 flying hours logged, a former Battle of Britain pilot.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Jenifer Lemaire and to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, AWMM, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2025 Last Modified: 25 March 2021, 21:09