AR banner
Search Tips Advanced Search
Back to Top

• Kracker Archive
• Allied Losses
• Archiwum Polish
• Paradie Canadian
• RCAF
• RAAF
• RNZAF
• USA
• Searchable Lists

Info LogoAdd to or correct this story with a few clicks.
Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
Check our Research databases: Database List

.

We seek additional information and photographs. Please contact us via the Helpdesk.

Fighter Command Crest
11.09.1940 No 1 Squadron RCAF Hurricane I P3534 F/O. Little

Operation: Patrol

Date: 11th September 1940 (Wednesday)

Unit: 1 Squadron RCAF (11 Group)

Type: Hurricane I

Serial: P3534

Code: None until 1941

Base: RAF Northolt

Location: Thames Estuary

Pilot: F/O. Thomas Burgess Little C/1117 RCAF Age 23. Baled out - injured


We are extremely grateful to François Dutil (438 Squadron Archivist) for supplying photographs and information to Aircrew Remembered in October 2017. All photographs shown within this page are available to relatives at a higher resolution (as are most of those named within this page) - courtesy of François.


REASON FOR LOSS:

On patrol in the mid afternoon to be ready for the huge Luftwaffe bomber formations escorted by over 200 Bf109’s that were reported to be approaching the Thames Estuary.

A massive air battle took place over that area with the RAF suffering huge casualties losing nearly 30 aircraft with 17 pilots killed and a further 6 wounded.

During one such battle F/O. Little engaged a He111, wounded during the combat and aircraft severely damage he baled out at 16:12 hrs, landing at Rotherfield where he was then taken to the Kent and Sussex Hospital, Tunbridge Wells for treatment to burns and a leg wound. The Hurricane crashed at Mayfield.

He recovered and rejoined his squadron at a later date. During an escort of bombers in the early morning of the 27th August 1941 then a Fl/Lt with the newly numbered 402 Squadron, it is reported that his Hurricane IIb Z5001 collided with Spitfire Vb W3723 of 222 Squadron. That pilot 27 year old, Fl/Lt. John Claverly Martin 40313 RAF and Fl/Lt. Little were posted as missing - believed killed over the English Channel.

Burial details:

Fl/Lt. Thomas Burgess Little. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 59. Born on Sunday, the 09th September 1917 in Montreal, Canada, the son of Thomas B. and Katherine Little, of 2 Redpath Row, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada

Other:

Fl/Lt. John Claverly Martin. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 29. Born on Wednesday, the 06th May 1914, the son of George Claverly Martin and of Ellen Martin (née Matheson), of Spreydon, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand and husband of Edna Martin, of Forest Hill, London, England. A very experienced pilot with 1,069 flying hours logged and on his 131st operation.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Francois Dutil, other sources as quoted below:

KTY - 31.10.2017

Pages of Outstanding Interest
History Airborne Forces •  Soviet Night Witches •  Bomber Command Memories •  Abbreviations •  Gardening Codenames
CWGC: Your Relative's Grave Explained •  USA Flygirls •  Axis Awards Descriptions •  'Lack Of Moral Fibre'
Concept of Colonial Discrimination  •  Unauthorised First Long Range Mustang Attack
RAAF Bomb Aimer Evades with Maquis •  SOE Heroine Nancy Wake •  Fane: Motor Racing PRU Legend
Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
Click any image to enlarge it

Click to add your info via ticket on Helpdesk •Click to let us know via ticket on Helpdesk• Click to explore the entire site
If you would like to comment on this page, please do so via our Helpdesk. Use the Submit a Ticket option to send your comments. After review, our Editors will publish your comment below with your first name, but not your email address.

A word from the Editor: your contribution is important. We welcome your comments and information. Thanks in advance.

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 - 2024
Last Modified: 12 March 2021, 13:21

Monitor Additions/Changes?Click to be informed of changes to this page. Create account for first monitor only, thereafter very fast. Click to close without creating monitor