Sgt. Ken A. Hart R116556 / Fatal accident

Coffey · Squadron Leader

Sgt. Ken A. Hart R116556 / Fatal accident

John W · Group Captain

Hi Clint,

You might try getting Ken's service file from the Canadian Archives that might have something in it. Its a free service but he has to have been dead for 25 years.

Here is the address;

Personnel Records Centre

National Archives of Canada

Tunney's Pasture

Ottawa, Ontario K1A ON3

Canada.

Good luck,

John.

alieneyes · Group Captain

He died in London, Ontario 5 December 1988 so the 20 years the LAC needs is met.

The event you're interested in, Clint, happened 6 November 1942:

Admonished, 13 February 1942 for being AWOL, two days ten hours 45 minutes while at Trenton. Admonished again, 15 June 1942 for being AWOL 18 hours at Bournemouth. Tried by District Court Martial, 24 February 1943, reduced to the ranks and sentenced to 56 days detention but ultimately released on 2 April 1943:

WOAS: Being guilty of neglect in relation to aircraft material which caused loss of life to a person, in that he, in the course of an operational flight on the 6 November 1942, when air-gunner in the mid-upper turret of His Majestys Halifax aircraft No.W7768 so negligently operated the mechanism of the port gun in the said turret as to cause the said gun to be discharged when deflected in the direction of the rear turret of the said aircraft, thereby causing loss of life to R95484 Sergeant H.G. Gillespie, the rear gunner in the said aircraft.

-- Edited by alieneyes on Monday 19th of September 2016 08:12:12 PM

Coffey · Squadron Leader

Dave, thank you so much! But this info raises more questions. .. Ken's logbook says he was on an op on Nov 6, only lasted 3 hour and 5 minutes, and they landed at St. Eval. He was mid upper this flight. The same day they took off from St. Eval back to Beaulieu , this time with Ken in the rear turret. He continued ops for the rest of the month.

Would they have continued to let him fly ops after Nov 6th, until the powers that be decided what to do with him...? And that would mean he flew back from St Eval on the 6th, in the rear turret where his rear gunner had been killed?! Its very interesting though, his entry for Nov 6th has a line that is blacked out.....

That photo is amazing...can you tell me the source and if you know the date it was taken?

Many thanks Dave, I will pass this info on to Kens family.

alieneyes · Group Captain

Clint,

It's a bit of a mess. Gillespie was shot on 6 November but didn't expire until 14 November. I'll email you some documents and texts which will tie it all up. Hart flew a few times in November after this incident.

Gillespie was older than most airmen having been born in 1909. The photo I posted was taken at No. 1 SFTS, Camp Borden, 9 July 1941.

The aircraft this happened on, Halifax W7768, was lost with all hands a month later:

www.isle-of-wight-memorials.org.uk/others/newbridge_halifax_w7768.htm

-- Edited by alieneyes on Monday 19th of September 2016 10:20:51 PM

Coffey · Squadron Leader

Thank you Dave. Now that you have given me the correct date, I have found the entry in the Squadron records telling the story. I cant believe the poor bugger had to fly back from St Eval in the rear turret....but the mid upper was U/S , so "press on regardless" right? I would appreciate any docs you could send me.... clintdotcoffeyatgov.bc.ca

You have certainly cleared up a lot for me, many thanks.

Clint

MikeH · Air Vice Marshall

Hi Clint,

grave of Sgt Hugh Gordon Gillespie RCAF.

Mike.H

Coffey · Squadron Leader

Thank you Mike, much appreciated.