Hi all,
My name is François, I’m a student in History living near Bayeux, Normandy, France.
I’m looking for some information regarding a mission led by 401 Squadron (RCAF) over the Paris-Cherbourg railroad track on 15 January 1943.
According to my sources, nine Spitfires of the unit took part in this mission. One of them was operated by Flight Lieutenant Harry Deane ‘Dean’ MacDonald (J/15467) and another one by Sergeant William Kennedy Ferguson (J/85171).
Around 15:30, Ferguson’s aircraft crashed near Bayeux. He died and was buried in the local cemetery a couple of days after.
His aircraft serial number was EN183. I found that it was a Mk IX but I cannot determine the version — Mk IXb or Mk IXc.
Now here are my questions:
1) What was the exact version manned by 401 Squadron at that time?
2) The Squadron code was ‘YO’: how can I find Ferguson’s individual letter?
3) Where can I find any picture of him and/or his aircraft?
3) Does anybody have some more information about his biography?
Please consider that I’ve been spending hours and hours researching these information on the Internet. This forum is like my ultimate resource.
Thanks for any help,
Fox.
By: Fox - 3rd June 2010 at 17:57
Thanks, G-ORDY. The site you mention is the one where I found these information.
By: G-ORDY - 3rd June 2010 at 10:39
No confirmation?
Sorry Francois. Yes, No.401 “Ram” Sqdn RCAF moved from Biggin Hill to Kenley on 24 September 1942 and then moved from Kenley to Catterick (N. Yorkshire) for a “rest” period on 23 January 1943, here it re-equipped with the Spitfire Vb. At Kenley it formed part of the Canadian Wing alongside Nos 402, 412 and 416 Sqdns.
Keith Hodson was Sqdn C.O. He served post-war with the RCAF and reached the rank of Air Vice Marshal, serving as Deputy Chief of Staff at North American Air Defence Command (NORAD) headquarters from 1958. He was killed in a T-33 on 5 July 1960 near Colorado Springs, USA, when, having suffered engine problems, he bailed out but his parachute became caught in the tail and he was dragged down with his aircraft. 🙁
By: Fox - 2nd June 2010 at 20:13
No confirmation?
By: Fox - 1st June 2010 at 20:41
I also found that 401 Squadron’s base was Kenley (Surrey) at that time, and that it was under Squadron Leader Keith Louis Bate Hodson’s command. Are these information correct?
By: Fox - 1st June 2010 at 20:15
hit this link:
Unfortunately, I already have checked it out but I cannot find any extra information.
By: G-ORDY - 1st June 2010 at 20:09
Thanks for your answers, gentlemen.
G-ORDY, I assume the Mk IX featured two 20-mm cannons and four .303 machine guns. Is that correct?
Absolutely correct – basically the same as the Spitfire L.F.Vc (the so-called Universal wing) but slightly modified.
By: walshlee - 1st June 2010 at 20:06
He is some information on his wingman, Dean MacDonald
hit this link:
By: Fox - 1st June 2010 at 20:00
Thanks for your answers, gentlemen.
G-ORDY, I assume the Mk IX featured two 20-mm cannons and four .303 machine guns. Is that correct?
Lee, I’m looking forward to hearing from you!
By: G-ORDY - 1st June 2010 at 19:44
His aircraft serial number was EN183. I found that it was a Mk IX but I cannot determine the version — Mk IXb or Mk IXc.
Now here are my questions:
1) What was the exact version manned by 401 Squadron at that time?Fox.
Hi Francois, welcome to the Forum – the correct designation for EN183 was simply F.IX, the suffixes “a”, “b” and “c” were not officially used on the Mk IX and the Merlin 61 meant that it was simply a Spitfire F.IX. When the large calibre 0.5 inch Browning was introduced the suffix “e” was applied but that was the only official sub-type. Having said that many squadrons referred to “IXb” and “IXc” – as have many post-war authors – but technically the types never existed!
By: walshlee - 1st June 2010 at 18:22
401 Squadron – Ferguson crash
Francois,
Might have some information that will help you find some more information on this pilot, aircraft, and where you can start searching.
Lee
Toronto
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June 1, 2010 at 5:58 pm