Hart K6455 at Thornaby airfield.

On 16th December 1936 this aircraft stalled on landing at Thornaby airfield, the lower wing hit the ground and the aircraft tipped up onto it's nose.

Pilot - Acting P/O G E Thompson RAF. Probably George Evelyn Thompson RAF (39215)


G E Thompson received his short service commission on 19th October 1936 to the rank of Acting P/O on probation and was posted to 9 FTS at Thornaby on 31st October 1936. After this date the assumption is made that he rose to F/O before WW2 and an officer of the same initials rose to F/Lt on 3rd September 1940, it is likely that they were one and the same men. George Thompson was promoted to S/Ldr (temp) on 1st December 1941.

If indeed the two men were one and the same then he died on 12th March 1944 and is buried in Botley Cemetery, Oxford. S/Ldr Thompson was twenty nine years old.


Hart K6455 was built to contract 410420/35 by Vickers Ltd at Weybridge and delivered to 9 FTS on 1st May 1936. It sustained Cat.R/FA damage in this incident in December 1936 and was then repaired and returned to 9 FTS. It suffered a further Cat.R/FA accident on 31st August 1937 ad was repaired and then transferred to 1 FTS on 17th May 1941 but then sent to Air Dispatch for repair on 25th May 1941 probably after a further accident. It was later transferred to Odiham for dismantling and packing on 18th November 1941 and transferred to the South African Air Force for 2 FTS on 5th December 1941. It was finally struck off RAF Charge on 3rd May 1944.