On 29th December 1936 this aircraft struck Tutor K3325 at Thornaby airfield causing damage to both aircraft though both were later repaired.
The pilot was an instructor at 9 FTS.
Pilot - F/O Frederick William Hilton RAF (32195).
Frederick Hilton was granted a short service commission to the rank of Acting P/O with effect from
and seniority of 12th August 1932 and was posted to 4 FTS at Abu Sueir on 26th August 1932. He was
later confirmed in the rank of P/O on 12th August 1933 and was promoted to F/O on an unknown date.
He was posted to 7 Squadron at Worthy Down on 8th June 1936 but between 17th August and 8th November
1936 he attended a flying instructor course at the Central Flying School gaining a Class B certificate
and was then posted to 9 FTS at Thornaby on 9th November 1936 as an instructor.
He was promoted to F/Lt on 12th March 1937. In Summer 1938 a F/Lt Hilton joined Reading flying club
as their Chief Flying Instructor and it seems likely that this was the same man. He was promoted to
S/Ldr (temp) on 1st March 1940 and awarded the AFC in October 1940 and was promoted again to W/Co
(temp) on 1st March 1942.
On 26th November 1943 he was flying Lancaster JB538 with 7 Squadron on Ops to Berlin when the aircraft was shot down by a night-fighter,
one of the crew died but he and five others became PoW's. Post-War he remained in the RAF finally relinquishing his commission on 10th
February 1954, retaining the rank of Wing Commander.
Hart K6457 was built to contract 410420/35 by Vickers Ltd at Weybridge and delivered to 9 FTS on 3rd May 1936.
This aircraft suffered Cat.R/FA damage as a result of the mishap at Thornaby in December 1936 and was repaired and returned to the training unit. It suffered a further Cat.R/FA accident on 20th October 1938, and following repair a final Cat.W/FA accident
on 14th February 1940. It was struck off charge on 7th March 1940.