On 20th June 1936 this No.9 Flying Training School aircraft was damaged at Thornaby airfield when it collided on the ground with Hart K5813. This aircraft sustained serious damage. Hart K5805 was built to contract 410420/35 by Vickers at Weybridge and was delivered to No.9 F.T.S. on 10th March 1936. As a result of the damage sustained in this incident the most severe Cat.W/FA damage was recorded and it was struck off charge with 101.35hrs total flying time.
Pilot - Acting P/O John Douglas Stern RAF. Of Crackington Haven, Cornwall.
John Stern was born in 1912 and was the son of Rev John Stern, he was granted a commission in the RAF to the rank of Acting P/O on probation on 23rd March 1936 and posted to 9
FTS at Thornaby on 4th April 1936. On 10th October 1936 he was posted to 58 Squadron based at Driffield but soon left for 114
Squadron at Wyton on 1st December 1936. He was confirmed in the rank of P/O on 27th January 1937. He passed a Second Class
Navigation Licence in July 1937. He later relinquished his RAF commission on appointment to the Air Branch of the Royal Navy
on 22nd August 1938 and took up the rank of Acting Sub/Lt. He was promoted to Acting Lt on 27th January 1939.
He was sadly killed on 3rd March 1940 while serving with HMS Furious and is buried at Fowey Cemetery, Cornwall.
His great great Grandfather was Admiral Charles Powell Hamilton RN who in turn was a descendant of Lt.Gen James Hamilton, 4th Duke
of Hamilton.
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