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 No.9 Flying Training School, based at Thornaby.
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 was 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.
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