On 20th September 1939 this 220 Squadron Anson took off from Thornaby airfield at 16.15hrs to undertake a convoy patrol. The aircraft landed back at Thornaby at 20.16hrs and on taxying to a dispersal point it struck Anson K8825 that was parked, both aircraft sustained slight damage which was later repaired. Both airmen converted to flying the Hudson type and were
involved in a minor incident on 9th April 1940.
Pilot - P/O Cameron William McNeill RAF (41043), of Chesley, Ontario, Canada.
Observer - F/O Charles Philip Wright RAF (39427).
Avro Anson MkI K6208 was built to contract B21119/35 by A.V.Roe Ltd. at Woodford and was delivered directly to 220 Squadron at Bircham Newton on 29th September 1936 where it received the squadron codin "-N". On 8th October 1938 it was returned to A.V.Roe Ltd. for modifications before being returned to 220 Squadron eleven days later but it was then re-coded "NR-Y". On 21st August 1939 it moved to Thornaby with 220 Squadron. On 20th September 1939 it was involved in this minor ground accident and the damage was assessed to have been minor repairable Cat.M/FA. It was repaired on site but not long after was transferred to 206 Squadron on 31st October 1939 who were based at Bircham Newton. On 21st December 1939 it was transferred to 217 Squadron at St.Eval and then on to 17 OTU at Upwood on 30th May 1940. It was struck off charge on 6th August 1940 but the reason why it was struck off charge is not yet known.
Cameron McNeill (left) and Charles Wright (right), taken from a 220 Squadron group photograph dated 4th April 1939 at Bircham Newton.
Cameron McNeill was Canadian but had enlisted into the RAF before the war begun and received a commission in June 1939. He was flying a reconnaissance flight over a German port on 3rd September 1939 when his wireless operator reported that war had been declared and was the pilot that first spotted the Altmark in February 1940. He would fly more than 100 operational flights. He was promoted to F/O on 3rd September 1940, F/Lt exactly a year later in September 1941 and to (temporary) S/Ldr on 1st January 1944. He later relinquished his commission on 12th June 1944 on appointment to the RCAF. He then served for a further thirty years in the RCAF before retiring as a Cononel. As part of his service he was awarded the Atlantic and Pacific Stars. He then became a member of staff for the National Academy of Sciences in Washington. He died in July 2004 in Georgetown, Washington.
Charles Wright's commission and promotion to F/O have not yet been located, he later rose to F/Lt on 3rd September 1940, and later to S/Ldr. He was Commended for Brave Conduct on 1st June 1943. Post War he remained in the RAF until leaving the Reserve of Officers in April 1959 as Squadron Leader.