On 9th April 1940 this 220 Squadron aircraft took off from Thornaby at 04.30hrs to undertake a patrol and reported seeing one "M/V" burning in the North Sea and a Norwegian
destroyer with smoke rising from it. The aircraft then flew over Norway and while investigating a fjord the aircraft was hit by rifle fire coming from a hillside.
The aircraft was slightly damaged by the crew were able to make a safe return to Thornaby where they landed at 12.20hrs.
Pilot - P/O Cameron William McNeill RAF (41043), of Chesley, Ontario, Canada.
Pilot - F/O Charles Philip Wright RAF (39427).
Wireless Operator - AC1 Ronald Jack Simpson RAF (628649).
Air Gunner - AC1 Turner.
Cameron McNeill was a Canadian but had enlisted into the RAF before WW2 begun, he received a commission to the rank of Acting P/O on probation on 20th
August 1938. In all he flew more than 100 operational flights during the War. He flew a reconnaissance flight over a German port on 3rd September 1939 when
his wireless operator reported that war had been declared and he was the pilot that first spotted the German ship "Altmark" in February 1940. He was promoted
to F/O on 3rd September 1940, F/Lt on 3rd September 1941 and to S/Ldr (temp) 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, USA.
Charles Wright received a commission to the rank of Acting P/O on probation on 28th January 1937 and rose to F/O on an unknown date. He was promoted to
F/Lt on 3rd September 1940 and later to S/Ldr. He was commended for brave conduct on 1st June 1943 for service in Rhodesia. Post War he remained in the RAF
until leaving the Reserve of Officers in April 1959 as Squadron Leader.
AC1 Simpson was flying in Hudson N7285 on 24th April 1940 when the aircraft was attacked by two Me109’s, the Hudson caught fire and as the pilot attempted
to ditch the aircraft control was lost and it crashed into the North Sea with the loss of the crew. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
AC1 Turner’s full identity is not yet known.
Hudson T9373 later carried "NR-G" code letter but was only delivered to the RAF in October 1940 which suggests our aircraft left the squadron around the
same time if it had not had a replacement prior to this date.