On 7th August 1941 an unidentified Hudson swung on landing at Thornaby airfield which caused a collapse of the undercarriage. The aircraft was one of the aircraft used by 6 (C)OTU at the time.
Instructor Pilot - F/O Robert Benvie Fleming RAF (41572), of Stellarton, Pictou, Nova Scotia.
Trainee Pilot - Sgt Weitzel RAF.
Robert Benvie Fleming was born on 17th May 1916 in Stellarton, Pictou, Nova Scotia and was educated in Bonavista, Newfoundland. He joined the RAF in October 1938
and received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 3rd September 1940. After training he was posted to 220 Squadron (also at Thornaby at the time) on 26th
November 1939 and served with them until 31st December 1940 having flown 109 operational flights lasting 428 hours such was the nature of Coastal Command flying at the
time. After service with 220 Squadron he volunteered to join the Atlantic Ferry Pool and sailed for Canada soon afterwards. He was due to ferry Hudson's across the
Atlantic but this was switched to B-17's and he trained in the USA. His first ferry flight was to ferry B-17 AN520 from Portland via a number of staging points in the
USA to Newfoundland and flying to Ayr, Scotland the following day on 14th May 1941. Days later he was back on ship and sailed for Canada again to collect a Hudson. He
was tasked with flying Hudson AM831 to the UK setting out on 16th July 1941 and flying across in a day (with extra tanks fitted). On handing the aircraft over at
Prestwick he was posted back to Thornaby but 220 Squadron had left for Wick and he was to take up a posting as an instructor with 6 OTU which was the only unit there
at the time. On 2nd January 1942 he was posted back to 220 Squadron and later flew his B-17 (AM520) which had arrived there having being used by 90 Squadron previously.
He later flew with 86 Squadron, 53 Squadron, 1674 HCU and 547 Squadron during the War and 120, 502 and 202 Squadrons after the War. He was awarded the AFC (Gazetted on 1st September 1944) while serving with 1674 HCU, the recommendation reads.."Since being posted to this unit as flight commander this officer has taken part in, and was largely responsible for, the conversion of No.220 Squadron to Fortress and Nos.160 and 86 Squadrons to Liberator aircraft. He operated the first Liberator to be fitted with the Leigh Light and was also responsible for the initial training of two squadrons with aircraft so fitted. Squadron Leader Fleming has displayed the greatest keenness and determination throughout his career." He was also Mentioned in Despatches (Gazetted on 8th June 1944) and then awarded the DFC (Gazetted on 6th February 1945) while serving with 547 Squadron. W/Co Fleming DFC, AFC MiD left the RAF in 1971 and died in July 2002 in Reading, Berkshire, England.
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