HANSON, David James [MiD]


Sub-Lieutenant (A), David James HANSON [MiD]
Aged 22


H.M.S. "Jackdaw" Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve
Killed in Action on Monday 1st May 1944

David James HANSON was born in 1922 (Newport Pagnell Q2-1922 3A:1830), son of James and Florence Minnie HANSON (née GUDGIN), of Olney, Bucks..

Mrs L S Robinson, the school archivist has linked David the airman to being an Old Culfordian.

His will gives the address of "Chantry", 9 High Street, Olney, Bucks, father a retired pastor.


In 1941 he was in Trinidad at Naval Air Station Piarco (HMS Goshawk). In 1942 he was in Malta
By 1943 he was a sub lieutentant (A) at Drem airfield (HMS Nighthawk) in East Lothian and mentioned in despatches in 1944.

He was commissioned temporary Sub Lieutenant on 22nd March 1942 .

HMS Jackdaw was a "stone frigate", ie a shore establishment, Royal Naval Air Station Crail,near St Andrews in Fife.
He was attached to 838 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm which moved to RAF Harrowbeer (near Plymouth) on April 29th 1944 as part of 156 GR Wing, RAF Coastal Command.
On 30th April 1944 a flight of three Swordfish left RAF Harrowbeer, the crew of his Fairey Swordfish ser.no.NE923 were David, Sub Lt HAYWARD (RNZN) and Leading Airman B L Rowntree. They failed to return from a rocket attack on a beached German torpedo boat T-27 at Isle Vierge, Brittany. The beached vessel was still capable of using it's anti aircraft guns and brought down NE906 and NE923, both crashing in France. Coastal anti aircraft batteries accounted for the third Swordfish NE946 which ditched in the sea. All the crews were killed.
It seems the attack was intended to be made by an RAF Squadron with Typhoons, not 838 FAA with it's ancient bi-planes, but the orders were transmitted to the wrong unit.


David Hanson as a naval rating






A Swordfish with rockets, instead of the more usual torpedo





photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission



David Hanson is commemorated on the Lee on Solent Naval Memorial

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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