Father: Joseph John Hawkey (d. 1921) Next of kin: (mother) Mrs Beatrice Belknap [Hill] Dixon, Ailsa Craig, Ontario, Canada prev. exp. 265 hrs on Harvard, Fleet, Master, Spitfire prev. RCAF, RAF Enlisted in Toronto in 1941, received his 'wings' 12 Jan 1942 from St Hubert, Quebec and was posted to England. "Has had a lot of posting and little flying so browned off" Postings: 5TFPP, 3FPP 5TFPP: "He is regularly ferrying Hurricanes, Masters and similar types. It will not be long before he is flying Spitfires. His general character is good ... a well-disciplined NCO [he was a Flt-Sgt at the time]" When with 3FPP, he stayed in accommodation at 5 Waltham Place, Cliveden Rd, Chester (Mrs B J Kelly) 30 Nov 1943: "This pilot requires hospital treatment and is unfit for flying. He will be admitted to Preston Military Hospital tomorrow." He reported back on the 9 Dec 1943, but died a few weeks later in an accident: d. 24 Jan 1944 in Mostyn Hall Military Hospital nr Chester, following an accident the day before in Beaufighter X NE474, piloted by First Officer (RAF Sgt.) Eric Brunskill, which was hit by Mustang AG597 landing on the wrong runway at Hawarden. Pilot Officer E Vincent, RCAF, was also a passenger and suffered severe burns. Buried Blacon, Chester, Sec. A. Grave 1073 After his death, his landlady Mrs Kelly went every week to put fresh flowers on the grave, and to keep it tidy.
Also commemorated on his mother's grave at Mars Hill Cemetery, McGillivray, Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada "Beatrice (Hawkey) Dixon 1886-1975 P/O John W. Hawkey RCAF 1920-1944 Killed on Active Service at Cheshire, Eng."
Download ATA Pilot Personal Record (.zip file): |
