British Spitfire pilot, William Torrens Hinds of RAF 54 Squadron, was shot down and killed in action over Darwin in 1943
Excerpt from an Article in the Defence Force Magazine "Behind the Lines" On the 2nd of August 2019, relatives of the last Spitfire pilot shot down over Darwin, Flying Officer William Hinds, visited the fatal crash site located within the Kangaroo Flats Training Area (KFTA). Early communication engagement during February 2019, by Mr Michael Horsfall … Continue reading Bill Hind’s Relatives Visit Darwin
54 Squadron British pilot, Flying Officer D.W. Gray was flying A58-51 code "DL-E" from Darwin to Drysdale on 22 December 1943 when he became lost on low fuel. He made a gear-up forced landing on tidal mud flats at the mouth of Prince Regents River. This location was relatively close to where Truscott airfield was … Continue reading Spitfire at Crocodile Creek
Great painting by Drew Harrison called "Pressure Point" which depicts aerial combat over Darwin during World War 2. It was 2nd place in the 2012 RAAF Heritage Awards. Prints are available from the address below https://drewharrisonart.bigcartel.com/product/pressure-point
Link to Australian War Memorial and 54 Squadron RAF
Link to article below:- https://www.spitfireassociation.com/spitfiresoveraustralia.php
54 Squadron RAF was formed in 1916 during World War I and originally flew Sopwith Pups. The Pup was one of the few aircraft was not outclassed by the German Albatros aircraft during Bloody April. The Pups were soon replaced by Sopwith Camels and 54 Squadron flew this until the end of the war producing … Continue reading 54 Squadron RAF Spitfires
Robert Taylor's painting, dedicated to the Spitfire Memorial Defence Fellowship, depicts the Mk Vc tropicalised Spitfires of No 1 Wing RAAF returning from a scramble over the City of Darwin in eaerly 1943
Link to William Hinds Entry in the Roll of Honour at The King's School, Cantebury. http://www.hambo.org/kingscanterbury/view_man.php?id=47
A comment from William's nephew, Michael Horsfall: - "Alas the New York Herald Tribune is no longer. While our family are lucky that it was Bill who was photographed midst the gracious company, the photo serves to illustrate: 1) that some of the pilots went to Australia via America and 2) the efforts of some … Continue reading Bill Hinds in New York
A Spitfire over Darwin 