In 2017 Clarence Simonsen met veteran Spitfire pilot Gordon McKenzie Hill who then shared with him all he had kept from his service with the RCAF during WWII. He shared stories and photos but mostly he remembered his comrades-in-arms.
Clarence then wrote me because he wanted Gordon’s stories and photos online to preserve Gordon Hill’s past.
In 2017 I knew nothing about 416 Squadron, but with Clarence’s research I learned so much more about Gordon Hill and also some French-Canadian Spitfire pilots who according to Gordon Hill were damn good pilots. Being myself French-Canadian suffice to say that information made my day.
On Sunday Clarence wrote me again and asked something…
RCAF Pilot Gordon Hill died on 30 January 2021. Gordon was 97 years of age. Maybe you can add something at the end of this wonderful man’s history blog.
Clarence
I then decided to add something and share Clarence’s research on the links below…
“Crabapple” Fighter, Hurricane Mk. XII, serial #814, RCAF 5389
“Crabapple” Fighter, Hurricane Mk. XII, serial #814, RCAF 5389 – PDF Version
The Making of a WWII RCAF Fighter Pilot – Part One
The Making of a WWII RCAF Spitfire Pilot – Part One (PDF version)
The Making of a WWII RCAF Spitfire Pilot – Part Two
The Making of a WWII RCAF Spitfire Pilot – Part Two (PDF version)
The Making of a WWII RCAF Spitfire Fighter Pilot – Part Three
The Making of a WWII RCAF Spitfire Pilot Part Three (PDF version)
Intermission One – Kittyhawk AK803 (1034)
Intermission Two – “Pic” Picard
Intermission Three – “Damn good pilots!”
Intermission Four – Crazy Frenchies
Intermission Five Petit Brogel
Intermission Six – More from Gordon
Intermission Seven – Jules, the Forgotten Batman in RCAF history
The Making of a WWII RCAF Spitfire Pilot Part Four
The Making of a WWII RCAF Spitfire Pilot – Part Four (PDF version)
The Making of a WW II RCAF Spitfire Pilot – Part Five
The Making of a WWII RCAF Spitfire Fighter Pilot – Part Five (PDF version)
The Making of a WWII RCAF Spitfire Pilot – Part Six
The Making of a WWII RCAF Spitfire Fighter Pilot Part Six (PDF version)
Postwar – Base 174, Utersen, Germany Part One
Postwar – [5 July 1945 to 21 March 1946] Base 174, Utersen, Germany Part One (PDF version)
Postwar – Base 174, Utersen, Germany, [5 July 45 to 21 March 1946] – Part Two
Postwar – [5 July 1945 to 21 March 1946] – Base 174, Utersen, Germany – Part Two (PDF version)
Postwar – [5 July 1945 to 21 March 1946] – Base 174, Utersen, Germany – Part Three
Postwar – [5 July 1945 to 21 March 1946] – Base 174, Utersen, Germany – Part Three (PDF version)
Preserving the Past 