Knowles, H G (Hugh Grenville)
Knowles, H G (Hugh Grenville)
Royal Navy Pilot Lieutenant Hugh Grenville Knowles died on 22nd April 1944 while flying Grumman F6F Hellcat,[1] FN394 in a training exercise over Co. Antrim.
While taking part in low flying training, Hugh came out of low cloud to find himself too close to the ground in a hilly area. He unfortunately was not able to avoid the ground and crashed.
Rescuers were soon at the scene and recovered Lieutenant Knowles alive and rushed him to Waveney Hospital in Ballymena, Co. Antrim. He was pronounced dead-on arrival.
Hugh was the son of Robert Millington Knowles and Olive M. Knowles; husband of Pamela June Knowles, of Claygate, Surrey.
Lieutenant Hugh Grenville Knowles was the second last pilot to die from 1847 Squadron.[2] Half of the squadron had perished in training accidents since its formation in February 1944. It would be disbanded a few weeks after his death and absorbed into 1840 Squadron which was also based at Eglinton airfield.
Date of Death: Died 22/04/1944 (Aged 22)
Service: Lieutenant, 1847 Squadron, H.M.S. Blackcap, Royal Navy
Service Number: NK
Burial Location: Faughanvale (Saint Canice) Church of Ireland Churchyard, Grave 14.
[1] Grumman F6F Hellcat was primarily a Carrier fighter plane produced by the United States which first flew it on the 26th of June 1942, going into full service a year later.
[2] 1847 Squadron consisted of 12 pilots, four British and eight from the Royal Netherlands Navy. It had just been formed on the 1st of February 1944, but due to the loss of 6 pilots during training the squadron was disbanded and merged into 1840 Squadron on the 20th of May 1944.
