HUNKING, Elwin Thomas
NAME HUNKING Elwin Thomas R/78903
RANK Flight Sergeant / Wireless Operator / Air Gunner Royal Canadian Air Force
SQUADRON No. 14 Operational Training Unit
“keep with the pack”
Group 92 RAF Bomber Command
Cottesmore Airfield in Rutland
Squadron Markings GL AM VB Born February 6, 1922 - Clinton - Hullett Township - County of Huron Residence Clinton Died August 1, 1942 20 years 6 months Cemetery Rheinburg War Cemetery - Rheinburg Kamp Lintfort - Nordehein-Westfal - Germany
I G 7
Mother Mrs. Lilian Lavis (Hunking) - Clinton - Ontario
Elwin was born in Clinton on February 6, 1922. He enjoyed baseball, football, basketball, hockey, swimming and skiing. His favourite hobby was model aircraft making. His phone number in Clinton was 257. Growing up he had the measles and the mumps. He and the family would have attended either Wesley Willis United Church or Ontario Street United Church. He attended Clinton Public School from 1927-35 and Clinton Collegiate from 1935-40.
Canada
He had completed his schooling six months previous when he went to London on January 2, 1941 to enlist into the RCAF and at that time he stood 5' 8" tall and weighed 145 pounds. He had a fair complexion with blue eyes and light brown hair. He received the rank of Aircraftsman 2 and was posted to No. 1 Manning Depot in Toronto where he remained for four weeks. During his RCAF Special Reserve interview he was recommended for Air Gunner training. On January 30 he was attached to No. 1 "A" Manning Depot based 9n Picton. In late winter/early spring on March 19 he was posted back to Toronto to the Manning Depot. He remained here for five weeks and then was posted to No. 4 Manning Depot in Quebec City on April 25. He was not there long before being posted to No. 22 Elementary Flying Training School in L'Ancienne- Lorette - Quebec on May 4. Then it was on to No. 1 Wireless School in Montreal on June 24. While here he received the rank of Leading Aircraftsman. He was 49 in a class of 112 and had a 74.5% average. On November 9 he was posted to Fingal - Ontario to No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School on November 9 where he obtained the rank of Sergeant. He also received his Air Gunner Badge. His training was now complete in Canada and on December 10 Sergeant Hunking was attached to No. 1 "Y" Depot in Halifax in preparation for going overseas.
Overseas Sergeant Hunking then transferred to the RAF Training Pool on January 7, 1942 and a day later on January 8 he embarked from Canada for overseas. He disembarked in the United Kingdom on January 20 and the following day reported to No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre in Bournemouth. His first posting in the United Kingdom sent him on February 14 to No. 1 Signals School at RAF Cranwell - Lincolnshire. On April 7 he was posted to No. 16 Operational Training Unit based at RAF Upper Heyford - Oxfordshire. Approximately a month later he went to No. 14 Operational Training Unit - RAF Cottesmore - West Sussex. While here he was promoted to the rank of Flight Sergeant. He was assigned to No. 14 OTU which was equipped with Hampdens and Herefords and this squadron trained crews for night bombing missions.
In the field
On a raid to Dusseldorf in Germany, Hampden P 5322 GL U3 was airborne at 00:03 am on the night of August 1st and over Ostende, Belgium when they were attacked by a German night fighter. The night over the coast was clear with a bright moon which was a plus for the Luftwaffe. The aircraft was shot down and subsequently crashed near . This was the first Operational mission for F/S Hunking. It is unsure of this aircraft was shot down by a night fighter or by the guns of 7.Flak Division. The aircraft was shot down over Burgmauer - Koln - Nordhein - Westfalen. Group 92 had sent out 105 aircraft and lost 11 aircraft or 10 ½%. For the total mission there was 630 aircraft and they bombed the target from 1:50 am until 3 am before turning for the homeward leg back to base. Only 485 aircraft reached the target because many of the aircraft were from training units and were flying well worn aircraft and had no experience flying night missions over enemy territory.
The Hadley-Page Hampden was a medium twin engine bomber that bore much of the brunt of the early
bombing war over Europe. It was not at all suited for modern warfare and operated mainly at night. It had
speed and agility but was no match for German fighters. This aircraft was known by the name "suitcase" because of being so cramped for the crew of 4 men. Flight Sergeant Hunking was the Wireless Operator and Gunner. It could carry 4,000 pounds of bombs, had a service ceiling of 19,000 feet, had a speed of 247 mph and a cruising speed of 206 mph and the range was 1,720 miles.
In July 1945 Sergeant Hunking's mother Lilian received the Memorial Cross. In the month of May 1946 the family received the medals awarded to Sergeant Hunking and these were the 1939-45 Star, the Defence Medal, the War Medal along with the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp. During that month his family received his Operational Wings.
Elwin is honoured and remembered on www.aircrewremembered.com/hunking-elwin-thomas.html, on the Clinton Cenotaph, on the Memorial Plaque of the Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 140, on the Memorial Plaque of the Church he attended, on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial and on the RCAF Bomber Command Memorial.
