CNAG Hampton Gray VC Chapter members and Naval Aviators gathered together on 17th November 2010 at HMCS BYTOWN, Ottawa to honour the Canadians who served aboard HMS FORMIDABLE, flying F4U Corsairs, during World War Two in 1841 & 1842 Squadrons.

A large painting of a flight of Corsairs was unveiled by Annabell Butterworth, widow of RCNVR Lt(P) Charles Butterworth DSC, who served with 1842 Squadron.  Charlie fought at the Battle of Onagawa Bay, Japan(with Hammy Gray VC DSC) on 9 August 1945, taking a direct hit on his bulletproof front windscreen, only splintering it, thereafter returning to land-on safely.  Incidentally, Charlie's father served as an RNAS Pilot in World War One.

Annabell Butterworth was a passenger aboard the MV DUNEDIN STAR in November 1942, when it went aground, and eventually sank off the coast of Namibia, Africa, with everyone taking to the lifeboats safely.  They made landfall on the desolate Namibian Skeleton Coast, becoming marooned there for 4 weeks before rescuers reached them.

The following photograph shows the Corsairs in flight, painted by the artist Chris Connelly, and shows CNAG Ottawa President Peter Milsom discussing the actions over Japan to the audience & to Annabell Butterworth.  The painting will be permanently exhibited in HMCS BYTOWN.