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Re: Typhoon lost 21/06/44
Circumstances are a bit obscure on this one - probably the reason for your query? MN857 certainly ditched/force-landed (take your pick as it is variously described as landing on mud-flats or sea and being 'half-submerged') 'west of Lymington' and 'off Keyhaven' following an engine failure. The pilot, Flt Sgt W.B.Whitmore, RCAF, was rescued ok. Keyhaven is just east of Milford on Sea, on the east side of Hurst spit.
MN857 was a fairly new aircraft. Its record card first reports it at 51 MU, Lichfield, on 15 June 1944 and then simply FAE (ie. written off in a flying accident) 21 June 1944 with 413 R&SU. However, Whitmore was a 257 Sqn pilot and the unit was operating from nearby Needs Oar Point, and indeed the 257 ORB does record the incident. It seems to have been a non-operational flight and may have been a delivery from 413 R&SU to 257 sqn, but thats just a guess. Will do a bit more digging at the next opportunity.
CT
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