Whitley P4971 23 June 1940 Nr Newark, Notts

[Observer1940]

Hello All

I'm interested in any local information / reports, weather, or any references relating to the forced landing of Whitley P4971 with 51 Sqn on 23.6.40 at Shire Bridge, Newark, Nottinghamshire claimed to be caused by low clouds around 13.00 hrs.

There were no deaths apparently according to Roberts crash log, but the Whitley did need repairing.

23rd June 1940 was a Sunday.

The Newspaper Archive online does not have the Newark Advertiser or Newark Herald.

Thanks Mark

[noggin]

Only place I can suggest would be Shire Bridge Farm NG23 5EA Long Bennington which would be very close to the South of RAF Balderton. I would not rely on the Newark Advertiser as they have very little on war time activity ( I know , I've tried ). Newark Herald went under in 1960 so I have no idea what happened to the archive.

[Observer1940]

Thanks

The Pilot of Whitley P4971 on 23 June 1940 was Sgt H. J. Fitz 564624.

The official cause was engine failure and Unable to reach aerodrome due to low clouds & inability to climb on one engine.

Mark

[noggin]

Found some more on your pilot : H. J. Fitz 564624 January 1931 arrived at RAF Cranwell as the 3D (23rd) Entry to train as Instrument Makers or Wireless Operator Mechanics.
Pass Out in December 1933. Force landing of Whitley P4971 23 June 1940 Shire Bridge Farm NG23 5EA Long Bennington. The Pilot was Sgt H. J. Fitz 564624. The official cause was engine failure and unable to reach aerodrome due to low clouds & inability to climb on one engine. Sgt H. J. Fitz was uninjured. Those 2 entries are the same service number but when I did a google search of his name this also came up. 12th March 1953 two routine NATO liaison sorties Lincoln ‘C’ (RF531) captained by FS TJ Dunnell with Sqn Ldr H J Fitz, the new CO of 3 Sqn along for a familiarisation sortie as co-pilot. At 13.20hrs, as the aircraft was entering the 20-mile wide air corridor from Hamburg to Berlin, it was attacked by 2 MIG 15’s that opened fire without warning. The Lincoln went down in a steep dive, followed by the MIG’s who continued to pour fire into the crippled aircraft. The aircraft’s starboard wing caught fire and it began to break up in mid-air. The main body of the aircraft crashed into a wood near Bolzenburg, 3 miles inside the Russian Zone, with 4 of the crew still in the wreckage. The remainder of the aircraft fell to ground near Bleckede, on the edge of Luneburg Heath 15 miles SE of Hamburg, inside the British Zone. Three of the crew managed to bail out of the doomed plane, but one of the parachutes failed to open. The 2 other crewmembers landed (one in the British Zone) but both died of their wounds and other injuries. A number of German eyewitnesses confirmed that MIG’s had been responsible for the attack on the aircraft and suggested that one of the fighters had also attacked the descending parachutists – this would explain certain features of the medical reports on the deceased.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...35408/page/141

http://www.afm-veterans-uk.info/roll...SerialNo=R2755

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/.../4928/data.pdf

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/.../5064/data.pdf

[Observer1940]

Noggin

Thank you for the post-war info.

Hoping to glean extra/secondary info on the Whitley. Although, I have some ideas as to why engine failed. 1940 Accident Card copy I have is vague.

Mark