Loss of Whitley Z6795 21 Sep 42

[Chris Goss]

The above 10 OTU machine, coded JL-W was lost operating from St Eval on the above date. There are a number of photos of it being brought ashore almost intact by the Germans yet WO2 Bob Warren & his crew are reported as missing. Can anyone confirm the loss location and reason (I am away from my records at the moment)

[rafcommands]

The crew for Z6795 was

F/L N J Mundell RNZAF
F/Sgt K G D'Arcy
W/O J F Grier
W/O I G Keiller
W/O H G P Hart RCAF
W/O R J Christian RCAF

Warren was on Z9472
Missing. Presumed to have run out of fuel and crashed. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. W/O Warren, from Maine, USA, had survived a ditching into the Bristol Channel a few days earlier.
Possibly shot down by Oblt Stolle of 8./JG2 over the Bay of Biscay.

Regards
Ross

[Chris Goss]

Ross: Thanks for clearing this up. Any ideas as to how and where Z6795 was lost? Presume (looking at photos) that Mundell & crew were POW

[rafcommands]

Nothing hard and fast.

Offically the aircraft was lost near Cornwall for no defined reason.

There is a report from a relative that combat took place at the extreme limit of the patrol and a mortal injury sustained leading the crew to seek the nearest medical aid.

I have not yet looked deeper into this senario.

Regards
Ross

[Chris Goss]

Apparently came down on the beach at Plomodiern hence its condition (flaps and undercarriage down-no damage to props). According to the AHB, pilot was Plt Off (promoted to Fg Off 1 oct 42) Neyeille (Neville?) James Mundell. All the crew were POW so none were mortally wounded

[Observer1940]

Hello Chris and Ross

I have a suspicion that an A.M.1180 might exist for this one on the microfilm, or at the A.H. Branch?

If there is one, I would be most interested if 'FB' or 'AO' Cat?

Regards Mark

[rafcommands]

Both Whitleys have F1180 but apart from aircraft serial and pilot details the only other information is Missing from Patrol.

The edge codes have not been opened up.

Regards
Ross

[Observer1940]

Hi Ross

I have seen light photocopies from 1942, where the edge coding cannot be determined.

On the reverse side (to the date / Unit Aircraft / Engine and the Pilot's name), in the box, immediately R/H of the "Dawn Dusk" box is there any letter and number?

Mark

[rafcommands]

as I said the edge codes have not been opened up and both annotated the standard F9.

Ross

[Observer1940]

Thanks, F9 is of no help either, only that it occurred "In Flight"