TO Pf7063 No 263 Squadron

[Bernard]

Hi,

Could you please help me with No.263 Squadron F540 and F541 of the 29th of September 1941.
On this date 4 Whirlwind flew a combined Rhubarb operation ( with No 247 Squadron Hurricanes ), loosing Sgt T Hunter killed, and W/Co Donaldson being wounded.

Many thanks.

Bernard.

[Revi16]

Not sure how accurate this is,

From the Kookaburra Tech. Publication, it shows P7063 as a No. 137 Sqdn a/c from Sept. 1941 until missing May 18, 1943.

Regards,
Mike

[Stig Jarlevik]

Bernard

Thomas Hunter was killed flying P7009 on 29.9.41
Nothing on Donaldson on that date, but Bingham in his Whirlwind book says Donaldson was wounded on the 28th in P7044 when hit by Flak at Morlaix airfield

Cheers
Stig

[Stig Jarlevik]

PS

I always liked the design of the Whirlwind and somehow felt it was let down by its engines. Wonder what it would have been like with a couple of Merlins instead....

Cheers
Stig

[Ex Shack]

Hi Bernard
Only thing I have is from Franks FCL Vol 1(revised). He mentions only Hunter, 247 Sqn,P7009. Hunter baled out over the sea nr Plymouth when fuel ran out, but was not found.The Date is 29.9.41.
Donaldson is mentioned the previous day 28.9. as on a Strike on Morlaix Airfield, sustaining Cat 2 Damage and being wounded slightly in both arms. He was in P7044
Regards
Dick

[niallc]

Hi
On the 29th, 263 Squadron sent four Whirlwinds to attack Lannion airfield after Ju 88s had been reported there. Nine Spitfires of 313 Sqn escorted the Whirlwinds and at the last minute four Hurricanes of 247 Squadron were briefed to stage a second attack 20 minutes after the Whirlwinds. Orders for the operation did not arrive until 1600 and the aircraft took off from their forward base at Predannack at 1833 by which time it was getting dark and the weather was deteriorating.
Pilots were FO Hugh Coghlan (leading), Geoff Warnes, Jack Maddocks and Tom Hunter. Sqn. Ldr. Donaldson did not fly on this day as he had been injured and concussed during an attack on Morlaix airfield the previous day.
All the pilots found and attacked the target but became separated in the dark and cloud and made their way home individually. Maddocks landed successfully at Portreath and Warnes at Predannack. Coghlan forcelanded P6998, out of fuel, 200 yards short of Predannack. He suffered only bruises, but P6998 was badly damaged and dismantled to be sent to Westland for repair.
Hunter (P7009) radioed that he was going to bail out because his engines were failing, again presumably because of lack of fuel. A pilot was seen baling out 5 miles southwest of Eddystone Lighthouse at 2005. Sea and land searches were carried out for two days, but found no trace of Hunter. His body was washed ashore at Mullion on October 10th.
20 minutes after the Whirlwinds’ attack the four Hurricanes of 247 Squadron made their attacks. One of the pilots chose to make a second pass over the airfield and was hit hard by the flak, ditching his aircraft just off shore and becoming a prisoner of war.
Niall