Me 262 - 29-10-1944

[Dan O'Connell]

Putting all of this into the database, thanks guys.

[Dan O'Connell]

To late for book though, it's already at printers :-(

[Jaap Woortman]

Dear Franek,

We are still looking for information about F/L D.C.Wilkins crash at October 29th, 1944. F/L D.C. Wilkins was the pilot of the Spitfire PR IX PL853 of no. 4 Sqn RAF. Some time ago you have said:

Originally Posted by Franek Grabowski

I have checked losses of the day with a friend. It seems the recce Spit is the most likely candidate, and according to some papers, the pilot baled out of the downed aircraft.

Could you explain or show us the papers who are saying that F/L D.C.Wilkins has baled out of his plane?

Jaap Woortman

[Franek Grabowski]

Originally Posted by Jaap Woortman

Could you explain or show us the papers who are saying that F/L D.C.Wilkins has baled out of his plane?

I am afraid I cannot as I have not seen them.
I must ask my friend for the source but I suppose it could have been from aircraft card.

[Jaap Woortman]

Dear Franek,

If you could be so kind and ask your friend. It would help us a lot in cracking this tough nut. Specially when he could tell us where Wilkins bailed out of his Spitfire.

Originally Posted by Franek Grabowski

I am afraid I cannot as I have not seen them.
I must ask my friend for the source but I suppose it could have been from aircraft card.

Jaap

[Franek Grabowski]

Hi Jaap
My friend checked for accident of F/L Derek Charles Wilkins and his databse based mostly on F.78 aircraft movement cards says that he force landed but 'also reported PBO (presumed baled out) North of Tilburg. If it was over the enemy territory, there should be his report at NA. Sorry, no more precise information is available at the moment.
Cheers

[Jaap Woortman]

Good work need some time.
Therefore it cost me some time to find the information were F/L Wilkins in his Spitfire PL953 has made his crashlanding.

From the NARA Record Group 92.
Missing Aircrew Reports.
Air crashes by date.
Date: 29-10-1944
Time: 15.59
A/c : Spitfire PL953
Place: 6 km south-west of Tiel in the Netherlands.

The information was supplied by mr. Jan Hey, Hengelo.
He has found this information between the USAAF a/c crashes.
So it was pure luck.

Jaap