17-Dec 1942 loss of Whitley Mk. V EB363 JL-Q of 10 OTU Squadron over bay of Biscay

[jives11]

Greetings,


I'm researching the loss of this aircraft, Whitley Mk. V EB363 JL-Q of 10 OTU mainly tracing surviving relatives of the 6 lost crew through ancestry. Trying to at least find pictures of the six lost men, 3 of whom are buried in France, 3 listed at Runnymede.

The crew were :

Pilot Officer. WOTTON, VIVIAN JAMES.

Pilot Officer. DAVIES, PERCIVAL ALLAN.

Pilot Officer. SWORD, ROBERT.

Sergeant. RAWCLIFFE, RICHARD.

Flight Sergeant. MILLER, THOMAS HENRY.

Sergeant. (Pilot). DENHAM, MAURICE THORPE.(NZ)


It looks like they were shot down by

Date Rank First Name Last name Staffel Unit Enemy Place

17.12.1942 Ltn. Artur Thies 14. KG 40 Whitley 14W/ Bay of Biscay

and I found a reference on a Mosquito specific web site that Lt Artur Thies was lost a few months later:

22-March-1943 "Two Ju 88 C-6s of 14/KG 40, one was 360052, F8+BY, the other 360352 F8+HY. The former crewed by Lt Artur Thies - F, Fw Paul Sause - BF and Uffz Werner Hoffman - BO all missing, the latter crewed by Uffz Werner Steurich - F, Uffz Karl Bass - BF & Ogefr Alfred Hoessel, all missing. Shot down between 0922-35 hrs. The Ju 88s were identified about 3 miles away and chase was given at 295 I.A.S. - the chase lasted about 5 minutes. Gibb and Muir closed in on one of the e/a, experiencing return fire which damaged one Mosquito's tail. The other was attacked by McKenzie as it attempted to climb away.



My request is , does anyone have the ORB for 10 OTU covering December 1942 that I could get a copy of ?

I've made contact with the families of 2 of the 6, and would like to share with them any information about the loss of the aircraft if I can.


many thanks


Jonathan

[Chris Goss]

I cannot help any more with the Whitley crew but the combat & loss of Thies together with a photo of him is in my book 'Bloody Biscay'

[jives11]

Thank you Chris, I will get a copy


kind regards




Jonathan