Shot Down Whitley

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello Theo,

I do accept your conclusion that the description of Gildner's victim doesn't fit well to Z6829 and looking to the photo, my preference for the last digit goes to 4, thus ruling out a 9.

Just searching my database for all Whitleys with a serial ending on 4, and leaving the crashes on land out, a few other options arise:

K8984 51 MH-N 27/28-10-1939 France, ice, 1 WIA
N1384 77 KN- 20/21-5-1940 Abbeville, 5 OK
T4134 58 GE-T 10/11-9-1940 ? 5 POW
T4264 1419 flight 17/18-2-1941 ? 6 POW
Z9154 58 GE-T 10/11-10-1941 Callantsoog, 3 KIA,1 POW,1 MIA
Z9204 58 GE- 10/11-10-1941 De Kooy, 3 KIA, 1 MIA, Flak
P4944 10 OTU -A 25/26-6-1942 2 KIA, 3 MIA (Hamburg Cem.)
P5004 10 OTU -G 25/26-6-1942 Noordzee, 5 RESC

It gets more complicated IF the last digit seen on the photo (presumed to be a 4) was NOT the last number of the full serial but its 2nd or 3rd digit... For each option my Excel-file gives some possible Whitleys

All the best, Marcel

[Alex Smart]

Originally Posted by Marcel Hogenhuis

Hello Alex,

Z6824 crashed near Borculo and there are no shallow waters or beaches near that location in the Netherlands.

All the best, Marcel

Hello Marcel,
I did check this with Google maps and it does show to the east an inland area which looks to me like four separate (?) Areas of water, so I will stay with my choice for now.
Alex

[kaki3152]

Thanks to all for their great commentary!

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello Alex,

You are perfectly right ! Looking at Google Maps/Google Earth reveals several waters east of Borculu... nowadays.

Looking at wartime topographic maps 1:50.000 of that area however clearly shows no waters east of Borculo in 1942 at all

Let's return to other options. Best regards,

Marcel

[Alex Smart]

Hello Marcel,
Thank you, that clears it up I think.
Although I still see the number as a "4" rather than a "9" ?
Wrecked fuselage so it could look to be even a "3" or a "5" ?
Had not been able to search old maps only looked on Google.
Alex

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello Alex,

No problem, check/re-check/check again is the destiny of us air war historians

I totally agree that the last digit looks like a 4, but looking for Whitley serial numbers ending with a 4 quite a lot of options arise, so the more clues we have, the less options are left.

Well, the saga continues.....

Best regards, Marcel