Help on 1943, Squadron611, Flying officer #151006 Gielstrup

[Danish Researcher]

Hi all,

I'm trying to find all information about the Dane J Gielstrup. He was shot down on August 23, 1943, and I have the combat report. But I'm looking for information about all his missions. Does anybody know how to find this?
I know he flew in P8088, and P8545. How do find the history other planes and perhaps photographs of the planes?

Also I'm researching the fate of his fellow pilots on his last mission:
F/O RH Turlington
F/Sgt Warr
F/Sgt T.O Smith
S/Ldr Harris

Kind Regards
Martin

[Mikkel Plannthin]

Martin
The most easiest way of finding his missions - as it is my intention eventually - is to locate the Operational Record Book of his squadron(s). As Gielstrup is normally told to have been shot down in one of his first missions, this might be fairly easy - AIR 27/2110 for a few months in the summer of 1943. Given the new copying charges at NA easy, but expensive...

I am not sure when he was actually posted to this squadron, if he trained in Canada until February 1943, and I guess he returned to an OTU. This would not have left much time for operational duty. Please refer to
http://www.danishww2pilots.dk/profil...?alpha=g&id=28

I a curious as to your reference to P8088.

Hope to help

Mikkel Plannthin

[Icare9]

See:- http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?p=1561751
for information about P8088, and includes

Issued to 61 OTU Rednal 21/9/1942. 19/5/1943 cat B damage when P/O J.H.Gielstrup (Danish) stalled on landing after engine failure, collapsing the undercarriage. Repaired in works by 17/7/1943.

You might find the 611 Squadron website of interest:- http://www.611squadronrauxaf.co.uk/history/Roll.html

I could find no RH Turlington in the CWGC database, so hopefullyhe survived. however, if there are transcription errors, there was this entry:-
Name: TURKINGTON, ROBERT WILKINSON
Initials: R W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Squadron Leader
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 241 Sqdn.
Age: 26
Date of Death: 29/07/1945
Service No: 117519
Awards: D S O, D F C and Bar
Additional information: Son of John and Mary Amelie Turkington, of Derrytrasna, Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: III. C. 10.
Cemetery: PADUA WAR CEMETERY

There were no entries for any Warr, TO Smith or Sqn Ldr Harris dated after 23/8/43, so hopefully they also survived.

[Mikkel Plannthin]

Thanks, places Gielstrup at 61 OTU on 19/5 1943 and confirms, thus, my point, that he died in one of the first operational missions, and that AIR 27/2110 ought to provide the details.

Regards

Mikkel Plannthin

[Danish Researcher]

Hi all

Thanks for your help. I've ordered the operational book for 611 via the national archives since nobody had it available online.

What do you mean by "61 OTU" - was that a training period?

Kind regards
Martin

[Mikkel Plannthin]

No. 61 Operational Training Unit following basic training preparing for combat (and often conversion for Spitfire).

Mikkel

[Stein Meum]

Just for info if anybody is interested: I have P8545 as FY-O until at least 29 July-43. P8038 had received the codes FY-O from at least as early as 2 August-43, so what were the codes for P8545 after this date?

Stein

[Mikkel Plannthin]

Excellent Stein, only yesterday I realised that Austeen was section leader on the mission where Gielstrup was lost. Made me think that you might had further information. And you did.

Mikkel