3 (C) O.T.U Whitley BD233 - Knapp

[Teletran]

Good evening all

My efforts to track down what actually happened to Whitley BD233 prove frustrating. Having received the full-service record today for my Uncle William 'John' Knapp it gives, unfortunately, no information on how he came to his death other than 'Killed in action'. Equally the RAF Operations record book - Form 540 for 3 (C) O.TU for this period of time does not record any crash. It makes reference to Whitley 'P' and Whitley 'E' on exercise but no crash. The RAF Casualty file remains between the MoD and the National Archives, my Freedom of information request to perhaps pull it out of 'limbo' was not well received.

Apparently, they may be some surviving records from the Court of Inquiry but there is little hope of tracking them down. The various internet threads over the last 20 odd years prove inconsistent - if anything this is a cry for help, or perhaps do I admit defeat and move on?

Any new thoughts at all? A reminder of the poor souls on board below.

1186962 Stanley John COLLETT

1304723 William Tait CROALL

1177573 Oliver Humphrey OSBORNE

1190144 Bernard Richard RIDDETT

1375619 William John KNAPP

Many thanks

Stephen

[wwrsimon]

Helo again Stephen

Have you checked contemporary Police reports, or ordered his or any of the others' death certificates (https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/) either of which could supply more exact details of where they died.

Regards

Simon

[Alex Smart]

Hello Stephen,
Have you seen this earlier post from the forum ?

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...5839#post15839

Alex

[Teletran]

Thanks Alex, indeed yes I have seen the older threads, I think as compelling as the eye witness accounts are are they are mistaken or perhaps they witnessed another incident? The reason for the crash remains a mystery.