AW Whitley anomalies

[Andy Marden]

Can someone please help me decode an entry on the card for Whitley N1508, which can be seen at Pages 79/80 of:
http://lancasterbombersinfo.ipage.co...9-N1528/0.html
As can be seen the aircraft was SOC on 9.11.40, presumably as a result of some sort of incident.
But what does the third entry on Page 79 say? (the one dated 18.9.40). Presumably this was as a result of the incident, whatever it was (ideas anyone?)
Thanks,
Andy

[PeterColwill]

Hi Andy

Chris Ward's 4 Group book has N1508 KN-B possibly burnt out at Finningly on return from Bapume 6/7.6.40 SOC 9.11.40

Chorley Losses 1939-40 second Ed has 6/7.6.40 unknown 77 Sqn Whitley with P/O AW Dunn---left Driffield 2040 for Bapume. Less than hour later near Finningly flare ignited inside aircraft. Crew baled out and Dunn landed burning aircraft at Finningly.

P/O A W Dunn
P/O C J D Montagu
Sgt Lucas
AC1 A L Kennedy
AC2 Martin

[Ross_McNeill]

Not Dunn,

F1180 has N1476 filed 5/6/40 and AIR81 released since publication of Chorley confirms F1180

http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...php?uniq=N1476

Ross

[PeterColwill]

Thanks Ross,

N1476 is said to have ditched off Hastings Pier two weeks later (20.6).........does this mean it was rapidly repaired or is the Hastings I/d suspect ?
cheers Peter

[Ross_McNeill]

For the 5th incident the F1180 does say landed ok and notes 4 crew ordered to bale out due to choking. Listed as Cat M but from the subsequent Air81 on 20th it suggests no obvious limiting structural damage and the aircraft was returned to ops.

Ross

[Andy Marden]

The relevant Air-Britain serials books say:
AD690 10 OTU Engine caught fire on approach; bellylanded in field 3m S of Stanton Harcourt, 4.7.44
BD690 10 OTU Crashlanded after engine fire 3m S of Stanton Harcourt, 4.7.44; DBF
A truly amazing coincidence!

The AM78 for AD690 records it being issued to 10 MU on 1.10.42, Cat E1 4.7.44, SOC 16.7.44
The AM78 for BD690 records it being issued to 10 MU (but with no date), Cat E (Burnt) 4.7.44, SOC 15.10.44

The lack of an issue date for BD690 leaves me wondering if there was some sort of admin error in the records for this aircraft.
Can anyone add anything further please? Does anyone have the relevant ORB copied (AIR29/639)? - it's not been digitalized.

[robstitt]

Hi Andy,

Believe the third entry refers to SS Cars Ltd, not “Carrs”, whose wartime contribution appears on the page below “….majority of the wartime work related to aircraft. For SS Cars, this would predominantly be involved with the repair of Whitley bombers which were flight tested at nearby Tachbrook aerodrome. By 1945, the company had made aircraft wings, fuel tanks, tails and other components for Whitley bombers.”

https://jec.org.uk/news/2020/jaguar-ww2

Robert

[davew]

Andy

My note against AD690:

"Chorley advises that when the paperwork was prepared advising various authorities of the crash of AD690, the serial BD690 was entered, thus both a/c came to be w/o on the same date."

DaveW

[Andy Marden]

Thanks both.
It does seem quite likely that there was confusion over the identity of this loss.
That said, I would appreciate any confirmation from the 10 OTU ORB if anyone has it, or indeed details from relevant F1180.

[robstitt]

Hi Andy,

Would you deduce that SS Cars Ltd as a CRO was tasked to look at N1508 and the decision then made to write it off?

Robert