John Alexander Whittet DFC RAFVR and crew - 103 Squadron – 1943/44 - 84013.
This crew with another pilot were posted to 460 Squadron at Binbrook in August 1943. Sadly their pilot, F/O Maxwell T L Watson RAAF, was lost on his first operation flying as a co-pilot ( Second Dickie ) with the crew of F/O C K Smith RAAF - 22/23 Sept 1943 - JA859 - Hannover.
The now “ Headless crew “ crew were then posted to 12 Squadron at Wickenby where John Kinlay flew one op and Ken Duddell and Frank Watt two each. Here they were joined by another pilot, John Alexander Whittet, from 15 OTU training unit. I seem to recall Whittet had flown a tour in North Africa earlier in the war but that may be incorrect. They were then posted to 103 Squadron at RAF Elsham Wolds in Otcober 1943.
Whittet was appointed B Flight Commander
Above L to R - Bishop, Watt, Kinlay and Duddell
S/L John Alexander Whittet
Sgt Kenneth Ivan Duddell - F/E
F/O William Durrant Squier Jackson - A/B
F/O Denzil Philip Liddell O’Neill-Shaw - replaced Walter Levy at the start of their tour who was the original Navigator
Sgt George Thomas Bishop - A/G
F/S John Edward Kinlay - WOp
Sgt Frank McRae Watt - AG
They then flew the following operations with Whittet :-
18-Nov-43 – Berlin - Point of Aim - Lancaster - JB400 – S/L JA Whittet – Did not take off
22-Nov-43 - Berlin - Point of Aim - Lancaster - JB400 – S/L JA Whittet - Hit by flak. Port outer engine caught fire and feathered.
23-Nov-43 - Berlin - Point of Aim - Lancaster - JB350 – S/L JA Whittet – Early return - Frozen pitot head & SO engine losing power.
26-Nov-43 - Berlin - Point of Aim - Lancaster - JB400 – S/L JA Whittet - Diverted to Croft because of bad visibility at base
16-Dec-43 - Berlin - Point of Aim - Lancaster - JB732 – S/L JA Whittet - Early return - Electrical fault. Bombed Texel.
20-Dec-43 - Frankfurt - Point of Aim - Lancaster - JB733 – S/L JA Whittet
29-Dec-43 - Berlin - Point of Aim - Lancaster - JB733 – S/L JA Whittet
01-Jan-44 - Berlin - Point of Aim - Lancaster - JB733 – S/L JA Whittet
02-Jan-44 - Berlin - Point of Aim - Lancaster - JB733 – S/L JA Whittet - Landed at Bradwell Bay owing to bad weather at base
14-Jan-44Brunswick - Point of Aim - Lancaster - JB733 – S/L JA Whittet
20-Jan-44 - Berlin - Point of Aim - Lancaster – JB733 – S/L JA Whittet
21-Jan-44 - Magdeburg - Point of Aim - Lancaster - JB733 S/L JA Whittet
27-Jan-44 - Berlin - Point of Aim - Lancaster - JB733 – S/L JA Whittet
28-Jan-44 - Berlin - Point of Aim - Lancaster - ND363 – S/L JA Whittet
30-Jan-44 - Berlin - Point of Aim - Lancaster - ND381 – S/L JA Whittet
15-Feb-44 - Berlin - Point of Aim - Lancaster - JB733 – S/L JA Whittet
19-Feb-44 - Leipzig - Point of Aim - Lancaster - JB733 – S/L JA Whittet
20-Feb-44 - Stuttgart - Point of Aim - Lancaster - JB733 - S/L JA Whittet
24-Feb-44 - Schweinfurt - Point of Aim - Lancaster - JB733 – S/L JA Whittet - Landed at Harwell
15-Mar-44 - Stuttgart - Point of Aim - Lancaster - JB733 – S/L JA Whittet
18-Mar-44 – Frankfurt - Point of Aim - Lancaster - JB733 – S/L JA Whittet
22-Mar-44 - Frankfurt - Point of Aim - Lancaster - JB733 – S/L JA Whittet
Above - A rather good photo of John Kinlay relaxing in the snow at Elsham Wolds
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During his tour John Whittett was awarded a DFC. Citation below :-
Acting Squadron Leader John Alexander Whittet 84013, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 103 Squadron. One night in January, 1944, this officer piloted one of a formation of aircraft which attacked Berlin. On the outward flight a fighter was encountered and, in the subsequent engagement Squadron Leader Whittett's aircraft sustained damage to the tail plane, the port elevator another parts of the structure; one engine was also put out of action. In spite of this Squadron Leader Whittet out-manoeuvred the attacker and then went on to make a successful attack on the target. Although the aircraft was difficult to control, Squadron Leader Whittet flew safely to base where he effected a safe landing although a tyre on one of the landing wheels had been punctured by a bullet. This officer has invariably displayed praiseworthy skill and courage and his example has proved inspiring.
On conclusion of their tour navigator F/O D P L O'Neill-Shaw RAFVR 130324 was also awarded a DFC gazetted 6th June 1944.
F/O W D S Jackson was later awarded a DFC gazetted 13th April 1945
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The remaining crew had several ops to do before completing their tour. F/O W D S Jackson certainly remained at 103 Sqn flying several ops to complete his tour including one with my uncle's crew. Bishop was posted to 625 Sqn where he completed the balance of his tour - 5 ops. He later served with 1481 BG Flight, 100 Sqn in November 44 and was then quickly posted to 153 Sqn. Watt was posted to 100 Sqn where he completed 8 ops to finish his tour and was then posted to 1667 CU
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Kenneth I Duddell
The Flight Engineer, Kenneth Duddell, flew the following ops, all with 103 Squadron to complete his tour.
22/23 April 1940 - Dusseldorf - F/L D Allwood and crew - JB746
3/4 May 1944 – Mailly Le Camp - F/O R Whitley and crew - JB733
6/7 May 1944 – Aubigne Racan - F/O R Whitley and crew - JB733
10/11 May 1944 - Heligoland Bight - F/O L Young and crew - ND629
11/12 May 1944 - Hassalt - F/O L Young and crew – LL963.
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Kenneth Duddell had been a member of the ATC in Shropshire before enlisting in the RAF and training to be a Flight Engineer. He followed the same path as my uncle at the same time. After the war he continued to serve in the RAF as a Flight Engineer on Blackburn Beverleys and Armstrong Whitworth Argosys including service in Africa and the Middle and Far East. He rose to the rank to Warrant Officer and left the RAF in 1968.
In more recent years he was well known as Chair of the RAFEW Assn of which he was a prominent and enthusiastic member. During this period he moved to Barnetby and lived where he lived for a number of years before returning to live in the Midlands. He had been in poor health for sometime and sadly passed away in February 2021.
Above - Kenneth Duddell 4th from right back row with a group of vets at the dedication of the memorial plaque at Elsham Wolds Parish Church 2012. The minister is Canon Peter Hall
Item compiled by David Fell with photos from my archive. Many thanks to Mark Simpson again for his valued and helpful input
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