A typical Whitley V crew of five about to board their aircfaft.
10 OTU airgunners 1941. Sgt D T Bicknell (front row 4th from right)
was killed on 19th Sep 1941 in Whitley T4132 at Boars Hill close to Abingdon airfield.
W/O J G Moriarty (in the middle) flew on the 3rd Thousand bomber raid from Abingdon in
Whitley BD210 on 25th June 1942. Shot down over Holland by german fighter ace Helmut Lent, he was taken prisoner and became
a POW.
Sgt G C P (George) Sanderson aged 21 was killed with five other crew when
there Whitley V Z6667 crashed in flames during night bombing practice near Chislehampton (Oxon) at 0240 on 5/7/1941.
It is beleived the aircraft was shot down by a German intruder. He is buried in the Acklam cementery in Middlesbrough.
Flying officer Peter Andrew Dunlop (aged 21) killed when Whitley V AD699 crashed at Church Farm,
Long Whittenham near Abingdon on 10/12/42.
Flying Accident Card. Air Ministry Form 1180. This was the main documentation of an aircraft loss at the
time. Looking carefully you can see that this one was subject to a Court of Inquiry (C of I) which was unusual.
No (C of I) records are now in existence for this period.
Whitley V K9025 with 10 OTU at Abingdon
Whitley N1374 RK-H flying over St Giles street, Oxford in 1941. (second aircraft behind tree). On
May 5th the same year another Whitley N1467 acually crashed in to a house, 31 Linton Road, Oxford. killing all the
crew. Pilots were then instructed to not fly over Oxford city. Whitley N1374 later crashed itself on 22nd April
1943 two minutes after taking off, one mile NW of Longworth with the loss of all five crew.
Whitley V N1349 Served with 19 OTU Kinloss. 10 OTU Abingdon and 24 OTU at Honeybourne, Worcestershire.
A very young RCAF Sgt L G Stewart killed while with 10 OTU on detachment at St Ival. Sgt Stewarts
Whitley was on operation over the Bay of Biscay. Buried with other crew in Ploughuerneau Cemetery. Finistere.
France.
On the 1st/2nd June 1942 Sgt John D O'Sullivan (left) was on Whitley Z6581 that took part in
the 1000 bomber raid on Essen Germany. The Whitley took off from Abingdon at 2340 but sadly it was shot down by by Hptm Alfred
Haesler at 0148, near Breeden-broek 39 km ESE of Arnhem. All 5 crew members were lost.
G.E (Ted) Herod was at 10 OTU from November 1943 until January 1944 training as a wireless operator
after which he was with 35 Squadron pathfinders at Graveley. This is a page from his log book while at RAF Abingdon.
A fine study of Whitley V T4131/W, flew with 10 OTU (RK-D) until it was struck off charge on the
26th April 1945. It also used code ZG-K. With numerous bombing sorties painted on the side of her nose, wouldn't
this have been the one to preserve?
Whitleys lined up for a royal inspection by King George V1 during his visit to 10 OTU in August
1940
HRH The King meets officers during his visit to RAF Abingdon in August 1940.
His Majesty King George V1 walking on the airfield at Abingdon during his visit. He was accompanied by
the Station Commander , Group Captain Massey DSO MC. Behind the party can be seen the tail of a Whitley of 10 OTU carrying
full height fin markings.
HRH the Duchess of Gloucester visited the HQ of 6 Group at RAF Abingdon in July 1940. Seen here leaving
the Officers Mess.
The Duchess seen here later with the Station commander whilst visiting WAAF's at the M/T section.
A restored RAF Abingdon bicycle thought to be used by ground crew.
