Jack Maxwell Whiting, Pilot Officer RAF VR

http://www.unithistories.com/officers/RAFVR_officers_W01.html#Whiti...

Born as Jack Leslie, 06.12.1912. Eastbourne, Sussex, son of Kathleen DAVIDSON from Unley, Adelaide (Southern Australia). However, two DNA matches show that Jack's father was AUNGER one of three brothers, Murray, Cyril or Lionel who lived near Kathleen in 1912. Adopted as Jack Maxwell Whiting (27.11.1913) by Harry Scott Whiting and Mary Louisa (née Lewis). Jack (Max) married (24.08.1935, Pembury, Tunbridge Wells, Kent) Muriel Albino (22.03.1908 - 20.11.1993), of Southborough, Tunbridge Wells, Kent; one son David. Muriel Whiting remarried (25.09.1951, Caxton Hall) Air Chief Marshal Hugh Caswall Tremenheere Dowding, GCB, GCVO, CMG, 1st Baron Dowding of Bentley Priory.

Max was in a reserved occupation but he volunteered to join the RAF on: 1942. Aircraftman 2nd cl. 23.06.1942 [1686793] Aircraftman 1st cl. 03.12.1942 (T) Sgt. 31.12.1943. P/O 09.01.1944 [171177] 23.06.1942 - 06.07.1942 3 Reception Centre RAF (23.06.1942 Aircraft Hand/Flight Mechanic (Engines)) 07.07.1942 - 19.08.1942 9 Reception Centre RAF 20.08.1942 - 05.01.1943 4 School of Technical Training RAF (23.12.1942 Flight Mechanic Engines 2nd class) 06.01.1943 - 18.05.1943 1 School of Technical Training RAF (01.05.1943 Fitter 2nd class Engines/Under Training) 19.05.1943 - 15.06.1943 105 (Technical) Operational Training Unit RAF [23.05.1943-04.06.1943 Moreton in Marsh] 16.06.1943 - 30.07.1943 4 School of Technical Training RAF [from 03.07.1943 M/S Avroe] (16.06.1943 Fitter 2nd class Engines/Under Training/Flight Engineer; 26.07.1943 Flight Engineer) 31.07.1943 - 23.09.1943 Flight Engineer, 1161 Conversion Unit RAF 24.09.1943 - 14.11.1943 Flight Engineer, 9 Squadron RAF 09.01.1944 commissioned, RAFVR (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission] 15.11.1943 - 22.05.1944 Flight Engineer, 630 Squadron RAF (KIA) [age 31]. [Esbjerg (Fourfelt) Cemetery, collective grave , A.12.18-24]

[Lancaster LL950 LE-Y from 630 Squadron had taken off at 22.18 hrs 21.05.1944 from RAF East Kirkby for a 'Gardening' (dropping sea mines) in the area code named, 'Forget-Me-Not' operation against Kiel Bay. Shot up by a German fighter of 10.NJG3 (Uffz. Heinz Koppe), causing the aircraft to explode in mid-air. The plane crashed at 02:00 hours just south of the railway line west of the small village of Vesterlund. ] See: https://www.airmen.dk/a014240.htm & https://www.airmen.dk/a014240-DW9.htm

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http://www.flensted.eu.com/1944078.shtml

Lancaster I LL950 crashed Vesterlund 22/5 1944. The aircraft belonged to RAF 630 Sqn. 5 Group Bomber Command and was coded LE-Y. T/o 22:18 East Kirby. OP: Gardening Forget-Me-Not (Kiel Bay) The Lancaster was flying at 4700 metres over the Jylland peninsula when it was attacked by a German night fighter from 10./NJG 3 piloted by Unteroffizier Heinz Koppe. The Lancaster started burning and came down in great circles. It broke up in mid air and crashed at 02:00 hours just south of the railway line west of the small village of Vesterlund. The tail fell to the ground some five kilometers away, a little to the east of the village of Dørken. In the wreckage near Vesterlund were found four bodies and in the wreckage east of Dørken were found two bodies. A third body with an unopened parachute was found in a nearby field. The dead flyers were left lying where they were found until the evening of 24 May when the Wehrmacht from Give collected the bodies and took them to Esbjerg where they were laid to rest in Fovrfelt cemetery on 27 May 1944. They were: Pilot P/O Ronald W. Bailey, Flt. Engr. P/O Jack M. Whiting, Navigator F/S Charles H. Richardson, Air Bomber F/S James M. Henderson, W/Op F/O Albert E. Truesdale (Bertie), Air Gnr. Sgt James Lindsay and Air Gnr. Sgt Martin E. Murton. *************************************************************************