During May 1942 two squadrons of Armstong Whitworth
Whitley`s on detachment from RAF Bomber Commands
51 Sq at Dishforth and 77 Sq Leeming, joined Coastal
Commands 19 Group alongside 172 Sq at RAF Chivenor,
Devon.
Their role would be anti-submarine patrols off the
French & Spanish coast out in the Bay of Biscay.
The Whitley although sluggish, was no doubt chosen
for its long range ability capable of travelling over
1,500 miles on full tanks,though it would depend on
the ordnance load.
On 1st June 1942, Whitley V. AD698, coded KN-R for
Robert,of 77 Squadron,took off from Chivenor on a
routine anti-submarine patrol, at the controls was 22
year old RAFVR Pilot, Sgt John E.Veal and 2/Pilot, 29
year old Sgt Reginald Ellis. At present little is known
about any activity involving R-for Robert, so it is not
known if any enemy activity was present, or indeed
any damage occurred on the aircraft, what is known
though is that while returning to base at Chivenor,
flying at low level (As was quite normal) the Whitley
struck the 300ft cliffs, on the South side of Lundy
killing crew of six.
On discovery of the wreckage, only one airman was
found, this was an Air Gunner,Sgt Oswald Austin Jones
aged 24 from Kilburn,Yorks,he was buried in Willesden
New Cemetery,London. The rest of the crew must have
fell into the sea and were not recovered, for they were
all commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Crew of AD698:
Pilot : SGT JOHN E.VEAL.
Pilot: SGT REGINALD ELLIS.
Obs: SGT ERIC HAMPSON.
W/Op: SGT HARRY HANNAH.
A/G: SGT YOUNG J.MARKHAM.
A/G: SGT OSWALD A.JONES.
Many thanks to John Hall for details on the Whitley.
Whitley AD698 - Lundy
