Personnel Index - Detail
6/7 June, 1942; EMDEN:
In good weather conditions, a main force of 233 aircraft set out to attack the German town of Emden. With only a slight ground haze over the target, successful bombing results were achieved by the crews. 49 Squadron detailed 7 aircraft for the operation, but only 5 managed to become airborne from Scampton by 23.30hrs. The price of success was paid for in the loss of 9 crews out of the total force - 3 Manchesters, 3 Wellingtons, 2 Stirlings and 1 Halifax failed to return. Tragically, two extremely experienced aircraft captains and their crews from 49 Squadron were amongst those reported missing: Five crew members of the aircraft piloted by S/Ldr Peter De Mestre DSO DFC (L7469) were killed and the captain plus two others were reported missing.
Manchester L7469
S/L P.M. De Mestre DSO DFC Pilot (Missing)
Sgt A.F. Buttel RAAF 2nd Pilot (Killed)
P/O R.H.J. Thorndyke A/OB (Missing)
F/S M.E. Whitehill RAAF A/G (Killed)
Sgt G.C. Whitfield W/AG (Killed)
Sgt L.J. Jones W/AG (Missing)
Sgt D.S. Halliday W/AG (Killed)
Additional information:
Their Manchester was intercepted at 3500m over the North Sea, 20km NW of Borkum by a night-fighter captained by Nacht Jagd "Experten" Oblt Ludwig Becker (VI/NJG2) and shot down at 0044 for his 20th Abschusse.
The aircraft crashed into the North Sea with the loss of all seven crew, three of which have no known grave
There is a memorial to Sgt G C Whitfield in Withington (St. Michael & All Angels Church) Gloucestershire.