Personnel Index - Detail

Name
WHITTAKER
First Names
Alan Ewart
Rank
F/O
Service
RAF
Service Number
127067
Crew Position
Navigator
Age
29
Date of Death
15/06/1943
Cemetery

 

Photographed by Malcolm Brooke

14/15 June, 1943: OBERHAUSEN:

An all Lancaster force of 197, guided by 6 Oboe Mosquitoes made a successful attack on Oberhausen. Despite the target being cloud-covered, accurate sky-marking enabled the bombers to do considerable damage. Twelve Lancasters lifted from Fiskerton's runway, the last one away by 22.32hrs. The crews found themselves engaged in a savage battle from both flak and fighters which resulted in Bomber Command losing 17 aircraft.

Of those missing: Sgt Frost (ED434) and crew had been shot down by a German night fighter flown by Hauptmann Hans-Dieter Frank I./NJG1. The aircraft fell to the ground 2 kilometers East of Dodewaard, Holland at 01.13hrs. The pilot and flight engineer survived to become POW's in Stalag 357, Kopernikus; the remainder of the crew are buried in Uden War Cemetery.

Lancaster ED434
Sgt R. Frost Pilot (P.o.W.)
Sgt N.C. Hitchcock F/E (P.o.W.)
F/O A.E. Whittaker Nav (Killed)
Sgt J.R. Coulsey W/AG (Killed)
F/S W.L. Chatfield RCAF A/G (Killed)
Sgt V. Horsley A/B (Killed)
Sgt P.A. Toms A/G (Killed)

Crew on their 3rd operation