Personnel Index - Detail

Name
WITTY
First Names
George Frederica
Rank
Sgt
Service
RAF
Service Number
2204999
Crew Position
Flight Engineer
Age
34
Date of Death
22/06/1944
Cemetery

 

Photographed by Malcolm Brooke

Sgt Witty was much older than the average aircrew age.
 

Image courtesy of Mrs Shirley Moxon

George Witty on his wedding day.
 

Image courtesy of Mrs Shirley Moxon

The first picture is taken from this family wedding group.

We thank Mrs Shirley Moxon for this image. Mrs Moxon's husband was the nephew of Sgt Witty. The image came to 49Sqn in a most unusual way........see the bottom of the page.
 

21/22 June, 1944; WESSELING: There was nothing unusual about Wednesday 21 June, 1944; the weather, as with previous days remained dull and the slight northerly wind kept temperatures a little chilly.
For aircrew the morning passed slowly, whilst activity on the airfield indicated that ops were on the menu for that evening. There had been no operations for the past five days so just after lunch a small crowd had gathered as an airman pinned up the Battle Order; twenty aircraft were detailed with the main briefing at 20.00hrs. For those crews listed, the usual pre-operational routine began, then later, after a noisy meal in the Sgts' Mess and with coffee flasks filled, crews walked or were ferried over to the main site for specialist briefings and then the main briefing. The tape on the wall map showed a route ending just below the Ruhr... Germany for a change.
Two tortuous hours now for aircrew, as they awaited the take-off time of 23.00hrs. With oleo legs compressed by their heavy bomb loads, each Lancaster rumbled around to the active runway threshold; a flash of green from the control caravan sent the first aircraft (piloted by F/Lt Johnny Hill) speeding down the concrete strip. On this, the longest day of the year, daylight still lingered during double British summertime, even at such a late hour. As F/Lt Hill's aircraft accelerated past the ever-present group of well wishers, waves and gestures were exchanged by the smiling Lancaster crew but this was to be this particular crew’s final take-off, for within just a few short hours, all seven members were to perish over Holland, victims of a deadly German night-fighter.
 

Lancaster ME675 (EA-R)
F/L J.R. Hill Pilot (Killed)
Sgt G.F. Witty F/E (Killed)
F/O K.W. Jones RNZAF NAV (Killed)
Sgt T.B. Whewell W/AG (Killed)
Sgt T.A. Hall A/G (Killed)
F/S D.M.F. Bell B/A (Killed)
F/S G.F. Wood A/G (Killed)

Crew on their 9th operation

Information via Colin Cripps (49Sqn Researcher)
Lancaster ME675 was claimed by Oblt. Fritz Lau of 4./NJG1 as his 9th Abschuss at 01.12hrs, south west of Eindhoven. ME675 was also claimed by Flak of 3. & 4./gem. Flak Abt. 155. OKL confirmed claim to Oblt. Lau on 6.9.1944.
Lau was promoted to Hptm and survived the war with 23 victories.

The letter from Mrs Shirley Moxon