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Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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541 Squadron Spitfire XI. PL919 Fl/Lt. Whaley DFC, RAF Benson, Oxfordshire, Bleialf, Germany

Operation: Photo reconnaissance

Date: 24th December 1944 (Sunday)

Unit: No. 541 Squadron (106 Group)

Type: Spitfire PR.XI.

Serial: PL919

Code: Q-?

Base: RAF Benson, Oxfordshire

Location: Bleialf, Germany

Pilot: Fl/Lt. Noel Patrick Whaley DFC. NZ/412773 RNZAF Age 24. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from RAF Benson in Oxfordshire at 10:55 hours to cover the area around Treir - failed to return.

Post war search discovered that the pilot had initially been buried at Bleialf cemetery in the area of his loss, but then finally to Hotton War Cemetery.

Burial details:

Fl/Lt. Noel Patrick Whaley DFC. Hotton War Cemetery. Grave V111.F.12. The son of Edward Gravener Whaley, and of Florence May Whaley (née Patterson), of Auckland, New Zealand. A total of 936 flying hours logged. Also served with 170 Squadron.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Cenotaph, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

KTY - 12.09.2017

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Acknowledgements
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Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and Captain François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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