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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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RAF Crest
08th September 1944 12 (Pilots) AFU Blenheim V EH512 Fl/Lt. Willoughby

Operation: Training

Date: 08th September 1944 (Friday)

Unit: No. 12 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit. 21 Group

Type: Blenheim V

Serial: EH512

Code: -

Base: RAF Spitalgate, Lincolnshire

Location: At base

Pilot (Inst): Fl/Lt. Paul Edward Willoughby Aus/416816 RAAF Age 30. Killed

Pilot (U/T): Fl/Sgt. Noel Whitmarsh Hawkins NZ/416815 RNZAF Age 24. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at about 11:15 hrs on a dual check flying exercise.

The Pilot under training was being tested by a member of No 20 Advanced Flying Unit visiting Flight from RAF Station Montrose. The aircraft appeared to be making a glide approach when it took overshoot action. The starboard engine apparently failed to pick up, and the aircraft struck a cottage on the aerodrome boundary where it burnt out. Both crew killed.

Amazing in that the instructor pilot had a total of 1 hour solo flying experience on the Blenheim compared that of the New Zealand pilot's 58 hours.

Burial details:

Fl/Lt. Paul Edward Willoughby. Cambridge City Cemetery. Grave 13502. Born on the 02nd September 1914 at Adelaide. Enlisted on the 11th September 1941. Son of George Edward and Ida Constance Willoughby and husband of Muriel Eveleen Willoughby, of North Unley, South Australia

Fl/Sgt. Noel Whitmarsh Hawkins. Cambridge City Cemetery. Grave 13702. Born on the 27th July 1920 at Wanganui. Prior to service worked as a warehouseman for Kaiapoi WoolenManufacturing Company in Auckland. Served in the NZ territorial army for 3 months prior to enlisting on the 03rd December 1941 at Blenheim. Pilots badge awarded and promoted to sergeant 06th May 1943. Joined 12 PAFU on the 41st 31st December 1943. Son of Ernest Sydney and Irene Penelope Hawkins, (nee Whitmarsh later Malam), of Paraparaumu, Wellington, New Zealand. A total of 344 flying hours logged with 58 solo on the Blenheim.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Jenifer Lemaire and to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, NAA, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, AWMM, other sources as quoted below:

KTY 21-05-2021

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Acknowledgements
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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