222859 Sgt. Thomas Leonard John Whittick Royal Air Force 550 Squadron (d.22nd May 1944) My husband’s great uncle, on his mum’s side, Sgt Thomas L.J. Whittick, was the flight engineer on the DV309 aircraft, that crashed in Westerlo, Belgium. He took over from the pilot as it came crashing down in a field by a small village, saving the inhabitants of the village (As far as we are aware?)... The Loss of DV309
DV309 was shot down on the outskirts of Westerlo, Belguin, one of three 550 Sqdn Lancasters lost on the Duisburg operation on 21/22 May 1944. The crew, all killed on this operation, were:
- P/O G W Hinde (P)
- Sgt T L J Whittick (F/Eng)
- Sgt D Hughes (Nav)
- F/Sgt C C Sharland (B/A)
- Sgt D R M Davies (W/Op)
- Sgt E C Beacham (MU/AG)
- Sgt W A J Young (R/AG)
On the night of the 21st/22nd of May 1944 Bomber Command sent 510 Lancasters to Duisburg and lost 29.
550 Squdron dispatched 18 aircraft and lost 3, 550 Sqd's worst night.
One of the three not to return was D/Sgt G W Hinde and crew flying DV309 BQ-S. They crashed at
01.51 on the outskirts of Westerlo and all crew members were killed. German records show they were
shot down my night fight ace Heinz Wolfgang Schnauffer who fished the war with 121 kills, all bombers.
The bodies of the navigator and wireless operator were never found - an indication that something
catastrophic had occurred. At more or less the same time another Lancaster from 626 Squadron also crashed
very close to Westerlo. The Germans quickly cordoned off both sites and removed the wreckage and bodies.
It was not firmly established which crash site belonged to which aircraft until 1977 when a piece was found
bearing the number of the 626 aircraft. This established that the 500 Sqd Lancaster crashed at Schobbroek and
the 626 Squadron aircraft at Herselt. A memorial stone was placed at the location of the crash on 21st of May 1998
My husband is a keen model maker, especially aircraft from the World War 2, he has already made the BBMF model and is trying to locate the serial number of the exact plane he co-piloted in order to find a scaled airfix type model kit as a memoir and tribute to him.
I am hoping someone can help with this information or any other information you have regarding SGT T.L.J Whittick.
Update: The Lancaster serial number was DV309, squadron code BQ-S.
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