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Auction: 6007 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 403

A No.617 (Dambusters) Squadron Air Gunner´s D.F.M. to Flight Sergeant P.L. Whittaker, for his Gallantry in September 1944 During the 136 Lancaster Operation on the Ladbergen Area of the Dortmund-Ems Canal, where Direct Hits from the Squadron´s 12,000 lb. ´Tallboy´ Bombs Breached the Banks of the Canal and Drained a Six Mile Stretch Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R., 1st ´Ind: Imp:´ type (1587036. F.Sgt. P.L. Whittaker. R.A.F.), nearly extremely fine, possibly a later issue Estimate £ 1,500-2,000 D.F.M. London Gazette 7.12.1945 1587036 Flight Sergeant Peter Linn Whittaker 617 Squadron The Recommendation, dated 9.6.1945, states ´Flight Sergeant Whittaker was shot down on the 23rd September, 1944, on his 37th sortie. He was a mid-upper gunner and has completed a most successful tour of operations and had volunteered to continue operating for a second tour with a Special Duties squadron. Flight Sergeant Whittaker was most keen and enthusiastic for operational flying and at all times he showed the greatest courage, determination, and devotion to duty. He operated against heavily defended targets in Germany and occupied territory, and on occasions fighter opposition was experienced. On his last sortie Flight Sergeant Whittaker showed exceptional gallantry and fortitude. His aircraft was intercepted by a night fighter and was hit by cannon shells, which knocked out three engines and set on fire the bomb-bay. This N.C.O. made every effort to extinguish the flames but without success. The Navigator of the aircraft had been very badly wounded and was groping amid the smoke and flames for his parachute. When Flight Sergeant Whittaker and the Air Bomber were about to abandon the aircraft, they found the Navigator collapsed on the forward escape hatch. They pulled him to one side, freed the hatch and, after fixing a parachute to him, they pulled the rip-cord and pushed him out of the aircraft. Then Flight Sergeant Whittaker made every effort to assist the pilot who was sitting in his seat apparently wounded. The pilot was groping for his parachute and this N.C.O. went back in the fuselage to find one for him. He heard a shout from the pilot and, thinking he had found his parachute, Flight Sergeant Whittaker then abandoned the aircraft. The details of his exploits are contained in an M.I.9 Report, Ref. I.S.9/WEA/2/1054/2448. By his courageous action and praiseworthy disregard for danger, this N.C.O. showed gallantry of the highest order. He is strongly recommended for the non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal. Base Commander remarks This would in the normal way have been submitted as an immediate award for the part played by Flight Sergeant Whittaker on 23rd September, 1944. This, combined with his total operational history, makes recognition most desirable and I strongly recommend the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.´ Flight Sergeant Peter Linn Whittaker, D.F.M., born Kidbrooke, Blackheath, London, 23.4.1923; educated City of London School; enlisted Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 6.7.1942; posted Air Gunner 9 Squadron, Bardney, Lincolnshire (Lancasters),1944; flew thirty-three operational sorties with the squadron including: Bordeaux (2); Toulouse; Mailly-le-Campe; Sable-sur-Sarth; Tours; Duisburg; Brunswick; Gelsenkirchen; Stuttgart; Pas-de-Calais; Rennes; Caen; Creil (4); detached to 617 Squadron, 15.8.1944, flew in four operational sorties with the squadron: La Pallice, 18.8.1944, bombing U-boat pens; Brest, 27.8.1944, bombing shipping; Russia, 11.9.1944, flew in Lancaster I ME 561, piloted by Flight Lieutenant Stout, ´Bombing Tirpitz, Alten Fjord 1 x Tallboy....Explosions seen in neighbourhood of ship but result obscured by smoke. After bombing was over there was a column of black smoke rising above the smoke screen. (via Russia)´ (Operations Record refers), the 12,000 lb Tallboys put pay to the famous battleship the next day; Dortmund-Ems Canal, 23.9.1944 (see Recommendation), flew in Lancaster I NF923 KC-M, piloted by Flight Lieutenant Stout (D.F.C.), ´Took off 1918 Woodhall Spa. Did not bomb and homebound, its Tallboy witheld, intercepted by a night-fighter whose fire knocked out three engines and started a blaze in the bomb bay. Abandoned and crashed 2300 onto the Vordense Binneweg´ (Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War, refers), of the crew of seven, two were killed, one was injured, two evaded capture, whilst two (including Whittaker) were taken prisoner of war; Whittaker´s M.I.9. Debrief illustrates the next part of his perilous adventure, ´I touched down safely and then realised I too had been hit, in the right elbow, and I could not bend my arm, also in the head. I decided to make for the South-West (Arnhem direction) and after about an hour´s journey came to a farm, at which I sought help. It was 2300 hours by my watch. The door was opened by a young girl. My reception seemed a bit odd, but I was invited to come into the living room, where there were some people. I was in my battle dress and A.G. insignia was clearly visible, also I said "Englander". Whilst I was applying my field dressing to my elbow, I noticed one of the men leave the room. It seemed to me that he might be off to fetch the Germans and I got up to leave too. The other man in the room got between me and the door and held me up with a pistol. I got him to look over his shoulder and at that moment kicked him hard in the stomach - whilst he was on the ground I grabbed his pistol and bolted. I ran and walked for a time still heading S.W. , when a car came along heading for the farm I had left. From what I gathered later, the farm in question was owned by noted N.S.B. people, and quite probably the car contained Germans fetched by the man who had left the house. I understand the family were "taken care of" by the Underground Movement. After a short time I came to another farm where I hid in some straw. I lay up until the following evening, keeping the place under observation. It seemed alright-no sign of troops, and so in the evening I ventured in and received a very friendly welcome. I was given food and my wounds were dressed, although at the same time a doctor was sent for. He did something to my arm - seemed to brek something, there was a crack, and it was freed from the stiff fixed position, so that the doctor could strap it up half bent. I gather a shrapnel had hit the elbow, also the doctor pulled a piece of splinter from my head. I received the greatness kindness from all and was then put to bed. They took my battle-dress away, but I insisted upon it´s return. During the next few days I received a note from Rupert [the crew´s Bomb-Aimer] who asked whether I would like to join him. I said yes, and on the 8th day of my stay I was taken by bicycle and in civilian clothes to where Rupert was hiding. This was a barn in the grounds of a large farm. I wore my R.A.F. clothes underneath my civilian clothes. The farm where Rupert and I were sheltering was a large one - a successful drop of arms was made from about 500 feet. Here I stayed another 14 days, during which time the following joined us: Lt. Guthrie ( 1 Para. Div), Capt. James M.C. (1 Para Div), Sgts. Warren and Horne (both escapers from Stalag IVB), Pte. Granat (Polish Tank Div.). On about the 15th day we were given bikes and went off in a convoy of some 80-90 Dutchmen (on the run from the Germans) and cycled to a marsh in the middle of which was a little island where some sort of camp had been prepared. Only some of the Dutchmen of the convoy remained with us, the others went on to a destination unknown to me. This camp was a kind of arsenal to which supplies were brought daily. I fell ill, was running a high temperature, and was taken by bike to Laren where I received medical attention. Unfortunately after two days the Gestapo were reported to be in the vicinity, and I was transferred to another farm. My companion and I cycled past a number of S.S. troops but were not molested. Here I joined up with Thorne and Granat. We slept in a chicken run in a nearby wood with some Dutchmen, and life was uneventful for three weeks. During the fourth week, about 0400 hours one morning, one of the family at the farm knocked at our hide-out and told us the Landwacht were around. Luckily, prompted by some nervous urge, I had buried quite a lot of incriminating evidence of our stay - including a military W.T. which had been acquired and some carplates from a Gestapo car which the Underground had blown up. We all made for the fields and scattered. I went with Thorne and Granat followed us. We found we were surrounded - whenever we reached a hedge the Germans seemed to be there, so we took refuge in a ditch and here we remained for a time. Some of the patrolling Germans stopped at the very spot we lay hidden, and after a while one looked down and saw us. We were ordered out at the point of a rifle - on the way out I dropped my pistol, and Thorne trod it into the soil. I was wearing an overall but had a civvie jacket over it.´ After being searched and marched to Laren, and then Deventer H.Q., Whittaker and 23 others ended up on an 18 x 8 and half feet cell with limited rations in the Landwacht Headquarters. Three days interrogation followed at the hands of the Gruenepolizei before the prisoners were taken to Oxerhof and passed over to the Sicherheitsdienst. After a three week stay here they were driven to Doetingham, ´Food was even scantier and we all began to feel pretty weak, especially when we had a ten day cold spell of minus 10 degrees with no heating or extra clothes.´ The decision was taken to move the prisoners again, this time via train to Hamburg, and during the journey a group including Whittaker managed to fashion their escape out of the cattle truck they were in and indeed off the moving train. He decided at this juncture to proceed alone in the general direction of Arnhem and once again laid low in a friendly farm, awaiting the Arnhem Airbourne landing, ´I was very cordially recieved and spent about seven weeks being fed like a "fighting cock"....... On 31.3.1945 I heard the sound of an approaching battle, and in the evening went off to meet the troops. It was a bit rough as I was under two fires, however I was able to give the British Troops of 43 Div. the location of a German 88 mm. which was giving them trouble. From the forward troops I was passed down to I.S.9 (W.E.A.)´ (M.I.9. Debrief, refers).

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