Service number:

745010/126158, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves

Nationality:

British

Promotions:
?: Temporary Warrant Officer;
June 22nd, 1942: Pilot Officer on probation (emergency);
December 22nd, 1942: Flying Officer on probation (war
subs.);
June 22nd, 1944: Flight Lieutenant (war subs.).

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Flight Sergeant

Unit:

No. 206 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

July 7th, 1942

"Fit. Sgt. Whitfield has completed a large number of successful operational sorties, including escorts, sweeps, strikes and patrols. On two occasions with another pilot, he has prevented convoys from being attacked by enemy aircraft. Last July, when on patrol, he made a successful attack on a large anti-aircraft ship and left it burning.
His aircraft was very badly damaged, one engine caught fire and both engines stopped as a result of a direct hit on the fuel tank. Fit. Sgt. Whitfield promptly changed to another tank, got the engines working again and brought the aircraft safely home with very little fuel after a flight of 7,25 hours.
On another occasion his aircraft was damaged during a night raid on Donges oil refineries, but his successful navigation enabled the pilot to make a safe return after a flight lasting eight hours. He has set a fine example to his squadron by his conspicuous skill and devotion to duty. "

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Flight Lieutenant

Awarded on:

July 31st, 1945

Awarded for:

Operation Market Garden

• - MEIJER, H.G. & VIS, R., Het Vliegerkruis, De Bataafsche Leeuw, Amsterdam, 1997.
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 3rd July 1942, Issue 35621, dated 7th July 1942
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 7th August 1942, Issue 35661, dated 11th August 1942
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 26th January 1943, Issue 35881, dated 29th January 1943
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 18th July 1944, Issue 36617, dated 21st July 1944
  - Ninth Supplement to The London Gazette of 28th December 1945, Issue 37415, dated 1st January 1946
  - Flight Magazine July 30th, 1942