Vincent Whiting
He was a colliery screen tipper in 1939.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Vincent Whiting, who may have been adopted, was living with his uncle Sydney and aunt Mary Ann Whiting in 1921 along with Sydney's brother William Oliver and sister Emily at 26, Carmen Sytreet, Caeru, LLangynwyd, Glamorgan. Emily married David Williams in 1922 and, in 1939, Vincent was living with them at 70, White Avenue, Langold, Nottinghamshire.
DURNBACH WAR CEMETERY Coll. grave 6. G. 7-15.
This crew was lost attacking the Augsberg Man Diesel works in southern Germany. Bomber Command C in C Arthur Harris was normally opposed to small scale targeted operations but felt compelled to authorise this one because the plant supplied many engines to Germany's U-boat fleet, at this time taking such a heavy toll of allied shipping in the Atlantic.
According to 97 Sqdn's ORB (AIR 27/766/25). L7573 was the 'leader of the formation shot down over the target by Flak. Seen by other aircraft to be in flames and crash. Missing.'
Lancaster L7573
Pilot Officer A T Webb, Flight Lieutenant D S R Hepburn, Sergeant R S Page, Sergeant A M Cox, Flight Sergeant D W Harrington, Flight Sergeant V Wilding (Whiting): killed; Squadron Leader J S Sherwood: prisoner of war. Enemy action, aircraft shot down over Augsburg, Germany.
Vincent Whiting presumably enlisted as Vincent Wilding the surname consistently used in RAF documentation and by CWGC.
Squadron Leader John Nettleton of 44 Sqdn was awarded a VC for his role in leading this highly dangerous daylight operation deep into enemy territory. For an excellent account of the attack, see https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/deep-strike-on-augsburg/
No photos