Whirlwind question

starkey stripes

Hi
There are two published photos I have seen, ( twice ) and one unpublished, ( I was given it in the 80’s, it features two whirly’s one of which is P6974 HE-Z {st/bd side}, & HE-X {pt side } serial obscured !!)
Starkey was 8th & 9th Sept 43, the ‘invasion feint’ was aimed at Boulogne.
Look forward to the photo it might be a fourth one !!
Cheers
Jerry

Thanks Jerry

I’ve found a picture of the White nosed 263 Whirlwind, I’ll set up the scanner and post it on the forum tomorrow.

Kind regards

Whirlwinds

Hi
Correct fate is that mentioned :-

P6991 of 263 Sqdn lost power on take off ; hit tree and crash landed 2 miles west of Warmwell 9/2/1943.

Most of the photos of P6991 are taken when 263SQ was at portreath Cornwall

Correct , White nose whirly’s were nothing to do with dieppe, It was in fact for operation Starkey, There is a book on the op called the starkey sacrifice which describes the whole operation to test the response of the germans to a pattern of ‘invasion’ air attacks , funnily the germans didn’t notice the new pattern of air attacks and didn’t respond to the operation, however a french village area was heavily bombed.

263 was converting to fighter bomber role and having bomb racks fitted when dieppe was on and 137Sq was operating off the east coast.

Cheers
Jerry

( Self confessed whirly annorak since 1970, when the last whirly cockpit was still in existance, sadly now long gone !! )

I know the picture I will try to find it. As far as being a Dieppe aircraft this is a red herring, the Whirlwind didn’t see action over Dieppe in August 1942, the markings were applied for a previous operation that was in fact cancelled.

It’s not in Binghams book, unfortunately I can’t locate my other Whirlwind books.

if I find a photo I’ll certainly put it up here, I have no indepth info about the aircraft, but maybe some of the others here do ??????

coanda

Hi Coanda,

No, didn’t have the necessary info at that time… but tempt me and I’ll try it. If you have the right material let me know.

Airart

did you do a side view of the white nosed dieppe aircraft ?

coanda

P6991

Enclosing a colour profile I did some years ago of HE-R as it appeared late in 1941 after the introduction of the new fighter scheme on 15 August. Dark Earth areas have been overpainted in ‘mixed grey’ or Ocean Grey while Sky undersides have been changed to Medium Sea Grey. Makings are in the style of the period before the introduction of narrow white and yellow areas in mid-May 1942.

HE-R

Hello Ian,

HE-R (P6991) was lost on the 13th March 1943 due to enemy action after 262 flying hours.
That according to “Westland Whirlwind” by Bruce Robertson published by Kookaburra .

P6991 of 263 Sqdn lost power on take off ; hit tree and crash landed 2 miles west of Warmwell 9/2/1943.
Thats from Air Brit Serials P1000-R9999.

FC losses vol 2 does not mention it at all.
same goes for
FC War Diaries Vol 3 by John Forman.

So Ian, which is correct?

Let me know please.

Alex

1) Because I have a picture of it showing both the Squadron markings and the serial

2) Whilst the same source – Whirlwind by Victor Bingham has the following:

P6991 To 18MU 30.12.40. To 263 Squadron 6.2.41 as HE-R. Repaired twice on site before damaged to CAT E 9.2.43

Seems to suggest it just might be the same bird?

Moggy

Thanks Moggy.

Why P6991 ?

I’d hazard a flying guess at P6991

Moggy