Control column

I have at last managed to obtain a control column. This took three years of negotiations and culminated in a complicated three way swap deal involving a Halifax control column.

The control column originated from Whitley N1427 which ditched off Margate on 3rd September 1940, after running out of fuel on a trip to Italy. The crew came ashore by dinghy.

This account was sent to me by Chris Sandwell: “Although I have no personal recollection of this incident, my late father, Ken, did and he told me that it put down in the mouth of the harbour. The crew, who all survived, had their uniforms soaked whilst making their escape. In the town at the time was a central store of surplus clothes, with items donated by residents, dad could remember quite clearly the crew doing the rounds of Margate’s pubs dressed in top hat and tails which they had chosen from this clothes store. Unfortunately dad died in 2003, but he would be delighted to know that I have passed on this amusing little tale. Dad was called up for sevice in the RAF in 1942, eventually serving as a wireless operator, after initially serving at RAF Scampton, in the bomb dump, at the time of the Dambusters raid and helping to load the bouncing bombs onto the aircraft. I do not know of any photos of the Whitley incident or the whereabouts of any parts, but I wish you luck in your search. Hope you find this of interest.”

The 58 Squadron crew were:
S/L J S Bartlett
Sgt F M Kerr
Sgt Coubrough
Sgt M C Caryll de Tilkin

Other parts of this Whitley have also come to light over the years. The steel items are like new, in fact one of the pick-ups has gone into the centre section rebuild.