A little bit of help required!

spidge · Jun 20, 2008

This cemetery has (7) Airmen, (1) unidentified Australian, (1) unidentified New Zealander, and (5) from the United Kingdom of which only (2) are identified.

CWGC :: Cemetery Details

My oldest daughters' boyfriend is named Tudhope as is one of the UK Airmen.

Any way we can track down the aircraft's involved etc?

KITCHEN, ALFRED EDWARD, A E
Flying Officer ( Nav)
173155
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
28/11/1944
24
Plot 10. Grave 5.
Kampen General Cemetery
IJsselmeer, The Netherlands

TUDHOPE, WILLIAM FRANK, W F
Pilot Officer ( Pilot ) 41224
Royal Air Force
10/08/1940
22
Plot 7. Grave 11.
Kampen General Cemetery
IJsselmeer, The Netherlands

Kyt · Jun 20, 2008

Tudhope:

SALTER, W/C George William (41315) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No

TUDHOPE, P/O William Frank (41224) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.144 Squadron - awarded as per London Gazette dated 6 August 1940. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, 4 March 1919, the son of J.H. Tudhope. Educated in Ottawa and Ryde School (Isle of Wight). Appointed Acting Pilot Officer on Probation, RAF, 17 September 1938. With No.44 Squadron at outbreak of war; with No.76 Squadron, 30 September to 11 October 1939; with No.144 Squadron, 11 October 1939 to 10 August 1940 (killed in action). Air Ministry Bulletin 1275 refers. Public Record Office Air 2/9447 has the original recommendation dated 22 July 1940, drafted by the Officer Commanding, RAF Station Hemswell:

This officer was captain of an aircraft which was detailed to attack warships in Wilhelmshaven harbour from a very low level on the night of July 20th. He delivered his attack from 50 feet in the face of terrific anti-aircraft fire from all the defences of the town, during which his aircraft was badly hit by gunfire.

In spite of this damage he attempted to make a second attack, but owing to the extreme density of the fire, his aircraft received a great many more hits, and one engine was badly damaged. With great skill and courage he brought his damaged aircraft back across the North Sea and landed it at the aerodrome.

This officer has shown conspicuous gallantly and devotion to duty on many previous occasions, and has always pressed home his attacks in the same fearless manner.

On 22 July 1940 Air Vice-Marshal A.T. Harris, Air Officer Commanding No.5 Group, minuted the document as "Strongly recommended". The recommendation was approved by the Commander-in-Chief, Bomber Command on 24 July 1940 and forwarded that day to Air Ministry. A draft citation at Air Ministry gave the date of the action - 20 July 1940 - but otherwise did not differ from that published in the London Gazette (below):

One night in July 1940, Pilot Officer Tudhope was captain of an aircraft which delivered an attack on enemy warships in Wilhelmshaven harbour from an altitude of only 50 feet. The aircraft was subjected to terrific anti-aircraft fire and was badly hit by a high explosive shell. In spite of this, a second attack was attempted, but owing to the extreme density of the gunfire, one engine was badly damaged and the navigator's cabin was riddled with holes. In spite of this ordeal, Sergeant Belton, the navigator and bomb aimer, with great coolness and courage continued his duties, and enabled Pilot Officer Tudhope to bring the badly damaged aircraft safely home. This officer and Non-Commissioned Officer have shown conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on many previous occasions. [Cited with Sergeant L.S. Belton, DFM].

NOTE: Cards compiled by W/C F.H. Hitchins (held by Directorate of History and Heritage, Canadian Forces Headquarters) detail the following sorties:

14 Dec 39 Search 2nd pilot of aircraft; 11 machines looking for enemy fleet in North Sea; not found. Captain was F/O Meyer.

20/21 Apr 40 GARDENING 2nd pilot in crew of four laying mines off Scharnhorn Island. Captain was F/O Meyer.

23/24 Apr 40 GARDENING Warnemunde, 700 feet. Captain was F/O Meyer.

25/26 Apr 40 GARDENING 6 ½ hours, 500 feet, Schlieswig. Captain was F/O Meyer.

9/10 May 40 GARDENING Navigating with F/O Meyer, Kiel Fiord, 500 feet.

11/12 May 40 Rhine Valley with F/O Meyer; bombed target (not further identified), 11,500 feet.

13/14 May 40 Aachen With S/L Rebleck; bombed at 10,000 feet.

18/19 May 40 Battle area With S/L Rebleck; bombed bridge between Namur and Dinant; hits observed.

25/26 May 40 Ruhr With F/O Meyer; bombed Remschied-Ruhr (bombs short)

26/27 May 40 Battle area With F/O Meyer; incendiaries in woods, St.Vith area; also bombed roads and bridges.

27/28 May 40 Bremen With F/O Meyer; bombed aerodrome southeast of Bremen; followed by five aircraft.

31 May/1 Jun Not stated With F/O Meyer; unable to locate target.

3/4 June 40 Emmerich With F/O Meyer; bombed alternative; two large fires.

5/6 June 40 GARDENING With F/O Meyer; planted vegetables [mines] near Kielsnor Light; fired on a tug.

8/9 June 40 GARDENING With F/O Meyer; intense electrical storm and rain; dropped vegetables in Battin (Kolding ?) area.

11/12 June 40 Not stated With F/O Meyer; target obscured by haze; anti-aircraft fire accurate; did not bomb.

12/13 June 40 Lille

18/19 June 40 GARDENING Dutch coast.

21/22 June 40 Celle 7 ½ hours.

23/24 June 40 Not stated Bombed and machine-gunned a train south of Ringen.

7/8 July 40 GARDENING Captain for first time; to German coast; dropped vegetables at 650 feet; airborne 7 hours.

11/12 July 40 Ruhr Could not locate target due to storm and did not bomb.

14/15 July 40 Hamburg Target obscured; did not bomb.

20 July 40 GARDENING Dropped special mine. Trip was to Wilhelmshaven and was the subject of his DFC action, yet it is not described in unit diary.

7/8 Aug 40 GARDENING Langeland; dropped vegetables at 600 feet; light flak.

10 Aug 40 Not stated Possibly Hamburg; in Hampden P4365*; failed to return; P/O Tudhope, Sergeant S.L.S. Belton, Sergeant D. McKay, Sergeant A.J. Griffiths.
Click to expand...

*Actually the aircraft was Hampden P4368, though the crew are as listed above:

CWGC :: Casualty Details
CWGC :: Casualty Details
CWGC :: Casualty Details

Took off from Hemswell, UK. Crashed in the IJsselmeer, The Netherlands
P/O Tudhope is buried at Kampen General Cemetery, whilst the others are on the Runnymede memorial.

Kyt · Jun 20, 2008

Kitchen:

Mosquito ML979 (HS-A) of 109 Squadron. Mission to Neuss

Took off at 18.38 from Little Staughton. Cause of loss not established. Crashed in the IJsselmeer.

F/O Kitchen's body was washed ashore 4th March 1945. He is now buried in Kampen General Cemetery at IJsselmeer.

F/L M Williamson DFC PoW
F/O A E Kitchen DFC +

I will have a look at the 109 Squadron history later to see if there are any further details

spidge · Jun 20, 2008

Thanks Kyt,

Fantastic information once again.

They others at Kampen which are unknown will possibly have dates on their gravestones to when they were buried however nothing definitive can result.

Tudhope seemed to be a very busy lad. I am not sure whether "my" Tudhope has a SA or Canadian connection however I will get them to check it out. Not a very common name.

Cheers

Geoff

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