Peter Coulson Whitwell
Born 16 Aug 1920 - Died 7 Nov 1942
- Service number
- WWII NZ40613 AWMM
- WWII 40613 AWMM
- Also known as
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Last rank
- WW2 Flying Officer/Military AWMM Royal Air Force, No. 7 Squadron AWMM
- War
About
- Title
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- Forenames
- Peter Coulson AWMM
- Surname
- Whitwell AWMM
- Ingoa
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- Also known as
- —
- Service number
- WWII NZ40613 AWMM
- WWII 40613 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
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- Religion
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Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 16 Aug 1920 AWMM
- Date of birth
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- Place of birth
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- Birth notes
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- Address before enlistment
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- Post war occupation
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- Next of kin
- WW2 Parents: Rev G. M. & Mrs Whitwell, Oakley Green Vicarage, Chesham, Bucks ,England AWMM
- Relationship status
- Single/WWII AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- Campaign
- 1940 AWMM Battle of Britain AWMM
- Europe (Air) AWMM
- Europe (Air) AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Service number
- WWII NZ40613 AWMM
- WWII 40613 AWMM
- Military service
- Royal Scots Greys AWMM
- Royal Air Force, No. 600 Squadron AWMM
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- Royal Air Force, No. 7 Squadron AWMM
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) AWMM
15 Dec 1941 AWMM - 1939-45 Star (Battle of Britain clasp) AWMM
- War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
- DFM citation 19th December 1941:
'This airman was the rear gunner of an aircraft which carried out a daylight attack on shipping off Borkum. During the operation the aircraft was attacked by a force of 8 Messerschmitt 109s. Displaying great coolness and accuracy of fire, Sergeant Whitwell warded off the first 4 attacks and, in the next one, seriously damaged one of the attackers which was observed to dive steeply away with the engine emitting black smoke. Three further attacks were made by the enemy aircraft and, in the last one Sergeant Whitwell scored a further success. Following a well-aimed burst by him, one of the enemy aircraft turned over and dived vertically. Oh another occasion, when his aircraft was attacked by a Messerschmitt 110, Sergeant Whitwell withheld his fire until the attacker had closed to a range of 50 yards and then shot it down in flames. This airman has displayed great ability, tenacity and courage'.Public - Kelvin - Researcher - 27 January 2020 - http://www.aircrewremembered.com/tottman-david-james.html
- Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) AWMM
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
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- Branch Trade Proficiency
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- Enlistment
- WW2 28 Nov 1939 AWMM
Age 21 AWMM - Age on enlistment
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- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Vessel was Rangitiki AWMM Gunner/Military AWMM Royal New Zealand Air Force AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
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- Days interned
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- Liberation date
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- POW liberation details
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- Liberation Repatriation
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- POW serial number
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Medical history
- Medical notes
- Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM
Killed on air operations AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- WW2 Flying Officer/Military AWMM
Royal Air Force, No. 7 Squadron AWMM - Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Son of the Revd. Samuel Mapleton Whitwell and Gwendoline Whitwell, of Ashley Green, Buckinghamshire
Served 2 years with the Scots Greys 1936-38 (British Army); then enlisted with the NZ Artillery, serving at 1st Battery, Fort Dorset, Seatoun, Wellington before enlisting with the RNZAF.
Portrait in Wynn, K. (1981). The Battle of Britain: 10 July- 31 October 1940
Nov 1939 1st Battery, New Zealand Artillery. Enlisted Royal New Zealand Air Force Feb 1940 (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845617)) AWMM
About death
- Death
- 7 Nov 1942 AWMM
Age 21 AWMM - Date of death
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- Age at death
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- Place of death
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- Cause of death
- Killed in Action AWMM
- Death notes
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- Cemetery
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- Cemetery name
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- Grave reference
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- Obituary
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- Memorial name
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- Memorial reference
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Memorial
- Memorial name
- Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, United Kingdom AWMM
Sources
- External links
- Battle of Britain, a website.
http://web.archive.org/web/20060403113135/http://www.raf.mod.uk/bob1940/bobhome.html
Further Reference - Battle of Britain Historical Society, a website.
http://www.battleofbritain1940.net/
Further Reference - Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1531501
Sources Used - RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ha - Hy. Archives New Zealand (R17845611)
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845617
Sources Used - See a list of New Zealanders awarded the Battle of Britain Clasp here (PDF). Compiled with the assistance of Errol Martyn and linked from the NZHistory page produced by Manatū Taonga, Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/sites/default/files/documents/nz-battle-of-britain-list.pdf
Further Reference - Battle of Britain: Allied Pilots, Aircrew Remembered
https://aircrewremembered.com/BattleOfBritainDatabase/battlebritain-alpha-list.html
Further Reference
- Battle of Britain, a website.
- References
- Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
- Wynn, K. (1981). A clasp for "The Few". Auckland. N.Z.: Author.
Wynn, K. (1981). p. 433-434 - Hanson, C. (2001). By such deeds: honours and awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1923-1999. Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
p.511 - Ministry for Culture and Heritage. (2012). New Zealanders serving with RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain, 10 July – 31 October 1940. [A list compiled by Ministry for Culture and Heritage with Errol Martyn].
- RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ue - Z. Archives New Zealand (R17845617) - Former archives reference: AIR118
- List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. [Missing - But Presumed Dead on Lapse of Time - Officers, Airmen]. Archives New Zealand (R17845743)
- Please note that the 11 volumes of the "RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939-1945" held at Archives NZ (formerly known as AIR118) should be used in conjunction with Errol Martyn's "For Your Tomorrow". FYT reflects detailed examination of all of the AIR118 bios which contain many inaccuracies and omissions.
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