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Cenotaph record

Peter Coulson Whitwell

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Biography for Peter Coulson Whitwell. RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ha - Hy. Archives New Zealand (R17845617-0333). CC-BY 2.0.

Biography for Peter Coulson Whitwell. RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Pe …

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Peter Coulson AWMM
  • Surname
    Whitwell AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    • WWII NZ40613 AWMM
    • WWII 40613 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    16 August 1920 AWMM Hartlepool, United Kingdom AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    WW2 Parents: Rev G. M. & Mrs Whitwell, Oakley Green Vicarage, Chesham, Bucks ,England AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Single/WWII AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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Military decorations

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  • Medals and Awards
    • Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) AWMM
      15 December 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

Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
    Air Gunner/Military RNZAF Biographies (R17845617)
  • Enlistment
    WW2 28 November 1939 AWMM
    Age 21 AWMM
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes
    Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM
    Killed on air operations AWMM

Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • 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 AWMM

Death

About death

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  • Death
    7 November 1942 AWMM
    Age 21 AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Killed in Action AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name
    Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, United Kingdom AWMM

Roll of Honour

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Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References
    • Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press. AWMM
    • Wynn, K. (1981). A clasp for "The Few". Auckland. N.Z.: Author. AWMM
      Wynn, K. (1981). p. 433-434 AWMM
    • Hanson, C. (2001). By such deeds: honours and awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1923-1999. Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press. AWMM
      p.511 AWMM
    • 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]. AWMM
    • RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ue - Z. Archives New Zealand (R17845617) - Former archives reference: AIR118 AWMM
    • 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) AWMM
    • Please note that the 12 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. AWMM

Contributors

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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
12 July 2020Ian BanksTaumarunui New ZealandResearcher
27 January 2020KelvinNorfolk, EnglandResearcher

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