The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. J J Whitfield

Joseph James Whitfield from Goldthorpe, Yorkshire was born in July 1915, the son of Joseph Whitfield and Emma Whitfield.

He was educated in the local school. He was employed in Barnburgh for seven years before joined the RAF in November 1935 as an Aircrafthand.

Whitfield passed out from a ten month course at Montrose as an Armourer.

Above image courtesy of the Whitfield family.

He later applied for pilot training, was accepted and commenced training at Filton.

He went to 5 OTU Aston Down to qualify on Hurricanes on 26th March 1940 and joined 56 Squadron at North Weald on 20th April.

Over the Channel off Calais on 13th July 1940 Whitfield was shot down in Hurricane P2922, probably by Oblt. Fozo of 4/JG51, and was posted Missing.

He was 25 and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, panel 21.

Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner.