The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. A D Whitson

Alfred Daniel Whitson was born on 25th October 1918 in Bristol, the son of Alfred John Whitson (1881-1939) and Alice Rhoda Whitson (nee Holbrook 1884-1973).

He joined the RAFVR about March 1939 as an Airman u/t Observer. Called up on 1st September 1939, he completed his training and joined 236 Squadron at Thorney Island on 19th July 1940.

At some time in 1940 he married Ethel Mary Hooper in Bristol.

Whitson was posted to 209 Squadron in December 1940, operating in Lerwicks from Stranraer. He went to Andover in March 1941 for retraining and in April joined 59 Squadron at Bircham Newton, operating Blenheims. Their role was searching for and attacking E-boats, particularly those from the large base at Ijmuiden, Holland.

On 6th May 1941 Whitson failed to return from a sortie. The day before he had told a friend that if the weather was unsuitable for finding Ijmuiden they would seek a target in Germany.

Blenheim IV (serial unknown) TR-A is believed to have come down in the North Sea as the body of F/Lt. GT Palmer DFC was washed ashore, he lies in Sage War Cemetery. Whitson and F/Sgt. CEA Dunlop DFM were not recovered.

Whitson is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, panel 54.

Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner.