Hi, I'm new to the site and wonder if somebody might know the answer to a question I have. My grandfather was based at 24 otu (Honeybourne) and was killed when his Whitley was lost (one of two) on a raid on Dusseldorf in August 1942. Only the pilot survived the crash. He was a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner and was training aircrew. Some research I have done indicates that the Whitley crew of 5 should have comprised Pilot, Navigator/Bomb Aimer, Wireless Operator and 2 gunners. I assume that the navigator doubled as the bomb aimer because he was in the cockpit with the pilot most of the time as the bomb aiming position was in the nose of the aircraft.

However, the crew of my grandfather' s Whitley seems to have comprised Pilot, Navigator, Wireless Operator/Air gunner, Bomb Aimer and one Air Gunner. Can anyone tell me, bearing in mind he had gone up with his trainees, what role he would have been likely to have played? Would he have gunned AND operated the radio, and if he had gunned would it have been front or rear? I ask because I am wondering if the wrong crew configuration could have contributed to their demise. The other Whitley that was lost that night seems to have had a crew of only 4 and therefore been even worse off.

Finally, when is the Whitley likely to be completed and will it be on public display? I'd love to see it.

Thanks. Steve.