laurent
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 7
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Post by laurent on Aug 14, 2015 6:00:52 GMT 12
Hello gentlemen ,
These two airmen were lost on 11/12 June 1944 over Normandy .
Pilot G. Whincop was able to escape but navigator T. Mullinder was captured and sent to Stalag Luft 1 at Sagan .
We are currently looking for their Mosquito LR322 buried somewhere near Bourg-Achard .
Does anyone has information / pictures and what about them ?
Kind regards from Normandy ,
Laurent Viton
laurent.viton(at)neuf.fr
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Post by errolmartyn on Aug 14, 2015 10:53:15 GMT 12
From notes compiled some years ago by myself and the late Gp Capt Colin Hanson:
MULLINDER, Flight Lieutenant Trevor Lowther Wright.
NZ413109. Born Taihape, 13 Mar 1919. RNZAF 24 May 1941 to 3 Jan 1946. Observer. RNZAF 4 Feb 1948 to 12 Jan 1966 as Squadron Leader Education officer. Shot down, wounded, 12 Jun 1944 with 487 Sqn RNZAF (Mosquito). PoW #4799 - Dulag Luft, Stalag Luft 1. Safe UK 14 May 1945. In Feb 2000 Sqn Ldr Mullinder recorded: "No forced marches - mainly I think because Colonel Zempe - the senior Allied officer refused and stated very clearly that he would hold the Camp Commandant responsible for any casualties - but for a good three months before the end - we were alerted to the possibility of being exterminated so we were organised into defensive/offensive groups, determined to sell ourselves as dearly as possible. We were trained by para-troopers. My particular group took and cleared the airfield about a mile from Luft I. We had difficulty with the Russians right from the start. I was told they wanted all our Polish and Czech airmen and of course we could not accept such conditions. The Russians insisted on checking us off as we boarded the planes. Flt Lt Hesselyn, head of our 'Kriegie Intelligence" was quoted as saying "I never want to see or hear another Smith, Brown or Black!" One of the strange things that happened to me was that the Red cross notified my parents that "Berlin cables that body of airman T L W Mullinder found. No burial place was indicated on 24 August 1944." I was not officially alive until a letter written to my father addressed c/- NZ High Commission, London, from Dulag Luft reached England on or about 10 September. I deliberately addressed it to London because I didn't trust the Red Cross officials and I was keeping to the old role "Name, Rank and Number, etc." But I have often wondered if a F/O Mullinder is buried somewhere in Germany and if so, who is/was the poor sod?"
Mullinder died in New Zealand in 2012, aged 93.
WHINCOP, Flight Lieutenant Gerard, CdeG(Fr).
NZ415806 then 132827. Born Tauranga, 11 Jul 1922. RNZAF 19 Oct 1941 to 8 Dec 1946. Reserve to 11 Jul 1977. Pilot. Shot down, baled out, 11 Jun 1944 with 487 Sqn RNZAF (Mosquito). Safe UK, .. ... 1944.
The citation for his CdeG records: "This officer was shot down by an enemy fighter whilst engaged in attacking enemy positions in the rear of the battle area on the night of 11th June 1944. He, together with his Navigator, landed behind the enemy lines and managed to evade capture for 9 weeks. They eventually rejoined the Allied forces after the tide of battle had flowed over them."
On return to England MI-9 recorded: "We took off from Gravesend in a Mosquito aircraft at 0300 hrs on 12 Jun 44. We were shot down and baled out near Bourgtheroulde. I hid until morning and then went to a farmhouse where I was helped by the farmer. I stayed here for four days until the Gestapo came to search the place when I left and stayed with some peasants until 21 Jun. I was then taken to another house in the village and remained here until the Canadians arrived on 26 Aug. The next morning (8 Aug) I spoke to a young French boy when I sat by the roadside and asked where I was. As I had sprained my ankle on landing, I spent the rest of that day hiding. Next day (9 Aug) I only managed to walk about half a mile. I had just hidden myself in a barn in St.Andre D'Hebertot when a dog started barking. Almost immediately the farmer came out an discovered me. This man took me into his house, attended to my ankle, and sheltered me until 28 Aug. On that day I was handed over to the 6th Airborne Division. I was sent thence to Div. HQ., Canadian Army HQ, and Bayeux where I was briefly interrogated."
Died in New Zealand in 1998, aged 76
Errol
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Post by 11SQNLDR on Aug 14, 2015 13:27:35 GMT 12
An excellent thread thank you gents as Trevor Mullinder was my 3rd form Social Studies teacher at Hastings Boys High School in 1979. He had a large well made kitset of a 487 Mossie (1/32 scale) on a shelf in his classroom and was an excellent teacher as he was easily distracted and taken 'off topic' by asking him a wartime question! As the end of period bell would ring and after a good 10 -15 minutes of fascinating war stories he'd exclaim "you've done it to me again!!" as we all bailed for the doorway with out any homework being assigned.... He was a good stick & in a way I feel blessed to have had several high calibre secondary school teachers with fascinating wartime service & I'm quite sure I learned more from them than they would ever have realised  I was not aware he passed away in 2012 - a great innings, blue skies sir. |
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Post by errolmartyn on Aug 14, 2015 16:38:08 GMT 12
An excellent thread thank you gents as Trevor Mullinder was my 3rd form Social Studies teacher at Hastings Boys High School in 1979. He had a large well made kitset of a 487 Mossie (1/32 scale) on a shelf in his classroom and was an excellent teacher as he was easily distracted and taken 'off topic' by asking him a wartime question! As the end of period bell would ring and after a good 10 -15 minutes of fascinating war stories he'd exclaim "you've done it to me again!!" as we all bailed for the doorway with out any homework being assigned.... He was a good stick & in a way I feel blessed to have had several high calibre secondary school teachers with fascinating wartime service & I'm quite sure I learned more from them than they would ever have realised I was not aware he passed away in 2012 - a great innings, blue skies sir. I 'enjoyed' a similar experience at Southland Boys' High School during the early 1960s with our science teacher, one Wg Cdr J. H. M. Smith whose flying career dated back to the early 1930s. All one had to do was wait for an opportune moment to slip in a question that would inevitably lead to Smithy going off at a tangent into the world of flying! Errol |
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laurent
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 7
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Post by laurent on Aug 15, 2015 1:33:19 GMT 12
Fantastic Errol ! Many thanks .
If by chance we could have pictures of both airmen that would be superb . Or even more , contact with relatives in NZ ?
Regards ,
Laurent
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Post by errolmartyn on Aug 15, 2015 12:08:35 GMT 12
Fantastic Errol ! Many thanks . If by chance we could have pictures of both airmen that would be superb . Or even more , contact with relatives in NZ ? Regards , Laurent I suggest you contact the Air Force Museum of New Zealand at info@airforcemuseum.co.nz There is also a history of 487 Sqn, RNZAF, by David Palmer due for publication here later this year. Errol |
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Post by 11SQNLDR on Aug 15, 2015 17:34:07 GMT 12
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laurent
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 7
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Post by laurent on Aug 16, 2015 20:06:51 GMT 12
Thanks to all !
There's no Luftwaffe claim that night against a Mosquito , so a " friendly " fire is to be considered !
Regards ,
Laurent
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Post by chinapilot on Aug 21, 2015 20:33:05 GMT 12
Reading Errol's piece about these two airmen really puts into context 'thinking on your feet' and also the courage of the people in the occupied countries that did help airmen at great personal risk to themselves and their families...
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Post by errolmartyn on Sept 2, 2015 9:22:53 GMT 12
The history of the squadron by New Zealander David Palmer with Dutchman Aad Neeven is now due out next year: THROUGH TO THE END - The History of 487(NZ) Squadron RAF Author: David Palmer with Aad Neaven No 487 (NZ) Squadron of the RAF was instrumental in carrying out some of the most famous and dramatic air attacks of all time. During the Second World war its crews were renowned for low-level, precision bombing. Formed in England in 1942, the squadron initially flew the Lockheed Ventura, but then reequipped with the legendary de Havilland Mosquito. Half its pilots were New Zealanders. No. 487’s operations were so low-level that aircraft windscreens were splashed with salt spray while crossing the sea and many hit trees and buildings. In the last year of the war it specialised in nocturnal ‘Intruder’ operations in which aircraft set out as lone-wolf predators, prowling across France, Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany to ravage enemy transport. A third of the men who flew operations with 487 died with it. But no other combat unit as small made a greater impact on the war. ISBN: 9780987667588 Published: April 2016 Price: $85.00 Size: 160mm x 240mm Extent: 550 Pages Illustrations: 149 B/W PHOTOS 8 Maps Binding: Cased & Dust Jacketed Publisher info here at www.jdpublishing.co.nz/pubforthcoming/default.htmlErrol |
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Post by McFly on Sept 2, 2015 19:51:17 GMT 12
Some photos of P/O T Mullinder. Negative Number: MUS1300115 Caption: Portrait of Flying Officer T.L.W. Mullinder, from The Weekly News issue 30 August 1944, page 24. Further Information: Year of Image: 1944 Image Date Information: 30 August 1944 Format: Digital image  Negative Number: MUS050034 Caption: Group of Air Observers under training at number 10 Air Observers School, Chatham, New Brunswick, Canada, in front of a Avro Anson on a snow covered airfield. Only Thompson and Kennedy are not New Zealanders. Further Information: L-R: Back; Woodhouse, Wildey, McFarlane, Kemp, McKinnon, Polson, O'Connor, Mills, Mossman. Middle; Flight Lieutenant Thompson, Mullinder, Moultrie, Penn, Uxley, Prior, O'Neil, Macnamara, Martin, Flying Officer Kennedy. Front; Warner, Luzmoor, Judson, Ward, Mathias, O'Kane, Scott, Stevens. Absent; Parker. Year of Image: 1942 Image Date Information: 1 May 1942 Format: Negative-Medium Format-B&W  Negative Number: MUS050036 Caption: Group. Graduating class 43H in front of an Avro Anson, at Number 1 Central Navigation School, Rivers, Manitoba, Canada. * denotes not New Zealander. Further Information: L-R: Back; R. Woodhouse, J. O'Neil, F. Oxley, M. Stevens, J. Muncaster*, Bassett*, R. Robertson*, D. Martin, W. Scott, Wildey. Front; E. Dempsey*, R. Kemp, M. Parker, J. Mullinder, W. Judson, Flying Officer Onghtred* (spelling?), K. Prior, D. Macnamara, D. Luzmoor, W. O'Kane. Year of Image: 1942 Image Date Information: 3 August 1942 Format: Negative-Medium Format-B&W  (Photos Air Force Museum) |
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laurent
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 7
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Post by laurent on Sept 3, 2015 5:24:05 GMT 12
Many thanks gentlemen ! This is far appreciated . Mosquito LR332's crash-site is now pinpointed , I'll keep you advised if ever relevant parts are found .  from Normandy . Laurent |
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beauw
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by beauw on Sept 12, 2015 19:48:25 GMT 12
Thanks to all ! There's no Luftwaffe claim that night against a Mosquito , so a " friendly " fire is to be considered ! Regards , Laurent hi Laurent My name is Beau Whincop. Gerald was my Grandfather. How can my family help you in your journey to learn more about the Mosquito story involving my GF. Email me beau.whincop@gmail.com |
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laurent
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 7
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Post by laurent on Oct 24, 2015 2:20:05 GMT 12
Hello gentlemen ,
Thanks to this forum I'm now in touch with Gerard Whincop's relatives , and they are delighted to have some pieces found of Mosquito LR332.
It would be so nice now hearing from Trevor Mullinder's !! If some members could be helpful , I'll be very grateful .
Regards from Normandy ,
Laurent
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Post by richardc on Nov 1, 2015 10:42:22 GMT 12
Laurent,
I have some information and a filmed interview of Trevor Mullinder which you can watch online if interested. Email me at the following address for link/password: richardcarstens@gmail.com
Best regards, Richard
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chrisbr
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 2
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Post by chrisbr on Jan 7, 2016 11:26:01 GMT 12
Hello gentlemen , Thanks to this forum I'm now in touch with Gerard Whincop's relatives , and they are delighted to have some pieces found of Mosquito LR332. It would be so nice now hearing from Trevor Mullinder's !! If some members could be helpful , I'll be very grateful . Regards from Normandy , Laurent |
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chrisbr
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 2
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Post by chrisbr on Jan 7, 2016 11:29:40 GMT 12
Hello Laurent, I have just spotted your posts. I and my family knew Trevor. My father in law is Don Martin who appears in the photos posted. I maybe able to get in touch with one of Trevor's daughters. You can contact me on; csbrereton@gmail.com
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mikedo6
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 1
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Post by mikedo6 on Mar 4, 2017 5:35:11 GMT 12
Hello gentlemen , These two airmen were lost on 11/12 June 1944 over Normandy . Pilot G. Whincop was able to escape but navigator T. Mullinder was captured and sent to Stalag Luft 1 at Sagan . We are currently looking for their Mosquito LR322 buried somewhere near Bourg-Achard . Does anyone has information / pictures and what about them ? Kind regards from Normandy , Laurent Viton laurent.viton(at)neuf.fr |
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Post by sammieparkinson on Apr 25, 2018 12:44:24 GMT 12
Many thanks gentlemen ! This is far appreciated . Mosquito LR332's crash-site is now pinpointed , I'll keep you advised if ever relevant parts are found . from Normandy . Laurent Hi Laurent, I am Trevor Mullinder's granddaughter (my mother is Trevor's eldest child). Please do let me know how the above got along. I am very interested in my Pop's history and use to spend every ANZAC day with him before he passed. Let me know if I can be of any further help. Thanks, Sammie |
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Post by sammieparkinson on Apr 25, 2018 12:47:26 GMT 12
My email address is parkinson_sammie@hotmail.com
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from Normandy .