User talk:Nick Thorne/Library
LCDR Wheatley
editHello! I've never used Talk before! Please can you tell me what is says on page 128 of British Naval Aviation: The Fleet Air Arm, 1917-1990 about a C.F. Wheatley? He's my grandfather and I have been trying to find out what ship he was on when he died. So much confusion as he is actually O.F (Oscar!) Thanks GPNGrandPapasNicole (talk) 13:46, 11 October 2013 (UTC)
- Sure, I'll check it out when I get a chance, stand by... - Nick Thorne talk 21:26, 11 October 2013 (UTC)
- The following is a direct quote from the requested page:
Continuous action then began to take its toll, and by mid-June only Ameer, Khedive and Stalker were available out of the eight escort carriers by then allocated to the East Indies Fleet. Unobtrusive Hellcat PR sorties commenced over southern Malaya and Penang area on 18 May and then two days later, this task safely completed, the fighters went into action, 29 aircraft from three squadrons carrying out devastating attacks on shipping, airfields and communications in southern Burma and Sumatra. One unfortunate loss was that of the recently appointed commanding officer of No 808 Squadron, Lt Cdr (A) C. F. Wheatley, RNVR, whose Hellcat, JW868, went down in flames over Medan after being hit by anti-aircraft fire during an attack on airfields.
- Hope this is of some help. I have had a bit of a look around at the history of 808 Squadron for the time frame concerned and I am pretty sure that 808 was embarked in HMS Khedive at the time. - Nick Thorne talk 02:26, 14 October 2013 (UTC)
- According to the Fleet Air Arm Archive 808 Squadron was re-equipped with 24 Hellcat Is and IIs, joining HMS Khedive in January 1945 for the East Indies Fleet. I have noted some ambiguity about what ship 808 was operating from, but it appears that this is mainly caused by an amount of cross-deck operations and unclear text in the sources. It seems reasonably clear to me that 808 was embarked in Khedive at the time of the operation when your grandfather was shot down. I hope this is of some use to you. - Nick Thorne talk 12:25, 14 October 2013 (UTC)
Thanks Nick. I'm getting there - slowly but surely! I agree that 808 was on Khedive. Sadly it appears to be his first and only flight from that ship as until 20th May when he was made Commander of 808 he was with 804 squadron. 194.66.175.74 (talk) 12:47, 14 October 2013 (UTC)