Donald Littrell Chadwick

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georgetanksherman
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Donald Littrell Chadwick

Post by georgetanksherman » Tue Jun 14, 2022 12:19 am

Looking for the aircraft info of Donald Littrell Chadwick, Denver, Colorado - Died: August 2, 1977

I have that he got his wings at RCAF No. 10 SFTS, shipped to the U.K. assigned to RAF No. 14 (P) AFU, after completing his training at the AFU, according to his Obit, he was assigned to RCAF No. 426 Squadron at the time flying the Vickers Wellington, while on a mission to bomb Essen, Germany on December 27, 1942 the aircraft he was in (Serial # not known) was shot down, he was captured, but after awhile was able to escape, once returned, he transferred to the U.S. Navy in 1943, did night fighter training in the Mosquito, the question I have, is the info as far as the RCAF Squadron, aircraft a Wellington and date shot down date correct, I can find no info on that. And is the Serial # available ?

As always, any help would truly be appreciated !

Cheers

George

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Re: Donald Littrell Chadwick

Post by Temujin » Tue Jun 14, 2022 12:56 am

George, it doesn’t look like that is the right date……..No flying on the 27th Dec 1942……..I’ll see if I can find anything else
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Re: Donald Littrell Chadwick

Post by georgetanksherman » Tue Jun 14, 2022 1:25 am

This is from his Obit:
Mr. Chadwick joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. He was posted to a Royal Air Force unit at Ossington, England, for combat training.

He flew several combat missions over Germany and in 1942 was assigned to the 426 Squadron, RAF Bomber Command in Yorkshire.

On Dec. 27, 1942, on his 31st combat mission, Mr. Chadwick's bomber was shot down on a raid on Essen, Germany. He was a prisoner of war until his escape and return to England through Portugal in 1943.

He then joined Pan American Airways in Treasure Island, Calif., until 1944, when he was commissioned in the U.S. Navy. During the latter part of the war, he flew a number of combat missions in the famous Mosquito light bomber.

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Re: Donald Littrell Chadwick

Post by Temujin » Tue Jun 14, 2022 2:09 am

George, I can’t find ANY info on him……..he should show up as “Missing” in the newspapers but nothing.

Also, I went thru 426 Squadron records from Oct 1942 (that is when the Squadron was formed) until they converted to Lancasters………and I can’t find his name on ANY operations in the Operations Record Books

So, the question is “do we have the right Squadron”…………..and he should show up in a Casualty list as “Missing” and then as “POW”…….

I’m still searching

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Re: Donald Littrell Chadwick

Post by Temujin » Tue Jun 14, 2022 10:36 am

George, I can’t find ANY info on a 426 Squadron loss in Dec 1942. Also no losses to Essen on the 27 Dec 1942……..as you can see by my above post of the Operations Record Book their were no flights (for days) due to fog by 426 Squadron…….

I’ll keep trying, but I’m not sure if I’ll find anything on him…….I might first try and see if I can find his name in 10 SFTS??

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Re: Donald Littrell Chadwick

Post by georgetanksherman » Tue Jun 14, 2022 11:35 am

I found him going through the page on RCAF No. 10 SFTS, usually when going through the "Broad Search" of just typing his name normally gives the info that I need as you say, the loss of the aircraft, that he was a POW and such, but the only thing that popped up was his Obit which had this info ! Also checked out both the RCAF and the RAF Pow pages in which he is not listed.

Thank You for the time you have spent, and also relieving me of feeling I 'Lost It" :-) by not finding anything :-)

Cheers

George

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Re: Donald Littrell Chadwick

Post by Temujin » Tue Jun 14, 2022 7:11 pm

Well, finally found something George……..also found a “whole bunch” of other Americans and have clipped those and will sent by e-mail. Still doesn’t solve “where he went next”, so I’ll keep trying. Also a bunch more American’s in this photo


The Press Democrat
Santa Rosa, California
17 Feb 1942, Tue • Page 9
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Re: Donald Littrell Chadwick

Post by Temujin » Tue Jun 14, 2022 8:10 pm

George, I searched the POW Database and here’s the listing of “Chadwick’s” who were POW’s, our D.L. Chadwick is not listed (this list is from the British National Archives)

So, I’m not finding him anywhere………I also have been “randomly” searching RCAF Squadrons and again NOT finding him

In the List below, the FIRST column is the POW Camp they were in, the FOURTH column is their initials and you can also see their Service Numbers in column 7…..no matachines to D.L. Chadwick, J/10127
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Re: Donald Littrell Chadwick

Post by georgetanksherman » Tue Jun 14, 2022 11:52 pm

From the picture,

William Charles Keegan, Santa Monica, California, R.A.F. No. 167 Sqdn, Spitfire, W3243, KIFA, 19/09/42, Flying low doing acrobatics, lost control and crashed

Delbert Vance Childers, Brighton, Colorado, RCAF, No. 408 Sqdn, Handley Page Hampden, transferred to U.S. Navy, Died 14/04/86

Wightman Miles Harris, Arkadelphia, Arkansas, R.A.F. No. 153 Sqdn, Bristol Beaufighter, V8621, KIA, 28/05/43, Acft on return from mission, engine failed, encountered bad weather, crashed

Daniel Lawrence Pablo, Elmo, Montana, R.A.F. No. 22 O.T.U., KIA, Vickers Wellington, X9932, 11/09/1942, Acft shot down east of Osterwick, Germany

Do not have info on A.J. Stewart, Coffeyville, Kansas, Any help and assistance would be appreciated !

Cheers

George

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Re: Donald Littrell Chadwick

Post by Temujin » Thu Jun 16, 2022 1:56 am

Found this information George on Ancestry…….I can’t say if its accurate, their is no supporting documentation on the record. As you can see it doesn’t give Squadron info, and states the aircraft he was “shot down” in was a Lancaster. Also just says Dec 1942………still looking

Military
1941 • Canada
In 1941, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and was trained at High River, Alberta and Dauphin, Manitoba, before he was assigned to the Royal Air Force in Ossington Notts, England for combat flight training in the Hampden bomber.

Military
1942 • England
Later assigned to Royal Air Force Bomber Command in Dishforth, Yorkshire, Chadwick flew combat missions over Germany. In Dec 1942, on his 31st mission, Chadwick in a Lancaster Bomber, was shot down in a raid over Essen, Germany.

Military
1943 • Germany
After being shot down, he was a POW until his escape and return to England by way of Portugal in the middle of 1943.
1944

Military
1944-1947 • Commissioned in the USN on 15 Jun 1944. During the latter part of WWII, Chadwick flew a number of combat missions in the Mosquito Light Bomber. He was honorably discharged from service on 1 Oct 1947 as a Capt, USN
Naval Aviator

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