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Whitworth, John Nicholas Haworth

    Date of birth:
    January 10th, 1912
    Date of death:
    November 13th, 1974
    Service number:
    26249
    Nationality:
    British (1801-present, Kingdom)

    Biography

    In the early part of WW2 Whitworth was Co of No. 78 Squadron.
    He was station commander of RAF Scampton during the time when planning for the 'Dambusters Raid' was conducted. In 1955 he was a technical advisor during the making of the The Dam Busters film.
    Whitworth was also the Chief of Staff of the Ghana Air Force prior to the appointment of the Ghanaian de Graft-Hayford in 1962

    Post-war decorations:
    June 11th, 1960: CB

    Promotions:
    December 19th, 1931: Pilot Officer
    June 19th, 1933: Flying Officer
    June 19th, 1936: Flight Lieutenant
    February 1st, 1939: Squadron Leader
    March 1st, 1941: Temporary Wing Commander
    September ?, 1943: Acting Air Commodore
    July 1st, 1944: Temporary Group Captain
    October 1st, 1946: Wing Commander
    July 1st, 1950: Group Captain
    July 4th, 1955: Acting Air Commodore
    January 1st, 1957: Air Commodore
    July 25th, 1964: retirement

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    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Squadron Leader
    Awarded on:
    May 17th, 1940
    Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Acting Wing Commander
    Unit:
    No. 10 Squadron, Royal Air Force
    Awarded on:
    November 22nd, 1940

    Second DFC awarded as a bar for on the ribbon of the first DFC.
    Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Unit:
    No. 78 Squadron, Royal Air Force
    Awarded on:
    April 18th, 1941
    Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Wing Commander
    Awarded on:
    September 24th, 1941
    Mentioned in Dispatches
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Wing Commander
    Awarded on:
    January 12th, 1943
    Ceskoslovenský válecný kríž 1939

    Sources

    • Photo 1:
    • - The London Gazette Issue 34852 published on the 17 May 1940
      - The London Gazette Issue 34998 published on the 22 November 1940
      - The London Gazette Issue 35139 published on the 18 April 1941
      - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35284 published on the 23 September 1941
      - Air of Authority

    Photo