Lieut. C.C. White DFC, RFC/RAF the 1917 Blitz

[scottmarchand]

Hi,

So – I flogged some other collections items and sorted out enough money to buy this nice modest group, my first DFC and it is a so far proving to be a great one! It is for Lieut. C.C. White RAF. I have a researcher getting his records but from what I know so far from a web search, which turned up some nice information from the Kent history forum, is that he was with 50 & 83 Squadrons flying a variety of 2 seat fighters/bombers on some very exceptional missions daytime and night intercepts with home defence squadrons and night bombing on the Western front. He was also a very busy pilot during the first ‘Battle of Britain’ in the summer of 1917 against the Gotha raids. When I know more I’ll follow up. If anyone has any information to share that would be great. Even better would be a picture!

Group Citation of Six Awards of the DFC. 83 Squadron.

These officers carried out a night reconnaissance under exceptionally bad weather conditions, the clouds varying in height from 500 to 1500 feet. A strong wind was blowing, with heavy rainstorms. Owing to the low altitude at which the reconnaissance was conducted it was impossible to avoid searchlights and they were subjected to heavy anti-aircraft fire. Under these conditions the successful completion of the reconnaissance was a most gallant effort on the part of the officers concerned, calling for courage, determination, and technical skill worthy of the highest praise.

Cursory research, thanks to the Kent History Forum, also indicates he was with 50 squadron home defence in 1917 in Kent and was active as a day and night interceptor during the first ‘Battle of Britain’ Gotha and Zepplin Raids in Be 2C’s and BE 12’s.

D.F.C. (GV), B.W.M. Victory (Lieut. R.A.F.) Mounted as originally worn with horizontal DFC ribbon to Lieut. C.C. White. D.F.C. L.G. 3/8/1918 83 Squadron RAF ‘These officers carried out a night reconnaissance under exceptionally bad weather conditions, the clouds varying in height from 500 feet to 1500 feet. A strong wind was blowing, with heavy rainstorms. Owing to the low altitude at which the reconnaissance was conducted it was impossible to avoid searchlights and they were subjected to heavy anti-aircraft fire. Under these conditions the successful completion of the reconnaissance was a most gallant effort on the part of the officers concerned, calling for courage, determination, and technical skill worthy of the highest praise

There were only 7 DFC’s to 83 in WW I, 6 on one raid. White’s observer on the raid in Fe 2B’s was 2 Lt. Sellars. When 83 was reformed it’s squadron crest transformed this raid into its’ heraldry.

No. 83 Squadron

Motto: "Strike to defend".

Badge: An attire. The red deer's antler is in reference to the squadron's association with Scotland. The attire has six points commemorating an outstanding occasion in the First World War when six DFCs were awarded for one operation - an extremely valuable reconnaissance-successfully completed by six individuals in three aircraft during 14/15th June 1918.) They were the only Allied aircraft in the air in weather which had grounded all others. The antler in black affords reference to night flying and the three top points stand for the crown of success met with by the squadron.

Authority: King George VI, April 1938.

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50 Squadron RFC/RAF 1916-1919

Formed Dover 15th May 1916 as a home defence unit, CO Major M. G. Christie.

Disbanded 13th June 1919, reformed May 1937.

Bases.

Dover, HQ Flight, from 15-5-1916.

Bekesbourne, A Flight, from ?-9-1916. The whole of 50 Squadron moved to Bekesbourne on 18th Febrary 1918.

Throwley, B Flight, from ?-2-1917. Expanded 30th July 1917 to form 112 Squadron.

Detling, C Flight, from ?-5-1917.

Harrietsham, from ?-10-1916.

Aircraft types used

Royal Aircraft Factory, BE2A, BE2C, BE2E, BE12, BE12A, BE12B, RE8, SE5A.

Sopwith Pup.

Sopwith Camel F.1, from late 1918.

Vickers FB19.

Vickers ES1.

Armstrong Whitworth FK8.

1917

Sorties flown against German air raids.

16-17 February 1917, night, single Zeppelin raid on Calais. (5/6)

HQ Flight Dover.

BE2C 1767 Capt Storey.

4588 2nd Lieut C.C. White.

1 March, daytime, single aeroplane raids Broadstairs, (4/24)

HQ Flight Dover.

Two sorties, details unknown.

A Flight Bekesbourne.

Two sorties, details unknown.

No contact.

Strength 50 Squadron 7th March 1917.

Aircraft

Establishment 24

Actual strength 16

Available 13

Pilots

Establishment 18

Actual strength 16

Available 10

23-24 May, night, 6 Zeppelins raid London (7/76)

A Flight Bekesbourne

BE2E 6817 2nd Lieut J.G. Goodyear, recalled bad weather.

6817 ? Burnham, later flight.

BE12A ???? 2nd Liet F.A.D. Grace.

B Flight Throwley

BE2C 2699 2nd Lieut A.J. Arkell.

BE12 6185 Capt T.R. Irons.

6493 Lieut H.D.O. Windsor.

C Flight Detling

BE12 6183 2nd Lieut C.C. White.

No contact, bad weather.

Day time Gotha raids.

25 May, daytime, 21 Gothas raid Folkestone, (12/77)

A Flight Detling

BE2C 2711 2nd Lieut C.C. White.

BE12 6183 2nd Lieut W.R. Oulton.

BE12A A577 2nd Lieut A.J. Arkell.

A6308 Lieut Carmichael.

A6305 Lieut R.W. le Gallais.

A582 2nd Lieut L. Lucas.

A6313 2nd Lieut N.E. Chandler.

B Flight Throwley

BE12 6493 Lieut H.T.O. Winsor.

6185 Lieut Winsor, later flight.

RE8 A3836 Capt T.R. Irons.

C Flight Bekesbourne

BE2E 6187 2nd Lieut F.A.D. Grace.

Vickers ES1 7759 Capt A.J. Capel.

No contact.

5 June, daytime, 22 Gothas raid Sheerness, (8/62)

A Flight Detling

BE12 6183 2nd Lieut W.R. Oulton.

BE12A A6313 2nd Lieut C.C. White.

B Flight Throwley

Armstrong Whitworth FK8 B229 Capt C.R. Rowden.

RE8 A3840 2nd Lieut A.J. Arkell.

C Flight Bekesbourne

AW FK8 B225 Lieut R.W. le Gallais.

B224 2nd Lieut J.G. Goodyear.

B238 2nd Lieut N.E. Chandler.

Vickers ES1 7759 Capt A.J. Capel.

Arkell, Capel and Goodyear sighted enemy but unable to close gap.

13 June, daytime, 18 Gothas attack London (12/94)

A Flight Detling

BE2C 2711 2nd Lieut W.R. Oulton.

BE12 A6313 2nd Lieut C.C. White.

A6309 2nd Lieut L. Lucas.

B Flight Throwley

BE12 6185 2nd Lieut F.V. Bryant.

RE8 A3836 2nd Lieut A.J. Arkell.

A3840 2nd Lieut N.F. Perris.

AW FK8 B229 Capt C.R. Rowden.

C Flight Bekesbourne

Vickers ES1 7759 Capt A.J. Capel.

AW FK8 B225 Lieut R.W. le Gallais.

B224 2nd Lieut J.G. Goodyear.

B247 2nd Lieut F.A.D. Grace.

B238 2nd Lieut N.E. Chandler.

No contact.

16-17 June, night, 2 Zeppelins raid London. (?/32+)

50 Squadron details not recorded, aerodromes affected by fog, two aircraft force landed.

4 July, daytime, 18 Gothas raid Harwick and Felixstowe (8/103)

22 July, daytime, 21 Gothas raid Harwick and Felixstowe. (15/121)

A Flight Detling

Sopwith Pups, 5 sorties, no details.

B Flight Throwley

BE12/12A, 5 sorties, no details.

C Flight Bekesbourne

BE12/12A, 5 sorties, no details.

12 August, daytime, 11 Gothas raid Southend (10/132)

C Flight Bekesboure

BE12 6657 2nd Lieut L. Lucas.

6509 2nd Lieut W.G. Latham.

6185 2nd Lieut C.C. White.

BE12A A6309 Lieut J. Metcalfe.

A6313 2nd Lieut T.V. Villiers.

Patrol line Bekesboure-Throwley-Dover.

No contact.

22 August, daytime, 10 Gothas attack Kent coast (10/137)

C Flight Bekesbourne

BE12 6509 Capt J.S. Shaw.

6493 2nd Lieut W.G. Latham.

6185 2nd Lieut C.C. White.

6157 2nd Lieut L. Lucas. WT tracker.

BE12A A6309 Lieut J. Metcalfe.

A6313 2nd Lieut T.V. Villiers.

2nd Lieut Lucas was flying a wireless carrying tracker aircraft and transmitted the first air-to-ground wireless telegraph message for home defence.

Bryant, Truran, Shaw, Latham, Metcalfe and Villiers came into contact with the enemy but too far away to have any effect.

Night time Gotha raids.

3-4 September, night, 4 Gothas raid Chatham (4/18)

Bekesbourne

BE2C 2711 2nd Lieut L. Lucas.

BE12 6185 2nd Lieut C.C. White.

6493 2nd Lieut w.g. Latham.

6157 Lieut W.L. Williams.

No contact.

4-5 September, night, 9 Gothas raid London (3/18)

Bekesbourne

BE12 6185 2nd Lieut C.C. White.

6493 2nd Lieut W.G. Latham.

Detling

AW FK8 B247 2nd Lieut F.A.D. Grace, 2nd Lieut G. Murray.

Grace and Murray shot at Gotha near Faversham.

24-25 September, night, 13 Gothas raid London (8/30)

Detling

BE2E B4507 2nd Lieut C.C. White.

AW FK8 B224 2nd Lieut W.R. Oulton, Capt Kirby.

B223 2nd Lieut F.V. Bryant, Lieut R. Roberson, crashed on landing, crew uninjured.

No contact.

25-26 September, night, 14 Gothas raid London (1/20)

Detling

BE2C B4507 2nd Lieut C.C. White.

Returned early, bad weather.

No contact.

31 October-1 November, night, 22 Gothas raid London.(9/50)

Detling

AW FK8 B229 Capt C. J. Truran, Lieut R. Robertson.

B247 2nd Lieut F.A.D. Grace, 2nd Lieut G. Murray.

B224 2nd Lieut W.R. Oulton.

B226 2nd Lieut F.U. Bryant.

BE2E A3134 2nd Lieut C.C. White.

Oswell reported a Gotha seen briefly NW of Dover.

Lucas reported 2 Gothas over Thames estuary.

18-19 December, night, 13 Gothas, 1 Giant raid London (9/47)

Detling

AW FK8 B3316 Capt C.J. Turan.

B225 2nd Lieut F.V. Bryant.

B247 2nd Lieut Grace, 2nd Lieut Murray.

B229 2nd Lieut N.F. Perris.

B4017 2nd Lieut C.C. White.

B3316 2nd Lieut W.R. Oulton, Lieut H. Harris.

.

One of the aeroplanes used by No. 50 Squadron in 1916-17 still survives.

Royal Aircraft Factory BE2C 2699, now on display at the Imperial War Museum, London.

Built by Ruston, Proctor and Co of Lincoln, it served with No. 50 Squadron c. May 1916-cMay 1917. It flew at least 5 anti Zeppelin sorties as listed above.

Later it served with 190 and 192 Night Training Squadrons and No. 51 Home Defence Squadron.

After a forced landing it was withdrawn from service and passed to the IWM.

As restored the aircraft is in clear doped linen. In No. 50 Squadron service it would have been painted lampblack overall,

[MarkTurner]

I believe this is Clifford Copeland White later Sheriff of Norwich who died in 1966. It should be possible to trace further info and possibly a photograph in the Norfolk local press both from the war years and later in his life.

[scottmarchand]

Hi Mark,

You are correct, I have a copy of this picture of him from the Norfolk archives, he is the suted fellow with the moustache behind the King. http://norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_013_PictureTitleInformation.aspx?searchTerm=&searchTerm2=sheriff&searchTerm3=&searchTerm4=&searchType=97&Page=1&media=&branch=&authority=&language=&junior=&rcn=NP00010897&fr=tl&referrer=02_001_Search.aspx

I also have a copy of his Aero Club certificate and a great image of him in the cockpit of a BE 2 C with 50 Squadron in the late winter of 1917. He was from a prominent industrial family in Norwich, shoe makers IIRC.

[mickdavis]

It may be coincidence, but there was also a Lt CC White serving in 36 Sqn in early 1918 and that may have been an introduction to the FE2b, which 83 Sqn flew - there was interchange, both ways, between the FE2b/d equipped HD squadrons and the units that flew night light bombing operations. I'll need to check but it looks as though his logbook may be with the RAFM.

A5738 36 HDS C Flt by 7.3.1918 (Lt C.C. White) to B Flt and in unsuccessful attack on submarine 5 miles E of Beadnell 31.5.18 (Lt Riley/Lt de Escolet dropped 2 bombs, one exploded on edge of conning tower). 36 HDS A Flt by 29.9.18. 191 NTS by 10.18.

B435 36 HDS C Flt by 9.3.1918 (Lt C.C. White).

[scottmarchand]

Intersting Mick - probably my man, I can't imagine there were many by that name and rank doing that. Also there must have been a transition from Be. 2 C's - I shuld see if I can get a copy of the logboo from the RAFM. Thanks for that, I should also see about 36 Sqdn records for that time frame.

[mickdavis]

I have photographic copies of his logbook, which is in the RAFM. He listed his postings at the back. They were

24 RS Netheravon (MF LH & SH)

8 RS Netheravon (Avro)

47 Sqn Beverley (Avro)

55 Sqn Lilbourne (BE2b, BE2c, Avro)

50 HDS (BE2c, BE2e, BE12, BE12a, AW & RE8)

76 HDS (BE2e, BE12, BE12b)

36 HDS (FE2b)

83 Sqn (FE2b)

His final flight with 83 Sqn was on 30.6.18 and he notes that he was in hospital 1.7-6.7.18.

[Black Brunswicker]

White is included in this squadron portrait, 5th from right, to the left of Lieut Noel Perris (in whose photo album this group portrait, in family possession, is located).