Le 10 avril 1941

Océan, Ile d'Ouessant

Spitfire I P9396
GO

Le Pilot Officer. MANIFOULD, WILLIAM KENNETH, est né le 28 juin 1918 à Ilfracombe, une ville située sur la côte septentrionale du Devon, en Angleterre. Le 10 avril 1941, à 17h30, le Pilot Officer William Manifould, décolle avec son Spitfire P9396, du terrain de St Eval en Cornwall pour sa 18ème mission de reconnaissance photographique au sein du 1 PRU sur la région de Brest.

A 7h25, le Lt. Horst Ulenberg de la 2./JG 26 revendique un Spitfire au nord de l'Ille d'Ouessant, le Pilot Officer William Manifould et son Spifire ne seront jamais retrouvés.

Il y avait un second Spitfire en mission du PRU No 1, le Spitfire I P9307, piloté par le Flying Officer. LOASBY, LAURENCE DAVID, à 9h22, le Lt. Horst Ulenberg de la 2./JG 26, revendique un second Spitfire sur Plouescat. Le Flying Officer Loasby est aussi donné porté disparu en mission, avion tombé en mer ?

 

 

 

18 Missions, sorties avec le 1 PRU

 

 

1.

02.02.1941 Spitfire (P9310) from Benson,up at 09.40 down at 12.20.

Objective: Calais , Flushing; Results: Photos of Gris Nez & Calais.

P9310 Ia 513 EA MIII FF 23-1-40 2PDU HAL 11-2-40 Cv PRIII Type C PDU 19-5-40 PRU Wick 1-7-40 HAL 8-12-40 mod to PRVI Type F 8OTU 27-7-42 M45 install FAAC 31-7-42 ros 8OTU 4-8-42 FTR training flt 2-10-42 FH682.40 (originally for Turkey).

 

Une photo de William Kenneth en vol sur le Spitfire P9315, de Benson au No 3 PRU à Oakington, Cambridge, le 7th February 1941.

 

2.

04.02.1941 Spitfire (R6598) from Benson, up at 14.35 down at 17.05.

Objective: Cherbourg, Dieppe ; Results: Photos of Cherbourg to Caen.

R6598 Ia 680 EA MIII FF 7-5-40 8MU 9-5-40 Cv PRIII Type C PRU Benson 28-5-40 Missing from PR mission to Ostend 22-2-41 FH207.35

 

3.

10.02.1941 Spitfire (R6598) from Benson, up at 14.08 down at 17.25.

Objective: Antwerp docks & air defences, Albert Canal, air defences at Brussels and Bruges; Results : Photos of Ghent, Antwerp, Albert Canal, Flushing, Bruges, Ostend.

R6598 Ia 680 EA MIII FF 7-5-40 8MU 9-5-40 Cv PRIII Type C PRU Benson 28-5-40 Missing from PR mission to Ostend 22-2-41 FH207.35

 

4.

15.02.1941 Spitfire (R6598) from Benson, up at 10.15 down at 12.45.

Objective: Cap de la Hague, Cherbourg, Dieppe; Results: Photos of Cap de la Hague, Foret des Briards, Caen, Le Harve, Fecamp.

R6598 Ia 680 EA MIII FF 7-5-40 8MU 9-5-40 Cv PRIII Type C PRU Benson 28-5-40 Missing from PR mission to Ostend 22-2-41 FH207.35

 

5.

19.02.1941 Spitfire (L1055) from Benson, up at 13.00 down at 14.25.

Objective: Cap de la Hague; Results: Nil.

L1055 Ia 270 EA MIII FF 12-7-39 9MU 17-7-39 66S 22-9-39 616S 15-11-39 AST 6-4-40 64S 2-7-40 C2 ops 18-7-40 ros damaged by Ju88 off Dover S/Ldr McDonnell safe 25-7-40 HAL 2-10-40 1PRU Benson 9-10-40 crashed on takeoff in coarse pitch CE 5-3-41 SOC 10-3-41

 

6.

22.02.1941 Spitfire (N3111) from Benson, up at 14.00 down at 15.45.

Objective: Auderville; Results: Photos of Auderville.

 

N3111 Ia 382 EA MIII FF 24-10-39 54S 13-12-39 AST 10-7-40 PRU Heston 23-8-40 Cv PRIII Type C RAE 4-41 for camera trials HAL 11-6-41 Cv PRV PRU Benson 21-6-41 R-RH M45 install 27-7-41 FACB 21-4-42 543S 30-9-42 spun into ground Worlington Devon dbf 27-2-43 Was named 'The Brest Express' and Cv Va

Auderville les radars du Cap de la Hague

7.

28.02.1941 Spitfire (X4335) from Benson, up at 14.05 down at 15.05.

Objective: Bordeaux, river Gironde, La Pallice; Results: Nil.

X4335 PRIII 1093 EA MIII FF 31-8-40 PDU HAL 31-8-40 Cv PRIII R-RH 10-3-41 M45 Cv Va 1PRU 27-3-41 HAL 31-5-41 Cv PRIV Type F 1PRU 19-7-41 7SoTT 8-12-41 PRU Benson CAC ops 17-4-42 8OTU 19-6-42 6MU 19-11-42 542S 29-11-42 FACB 24-2-43 HAL SOC 22-3-45

 

8.

04.03.1941 Spitfire (X4335) from Benson, up at 11.00 down at 15.30.

Objective: Bordeaux, La Pallice and air defences west of Paris; Results: Photos Les Sables d'Olonne, La Pallice, Cherbourg.

X4335 PRIII 1093 EA MIII FF 31-8-40 PDU HAL 31-8-40 Cv PRIII R-RH 10-3-41 M45 Cv Va 1PRU 27-3-41 HAL 31-5-41 Cv PRIV Type F 1PRU 19-7-41 7SoTT 8-12-41 PRU Benson CAC ops 17-4-42 8OTU 19-6-42 6MU 19-11-42 542S 29-11-42 FACB 24-2-43 HAL SOC 22-3-45

 

9.

10.03.1941 Spitfire (R6900) from Benson, up at 14.30 down at 17.00.

Objective: Brest; Results: photos of Roscoff, Landerneau, Brest.

R6900 Ia 859 EA MIII FF 6-7-40 ANMP RAE 6-7-40 Cv PRIII Type C fuel syst trials 1PRU 17-9-40 damaged by bombs 19-9-40 R-RH 27-3-41 M45 install 1PRU 17-4-41 CB HAL 11-1-42 Cv PRIV 8OTU 30-7-42 CB 25-1-43 FACB 4-10-43 HAL SOC 15-3-45

 

10.

13.03.1941 Spitfire (R6900) from Benson, up at 09.20 down at 11.50.

Objective: Beveland Canal to Antwerp; Results: Photos of Flushing to Antwerp.

R6900 Ia 859 EA MIII FF 6-7-40 ANMP RAE 6-7-40 Cv PRIII Type C fuel syst trials 1PRU 17-9-40 damaged by bombs 19-9-40 R-RH 27-3-41 M45 install 1PRU 17-4-41 CB HAL 11-1-42 Cv PRIV 8OTU 30-7-42 CB 25-1-43 FACB 4-10-43 HAL SOC 15-3-45

 

11.

16.03.1941 Spitfire (R6900) from Benson, up at 14.00 down at 16.50.

Objective: Cherbourg area & Channel Islands; Results: Photos of Cherbourg area & Channel Islands.

R6900 Ia 859 EA MIII FF 6-7-40 ANMP RAE 6-7-40 Cv PRIII Type C fuel syst trials 1PRU 17-9-40 damaged by bombs 19-9-40 R-RH 27-3-41 M45 install 1PRU 17-4-41 CB HAL 11-1-42 Cv PRIV 8OTU 30-7-42 CB 25-1-43 FACB 4-10-43 HAL SOC 15-3-45

 

12.

20.03.1941 Spitfire (P9552) from Benson, up at 12.55 down at 18.25.

Objective: Toulon, Marseilles air defences; Results: Photos of Marignane air defences, Toulon.

P9552 PRIII 1473 EA MIII proto PRIII HAL 22-2-41 2PRU 26-2-41 Missing from PR mission to Stettin 10-5-41 FH87.40

 

13.

24.03.1941 Spitfire (P9522) from Benson, up at 09.55 down at 11.15.

Objective: Bordeaux, La Pallice; Results: Nil.

P9552 PRIII 1473 EA MIII proto PRIII HAL 22-2-41 2PRU 26-2-41 Missing from PR mission to Stettin 10-5-41 FH87.40

 

14.

26.03.1941 Spitfire (R6900) from Benson , up at 09.25 down at 11.25.

Objective: St Nazaire, Quimper river, Lorient; Results: Nil.

R6900 Ia 859 EA MIII FF 6-7-40 ANMP RAE 6-7-40 Cv PRIII Type C fuel syst trials 1PRU 17-9-40 damaged by bombs 19-9-40 R-RH 27-3-41 M45 install 1PRU 17-4-41 CB HAL 11-1-42 Cv PRIV 8OTU 30-7-42 CB 25-1-43 FACB 4-10-43 HAL SOC 15-3-45

 

15.

31.03.1941 Spitfire (X4335) from Benson, up at 14.45 down at 17.40.

Objective: Brest; Results Photos of Brest and Morlaix.

X4335 PRIII 1093 EA MIII FF 31-8-40 PDU HAL 31-8-40 Cv PRIII R-RH 10-3-41 M45 Cv Va 1PRU 27-3-41 HAL 31-5-41 Cv PRIV Type F 1PRU 19-7-41 7SoTT 8-12-41 PRU Benson CAC ops 17-4-42 8OTU 19-6-42 6MU 19-11-42 542S 29-11-42 FACB 24-2-43 HAL SOC 22-3-45

 

16.

07.04.1941 Spitfire (N3117) from Benson, up at 15.20 down at 17.20.

Objective: Ostend; Results: Photos of Ostend.

N3117 Ia 390 EA MIII FF 27-10-39 27MU 28-10-39 No 2 Camera Unit HAL 4-2-40 Cv PRIII Type C RAE trials 4-40 damaged ops 9-12-40 GAL Cv PRV M45 install PRU Benson 20-6-41 SOC CE 9-12-41

 

17.

08.04.1941 Spitfire (X4335) from Benson, up at 16.05 down at 17.25.

Objective: Foret de Guines & Boulogne; Results: Photos of Boulogne, Foret de Guines, Gris Nez.

X4335 PRIII 1093 EA MIII FF 31-8-40 PDU HAL 31-8-40 Cv PRIII R-RH 10-3-41 M45 Cv Va 1PRU 27-3-41 HAL 31-5-41 Cv PRIV Type F 1PRU 19-7-41 7SoTT 8-12-41 PRU Benson CAC ops 17-4-42 8OTU 19-6-42 6MU 19-11-42 542S 29-11-42 FACB 24-2-43 HAL SOC 22-3-45

 

18.

10.04.1941 Spitfire (P9396) from St Eval, up at 17.30 failed to return.

Objective: Brest. Aicraft failed to return.

P9396 Ia 579 EA MIII FF 13-3-40 24MU 27-3-40 212S 7-4-40 FAC2 20-7-40 AST 1PRU 14-11-40 Missing from PR mission to Brest 10-4-41 FH129.35 (originally for Turkey)
Photos Grahame Smith - Source documents Andy Fletcher

Un grand merci au neveu de William Kenneth Manifould, Grahame Smith pour les photos et le compte rendu de ses missions.