Serial number: N1574

Unit: No. 264 Squadron

Call sign: N/K

Date of loss: 28/08/1940

In the early morning of 28th August 1940, twelve Defiants of No. 264 Squadron took off from Hornchurch (Essex) on what was destined to be the last daytime sortie carried out by this type of aircraft. The men in them must have rated their chances of survival as pretty low as, during the previous four days, they had lost seven aircraft and nine aircrew in combat. On this day they were to lose a further four aircraft and five aircrew, with a further two aircraft badly damaged.

This particular aircraft was shot down by a Bf109 of JG26 over Thanet at 8.55am, the aircraft eventually crashing in Kings Wood, near Challock. Both the pilot, Pilot Officer David Whitley and his gunner, Sgt Robert Turner, DFM were killed.