Trafford

Born on the 17th November 1921, the birth being registered during the
December quarter 1921 in the Bucklow R.D. - ref: 8a/343, the son of Major
Charles P. & Ivy Pollitt (nee Rogers).

1939 National Registration - 5 Wiythburn Avenue, Urmston.   Charles P.
Pollitt - Born on the 26th July 1894 - Married - occ: Managing Director of
a Haulage Contract Company.   Ivy Pollitt - Born on the 31st May 1895 -
Married - occ: Unpaid Domestic Duties.   David C. Pollitt - Born on the
17th November 1921 - Single - occ: Works Clerk at Furniture Manufacturers.

From the 49 Sqn Association website -
http://www.49squadron.co.uk/personnel_index/detail/Pollitt_DC

12 February, 1942:

In recent months, Bomber Command had dropped over 3,000 tons of bombs on
the battle cruisers 'Scharnhorst' and 'Gneisenau' and the light cruiser
'Prinz Eugen' as they resided in the French port of Brest. The two larger
ships had both been badly damaged, and the threat of further damage had
prevented the ships from sailing out into the Atlantic on another raid
against allied shipping. In a daring and well-executed operation, the
Germans sailed their 3 ships straight up through the English Channel to
bring them back to the greater protection of a German port. What followed
on the part of the British Command has since been labelled as a catalogue
of catastrophes, needless to say that the German warships achieved their
destination unharmed. Heavily armed and protected by the Luftwaffe, the
Germans exacted a heavy toll during the gallant British attempts to stop
their breakout; Fighter Command lost 16 aircraft and the Fleet Air Arm had
6 Swordfish destroyed. Bomber Command's part in the action involved 244
aircraft of which 15 were lost in action, and a further 2 crashing on
return. Only 5 Group had been on a 4 hour 'stand by', as bomber Squadrons
made frantic efforts to prepare their aircraft. Eventually, 5 Group
contributed 64 Hampdens and 15 Manchesters to attack the German warships; 9
Hampdens were reported missing and one crashed on return. 49 Squadron's
participation was prompted by a signal from Group received at 10.00hrs
requesting 20 aircraft to attack the 'Scharnhorst' and 'Gneisenau' at sea!
Cpl Trevor Simpson recalls the urgency with which the preparations were
carried out, and he is almost certain that this was the occasion when the
Hampdens were taxied into a hangar, bombed up and then taxied out!
In low cloud and rain with extremely poor visibility, only 3 of the
squadron's aircraft found the primary target.
It is now believed that two of the aircraft were shot down by German
fighters, AE132 piloted by F/Sgt Charles Pollitt and AE396 flown by Sgt
Edward Phillips. What we do know for certain is that these two crews plus
that of Sgt Mervyn Holt (AE240) disappeared into the dark waters of the
North Sea without trace; they are all remembered at Runnymede.
 

Hampden AE132 (EA-U)
F/S D.C. Pollitt Pilot (Missing)
Sgt R.J. Cridge W/OP (Missing)
Sgt I.S. Greenstreet A/OB (Missing)
Sgt W. Smith A/G (Missing)