Simon Glancey has submitted the following:
W/O Gilhepsy was Navigator on board Bristol Beaufighter TF/X LZ296 ’N’ of 404 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron which was lost on a patrol from R.A.F. Wick to the Norwegian coast.
The Squadron’s O.R.B. (Operational Record Book) recorded:
'In position 62.15N 05.15E two armed trawlers were sighted. They opened fire and N/404 was apparently hit. Shortly afterwards two explosions were seen from starboard engine of ‘N’. It carried on for three minutes, maintaining level course. The pilot was then heard on V.H.F. to say ‘this is it, chaps,’ the a/c touched down in ditching position, navigator fired a red Very light and the a/c hit the water and broke up. P/144 circled area but no survivors, wreckage or dinghy seen. All other a/c returned safely to base.'
He is remembered in Blaydon on B111.08
