Nusrat Ghani, MP for Sussex Weald, is pleased to support the campaign to commemorate the Second World War pilots of the Photographic Reconnaissance Units (PRU), which also included local navigator from Wadhurst.
The PRU operated highly dangerous, clandestine photographic reconnaissance operations over all theatres of operation and captured more than 26 million images of enemy operations and installations throughout the Second World War. These were then sent to the Cabinet War Rooms and helped strategically plan the Allied actions in the war. The information that the Unit gathered was used by all the armed forces, giving same day intelligence on enemy activity and it was instrumental in the planning of major operations such as D-Day and the Dambusters Raid, the monitoring of major shipping movements, and the locating of the site of the V1 and V2 rocket launching site at Peenemünde.
Among those who served in the PRU was Flying Officer William Broughton Gingell, born in 1919 in Wadhurst. He served through the Battle of Britain and also flew reconnaissance operations in the Mediterranean. William Gingell survived the war but was killed in August 1946 aged 27 when the Avro Anson he was flying in hit trees whilst carrying out a low flying exercise.
As the PRU pilots flew unarmed and unprotected, the death rate was nearly fifty percent and life expectancy in the PRU was around two and a half months. Despite this, there is no national memorial to the PRU pilots and navigators. Nusrat is supporting the Spitfire AA810 Project and campaign for a national memorial for PRU pilots as well as for a commemoration of William’s efforts locally at home in Wadhurst.
More information on the Memorial campaign can be found on www.spitfireaa810.co.uk.
Nusrat Ghani said: “The evidence collected by the pilots of the Photographic Reconnaissance Unit was absolutely vital in helping the Allied Forces win the war. As we celebrate the 80th Anniversary of VE Day this year, we must not forget the sacrifices made to protect our freedoms and values. The PRU unit deserves to be commemorated, and I am delighted to support the campaign to honour the 1,700 pilots who bravely served in the unit, which also includes Sussex Weald’s own William Gingell, who was born in Wadhurst and served under exceptionally difficult conditions. If there is anyone who knew someone else who served in the PRU during the war, please go the Spitfire AA810 Project website www.spitfireaa810.co.uk to get in touch with the campaign.”
Photo by Cook aynne on Unsplash
