James (Milton) Whitehead was born in Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire, on 7 September 1920 to Willie Whitehead (a prison warder) and Janet Wilson. He had two younger sisters.

On the 18th of February 1943, a crew from 61 squadron, RAF Syerston, Nottinghamshire, had been on a long cross country training flight when, at 22.56 hours, after 6 hrs 45 mins of flying, a con rod broke on the inner starboard engine, causing a fire, which, despite their best efforts, they failed to put out. A combination of this and the fact the landing gear was in a lowered position, caused them to lose control and the aircraft crashed.

All 7 crew members were killed and at 23 years of age the pilot, a Canadian from Saskatchewan, WOII Thomas Herbert Warne was the oldest and most experienced member of the crew despite only having 15 hours of night flying experience on this type of aircraft.   All the men except the Canadian Pilot were buried in their respective home towns, while he is buried in Newark War Cemetery.

The other crew members who lost their lives were: WOII Thomas Herbert Warne, RCAF, son of Samuel Kennick Warne and Isabelle Munro, of Kennedy, Saskatchewan, Canada. Sergeant Robert John Preece, RAFVR, son of Herbert and Daisy Preece, of Bridgewater, Somerset. Sergeant John Coaker, RAFVR, son of George and Edith Coaker, of Poundsgate, Devon. Sergeant Edward John Loverock, son of Frederick and Mabel Victoria Jubilee Loverock, of Matlock, Derbyshire. Sergeant Thomas Raine Newton, son of Herbert and Gertrude Newton of Durham. Sergeant George Arthur Hitchon, son of Edwin and Lilian Hitchon, of Padiham, Lancashire.

Perthshire Advertiser, 3rd March 1943

“CITY AND COUNTY CASUALTIES"

“KILLED IN FLYING ACCIDENT"

“Official intimation has been received by Mr and Mrs W. Whitehead, H.M. Prison, Perth, that their only son, Sergeant-Observer James Whitehead, R.A.F., has been killed in a flying accident."

“Sgt. Whitehead, who was 22½ years of age, had been in the R.A.F. for 3½ years. He received his education at Peterhead and Perth Academies, and prior to joining up he was employed temporarily in a Perth railway office.”