Whitley T4138 on Arden Great Moor, Arden, Hawnby.

This photograph shows Whitley N1357, it probably replaced Whitley T4138 at 77 Squadron and carried the same squadron code KN-H.

The Whitley was returning from a failed operation to Berlin on 15th of December 1940 when it crashed. The aircraft had taken off from Topcliffe at 16.41 hrs and made up a force of 71 aircraft of various types heading to Germany with the aim of bombing Berlin, Frankfurt and Kiel. After sometime in the air an engine failed on this aircraft, the pilot turned back for base. The weather over the North Yorkshire Moors was bad at the time and although the aircraft made it over them on its return it circled the aerodrome for sometime with its bombs on board, flying on the one engine, it was during one of these circles that it hit the high ground to the east of Osmotherley. The pilot had handed over the controls to his 2nd pilot by this stage and it was him who was actually at the controls when it crashed. It crashed at 18.35 hrs on the edge of Arden Great Moor, where upon it burnt out. I am told the bomb load remained intact (although could this really be the case, surely the bombs would have exploded in the fire and there are no signs of craters at the site which surely would have resulted in the explosions). One of the crew struggled down the hillside to get help, due to his injuries this took some time. When he reached a nearby farm, the farmer was able to summon help to rescue the rest of his crew. Of the crew, four were lucky, they survived, one however was not, he was killed in the impact. The raid itself was not a success, less than half of the aircraft bombed.

Whitley T4138 was built to contract 38599/39 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and wa awaiting collection on 3rd August 1940, after a period in MU storage it was issued to 77 Squadron at Driffield as a replacement for aircraft destroyed in the big German raid on Driffield airfield in August 1940. It moved with the unit to Linton on Ouse on 28th August 1940 and then to Topcliffe on 5th October 1940. It was written off after the above incident on 15th December 1940 with Cat.W/FA being recorded.

The airman who sadly lost his life in this crash was:

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Cyril Williams RAF (AAF)(818161), aged 28, of Swansea, Wales. Buried Topcliffe Cemetery, Yorkshire.

Those injured were:

Pilot - P/O Hayden Hugh James Miller RAF (43041), of Morrinsville, New Zealand. Injured.

Second Pilot - Sgt D H Gilbert RAF (748210). Injured.

Observer - Sgt G Thorpe RAF (581481). Injured.

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Albert Edward Hammond RAF (535641). Injured.

Sgt Cyril Williams and his headstone at Topcliffe Cemetery. He was the son of Edward and Margaret Williams of Sketty, Swansea and he was engaged to be married when he was killed. He was buried on 21st December 1940 at Topcliffe Cemetery. (My thanks to Mrs P Lewis, the neice of Sgt Williams, for the information and photographs she has been able to provide for inclusion in this webpage).

The crash site, as it was in February 2003 and identical in 2010. I first visited the crash site with John Skinn in February 2003, John had found the site by chance afew weeks previously whilst attempted to locate a Wellington (which we would later find remains of on Hawnby Moor). The area where this Whitley crashed still shows severe signs of what happened. A large burnt out is still visable and there were many small but interesting items on the ground, sadly much of it was too badly damaged by the post crash fire to be identifable.

On 5th November 1940 flying a 77 Squadron Whitley T4151, P/O Miller, along with four other airmen, two of these were Sgt Gilbert and Sgt Thorpe who were on the Whitley which crashed on Arden Great Moor (detailed at the top of this page). On this flight in November 1940 they were undertaking a raid on Milan with other aircraft but after flying in electrical storms outbound this was the only aircraft to bomb Milan. The wireless became unservicable, strong winds and snow and ice over the Alps effected flying. After being in the air for over 11 hours (or 13 hours, the time varies from source to source) the aircraft was ditched in the North Sea off South Shields when they became lost and probably ran low on fuel. They were rescued from their dinghy by a passing steamer and taken ashore.

Three photographs of Hayden H Miller (My thanks to Kerry Foster for these photographs and the information which has kindly been sent to me).

Hayden Hugh Miller was born in Eureka, New Zealand on 31st March 1914. After finishing his education he became a school teacher and was later accepted into the SSC and later joined the RAF. He would become W/C Hayden Hugh James Miller, OBE, DFC, AFC, MiD(4). He joined the RAF on 29th August 1939 as the War in Europe was just begining and having the service number of 43041. He transferred to the RNZAF on 22nd September 1943 and was a member of the regular airfoce until 16th December 1946. He rejoined the reserve on 17th August 1950 until 31st March 1969 when he retired as Wing Commander Hayden Hugh James, OBE, DFC, AFC, mid(4). Probably one of the most decorated airmen in New Zealands history.

I learn from Colin Hanson's book "By Such Deeds - Honours and awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force 1923-1999". that the citation for his Distinguished Flying Cross was published on 6th June 1941 when he was with 77 Sqdn flying Whitleys: "This officer has completed numerous operational missions. Throughout these flights he has displayed great determination and a complete disregard of enemy opposition. He has attacked many objectives in enemy and enemy occupied territory with marked success. On one occasion, he completed an operation over Turin in almost impossible weather conditions. His courage and skill have inspired confidence in every crew of which he has acted as captain."

His first Mention in Despatches was on 11th June 1942 flying Wellingtons: "For meritorious service with 22 OTU RAF as a Flt Lt. Participated in the first ‘1000’ bomber raids on 30/31 May and 1/2 June 1942."

The second Mention in Despatches was in 1943: "For meritorious service with 22 OTU, 91 Group RAF (Wellington), as an Actg Sqn Ldr."

The third Mention in Despatches was on 14th January 1944: "For meritorious service with HQ 91 Group RAF, as a Sqn Ldr."

The citation for his Air Force Cross was gazetted on 8th June 1944 when he was at HQ 91 Group: "This officer has been employed as Group flying instructor at this unit since November, 1943. Previously, as a flying instructor and flight commander he did outstanding work in No 22 OTU. His new duties, which he has performed with conspicuous success, entail visiting all Operational Training Units, where he examines and tests flying instructors and air crews under training in their various duties, both in the air, by day and night, and on the ground, paying particular attention to detail. To this work, Squadron Leader Miller has brought the utmost tact, patience and efficiency. He has completed a total of 680 hours flying on OTU instructional duties."

The fourth Mention in Despatches was on 14th June 1945: "For meritorious service with 24 OTU RAF". Flying Wellingtons.

The Citation for Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) was awarded in 1946 when he was with 24 OTU RAF, a Wellington unit: "Wing Commander Miller has been employed as the Chief Instructor at this unit for nearly a year. During this time the Training Wing has been completely re-organised and has changed its record within [93] Group from being the Station which had sustained the greatest number of flying accidents per hour flown, to the Station with the fewest number of accidents per hour flown. For the first three months of the year no less than 6,800 hours per accident were flown which was in itself a very notable achievement. In addition, during one month the Unit achieved top place in every subject in the Group Order of Merit. This outstanding improvement has been largely the result of Wing Commander Miller’s self-sacrificing efforts and devotion to duty. He has always been available at all hours of the day and night and his efficiency and unstinting application to his work have won the confidence and respect of all the personnel on the Wing and on the Station." He also lead the RNZAF Contingent of the 8th June 1946 Victory March in London.

In 2008 I made contact with his son, Mr James Miller and would like to thank him for the interest he has shown in documenting his fathers Wartime flying on this page. W/C Miller passed away at Ashwood Park Resthome, Blenheim, New Zealand on 5th July 2009.

Other more modern books claim the pilot to have been a Canadian with the same initials, H H Miller. While this is an error it would be worthy to clarify this here. F/O H H Miller RCAF was lost at sea on 12th February 1942 but not our man.

Sgt D H Gilbert was still serving with 77 Squadron when he was in Whitley T4164 which was shot down by a night fighter over Holland on 15th February 1941, he baled out and became a POW at camp 357, Stalag Kopernikus.
F/Sgt Albert Hammond was later posted to 35 Squadron and was killed on 9th July 1941 when Halifax L9521 was shot down over The Netherlands, the aircraft sadly crashed onto a house killing three crew and four people in the house. He is buried at Uden War Cemetery, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. His personal information is ommited from the CWGC online register.