Whitley K8958 near Garton on the Wolds.
On 15th October 1939 the crew of this 102 Squadron aircraft had just taken off from Driffield to undertake a training flight. When flying at 600 feet the starboard elevator trim tab failed causing the aircraft to go into a dive. Despite his best efforts the pilot could not prevent a crash landing. Control was lost when the undercarriage still locked down, travelling at around 100mph the pilot did not have time to raise the undercarriage. The aircraft crash landed two miles north of airfield near Garton on the Wolds. The aircraft was badly damaged but all of the crew escaped uninjured but only pilot was named in records I have been able to locate.
Pilot - P/O Robert Clare Bisset RAF (39778), of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Crew - Names unknown.
Robert Bisset was born in Edmonton in 1913, he joined the RAF in May 1937 and received his commission to the rank of Acting P/O on probation on 31st May 1937. He was confirmed in the rank of P/O exactly a year later. He joined 102 Squadron in September 1939 but was later posted to 51 Squadron in May 1940 and was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 22nd October 1940. When he was recommended for the DFC on 19th August 1940 when he had flown thirty operational flights. The Citation for his DFC reads.. "This officer has now completed 30 operational sorties. He has always shown patience in finding his targets and determination in attack. He has set a very good example." He was posted to 405 Squadron in May 1941 (part of 102 Squadron formed 405 Squadron and with him being a Canadian he joined them) and awarded the Bar to the DFC, Gazetted on 6th October 1942 and part of the draft citation reads.. "In recognition of gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of air operations. Led flight in an exemplary manner in most difficult and lengthy sorties. Outstanding qualities of leadership. Set a fine example by skill and courage. In many raids on German industrial targets and in two raids on Turin." Having risen to the rank of Squadron Leader he was killed on 30th November 1941 flying Wellington W5476 on Ops to Hamburg with 405 Squadron, his body was never found and he is commemerated on the Runnymede Memorial. He was also awarded the Czechoslovak Military Cross awarded as per London Gazette dated 12th January 1943.
Whitley K8958 was built to contract 522438/36 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd at Baginton and was delivered to 102 Squadron at Driffield on 3rd November 1938. It seems to have had an uneventful life until sustaining Cat.W/FA in the incident detailed above when it was deemed beyond repair, it had flown a total of 210.25 hours.