Whitley K8996 at Catterick airfield.
On 18th October 1939 one of the worst accidents, in terms of loss of life during the first half of the Second World War occurred at Catterick airfield. 41 Squadron were in the process of moving from Catterick up to Wick, in Northern Scotland. A Rapide was authorised to transport several of the lighter members of groundcrew while a Bomber Command were asked and agreed to a Whitley being sent to assist with the heavier equipment and further heavier passengers. 102 Squadron agreed to supply a Whitley and left Driffield with a crew of four to assist with the move. The Whitley landed at Catterick without incident at around 16.00hrs. Over the course of the next hour it was loaded with 2000lbs/30,000 rounds of ammunition, 500lbs of engine starting equipment and six further airmen. One of the 102 Squadron aircrew who had flown from Driffield to Catterick was requested to vacate the aircraft to reduce the weight (which he did not do but this would probably have had little effect), he moved aside and one of the 41 Squadron ground crew took his place in the rear turret. The aircraft was clearly well overloaded and the aircraft was taxied to allow the longest possible take off run. Just prior to
take off the airman in the rear turret noticed a plate instructing the aircraft's tail weight was not to excede 240lbs. With the weight of the airman, the ammo, two further airmen seated near the rear turret, and the guns in the turret it was clear to him that this maximium was well exceeded. As the aircraft began moving he attempted to shout a warning to get the pilot to abort the take off. This was not heard.
The aircraft attempted to take off, climbed almost vertically to about 70ft, and stalled and dived into the ground on Catterick airfield.
A detailed crash investigation report for this incident is available to public at the UK National Archives which
yields further information. Equipment was stowed from the rear almost up to the main spar, resulting in the aircraft being severely tail heavy.
The crash investigation stated that as there were effectively three pilots on board it was not understand why they should allow the
aircraft to be loaded to be away from its centre of gravity and to this degree. It also concluded that operational squadron's should not be used by other units as transport aircraft. It stated that the use of this Whitley was a mis-use of the aircraft. Two survived the incident, seven were killed. One of the survivors was pulled clear by two servicemen, these men were later rewarded
for their efforts with "The Medal of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, for
Meritorious Service" (OBE's) in January 1940. They were LAC Alfred Gorring RAF (370776) and Sgt Benjamin Traynor (4442005), of The Green Howards, the citation in the London Gazette for their awards reads..
"In October 1939, a Whitley aircraft, while taking off from an R.A.F. station with a crew of nine, stores and 30,000 rounds of ammunition, crashed, exploded and burst into flames. Sgt Traynor and LAC Gorring ran to the scene, and, despite the fire and continually exploding ammunition, extricated an airman who had been badly injured. During this operation the oxygen tank blew up, but the men were not deterred from their gallant action, which resulted in the saving of the airman's life. One other airman crawled from the rear turret of the aircraft. The remaining members of the crew were killed."
Pilot (102 Sqn) - Sgt Herbert John Gaut RAF (562936). Aged 26 on inquest. Buried Sidbury Church Cemetery, Devon.
Pilot (102 Sqn) - P/O Reginald Arthur Morton Luckman RAF (39744), aged 27. Buried Herne Bay Cemetery.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner (102 Sqn) - AC2 Charles Paterson RAF (620054), aged 22. Buried Grove Cemetery, Aberdeen.
Passenger (Fitter) (102 Sqn) - AC1 John Baker Clark RAF (567489), aged 20. Buried Corringham Cemetery, Thurrock.
Passenger (Fitter Aero Engine) (41 Sqn) - Sgt Arthur Vincent RAF (560443)(41 Sqn), aged 30. Buried Southwick Cemetery, Sunderland.
Passenger (Pilot) (41 Sqn) - Sgt Albert Harris RAF (563150), aged 27. Buried South Hinksey Churchyard.
Passenger (Wireless Mechanic) (41 Sqn) - AC1 Horace Jones RAF (533682)(41 Sqn). Buried Droylsden Cemetery, Lancashire.
Passenger (occupying rear turret) (41 Sqn) - Sgt Donald Edward Gibbs RAF (366300). Slightly injured.
Passenger (41 Sqn) - Cpl William Jenkinson RAF (526644). Seriously injured.
Herbert Gaut had lost his father, Percival Gaut, in the First World War and in June 1916 his mother (and probably the young Herbert Gaut) were living in Sidmouth, Deven. Herbert married in the Honiton area of Devon in 1937 but when he was born is not known.
Sgt Albert Harris had jointly shared in the destruction of the first enemy Heinkel HeIII of the War, off Whitby the day before his death.
Reginald Luckman was born at Capetown, South Africa. He received a commission to the rank of Acting P/O on probation with effect from 18th May 1937, and was graded as P/O on 15th May 1938. He married in the Rochford area of Essex in 1939 and left a baby son.
Donald Gibbs received a commission on 28th February 1941 (with seniority of 20th November 1940). On 1st January 1944 while in the rank of Acting S/Ldr he was awarded the MBE.
Of the two men who rescued Cpl Jenkinson one of these; Sgt Traynor OBE, was to be killed in France with his unit on 29th / 30th May 1940, he was from Stockton on Tees and is buried at Malo-les-Bains Communal Cemetery, France. He was thirty six years old.
Whitley K8996 was built to contract 522438/36 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd at Baginton and was delivered to 77 Squadron at Driffield on 24th January 1939. It was transferred to 102 Squadron also based at Driffield on 29th September 1939. Cat.W/FA damage was recorded following the accident detailed above and it was written off with a total of 143.35 hours flying.