Whitley N1352 at Driffield airfield.
During the night of 4th October 1939 this 77 Squadron aircraft was being used for a local flying exercise around the Driffield area. While landing at Driffield the pilot became dazzled by a searchlight and also by the inner exhaust manifolds of his aircraft. Whitley N1352 collided on ground with Whitley K8953 that was parked at a dispersal point and damage was sustained to both aircraft. This Whitley was repaired.
Pilot - F/O James Anthony Meade RAF (39240).
Pilot - F/O David Douglas Pryde RAF (39564).
Crew - Names unknown.
James Meade was probably born in India. He was granted a short service commission in the RAF as Acting P/O on probation on 2nd November 1936, he was confirmed in the rank of P/O on 31st August 1937 and rose to F/O on 30th April 1939. F/O Meade was the pilot of Whitley B1373 which was hit by flak on 13th December 1939, he was able to return to
Driffield without further incident (detailed on this website). He was promoted to F/Lt on 12th November 1940 and to S/Ldr on 16th December 1941. S/Ldr James Meade was awarded
the DFC for service with 51 Squadron in May 1942, Gazetted on 26th May 1942. He was killed on 16th July 1943 flying in Hudson FK571 which crashed at Ashton under Hill,
near Pershore, Worcestershire. His parents were living in Calcutta, India but he was married to a girl from Woodley, Berkshire. He was buried Pershore Cemetery, Worcestershire.
David Pryde was granted a Short Service commission in the RAF as Acting P/O on probation on 8th March 1937, he was graded as P/O on 21st December 1937, and rose to F/O on 8th September 1939. He was awarded the DFC on 11th June 1940, the Citation for the award reads.. "On 20th May 1940, this officer was detailed for a collaboration operation involving an attack on the communication centre at Hannapes. Despite difficult conditions, he succeeded in identifying the target from a very low altitude. Although his aircraft [Whitley N1384] was hit heavily, Flying Officer Pryde climbed to 3,000 feet and executed a successful bombing attack. His aircraft subsequently caught fire, but he continued flying and when height could no longer be maintained, the entire crew landed by parachute. Flying Officer Pryde has completed sixteen operational flights during six months of war flying and has displayed considerable courage and determination." Also on this aircraft was P/O A W Dunn involved in a number of incidents around the summer months of 1940. He was promoted to F/Lt on 19th November 1940 and to S/Ldr on 16th December 1941. S/Ldr David Pryde DFC was killed on 9th June 1942 flying with 77 Squadron in Whitley BD195 when their aircraft was shot down off Brest. His body was never found and he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Whitley N1352 was built to contract 75147/38 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd at Baginton and was delivered to 78 Squadron at Dishforth in August 1939. The unit moved to Ternhill on 1st September
1939 and it was transferred to 77 Squadron at Driffield on that date. The damage in the incident detail above was recorded as Cat.M/FA, it was then repaired on site and returned to 77 Squadron. It then moved with unit to Kinloss on 15th April 1940. On Ops to Trondheim on 18th April 1940 its crew took off from Kinloss at 17.35hrs. At 22.07 distress call made and at 22.34hrs it ditched in North Sea. The pilot was sadly killed but four were rescued. The aircraft was written off thereafter as Cat.W(m).