Whitley hit by flak, returned to Leeming airfield.

On the night of 5th/6th August 1940 this unidentified aircraft sustained slight flak damage in the front turret on an operational flight to attack the Wismar Dornier aircraft factory. The pilot was able to return safely to Leeming and land without further damage.

Pilot - F/O Garfield Wallace Prior RAFVR (37611), of Indian Head, Saskatchewan, Canada. Uninjured.

Crew - Names unknown, uninjured.

Garfield Prior received his Commission in the RAF as Acting P/O on probation on 2nd March 1936 and later graded as P/O on 6th January 1937 just after a posting to 97 Squadron in December 1936. He rose to F/O on an unknown date and as F/O he transferred to the Reserve on 6th January 1940 but was called up for service on the same date. He later force landed Whitley K9032 near Grimsby on 6/7th April 1940 on an operational flight. He rose to F/Lt on the same date as this flak incident (detailed above); 6th August 1940. He was then awarded the DFC for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 22nd October 1940, but no citation for this DFC has been found. A press report found on the internet gives his age as twenty six when he was awarded the DFC. He rose to S/Ldr (temp) on 1st September 1941. After a posting from 1657 HCU to 218 Squadron he was killed on 22nd January 1944 flying Stirling EF180 with 218 Squadron and is commemerated on the Runnymede Memorial.

A draft citation has been found by Hugh Halliday in his Canadian awards research, it reads.."This officer has completed 24 flights over enemy territory both as second pilot and as captain of aircraft. These include raids on the marshalling yards at Hamm, the aluminum works at Monheim, aircraft factories at Wenzendorf, Bremen and Weismar, the oil plant at Salzbergen, the Fiat works at Turin, the Zeiss works at Zena, and an aerodrome at Hasheim. All of these raids were successful, causing fires and explosions. Flying Officer Prior has maintained a high standard of work and by his conscientiousness, keenness and ability has set a fine example to his squadron."