Whitley N1368 at Driffield airfield.

On the 2nd of April 1940 this aircraft overshot on landing at Driffield airfield at 22.40hrs following a low level bombing practice, it ran through the boundary fence after the pilot attempted to apply the brakes on wet grass, this did not stop the aircraft in time. The aircraft skidded through boundary fence, across a road and into a field. It was recovered by 60 MU on 3rd April but was deemed beyond repair and written off. The aircraft was being flown by a 102 Squadron crew at the time of this accident. The crew information detailed below was found on the internet and has yet to be confirmed by viewing the ORB.

Pilot - P/O Kenneth N Gray DFC, Czech War Cross, RAF (40342). Of Christchurch, New Zealand.

Pilot - Sgt John H Hopper RAF (518878), of Doncaster, Yorkshire.

Obs - Sgt Frederick J Bass RAF (580902), of Muswell Hill, London.

W Op - AC1 Alfred W Henry Hart RAF (632176), of Richmond, Surrey.

AG - AC2 George Main RAF (632772), of ?

Whitley N1368 was built to contract 75147/38 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and delivered to 102 Squadron at Driffield in September 1939. On an unspecified date it transferred to 77 Squadron also based at Driffield. Following the mishap above Cat. W/FA damaged was recorded after it was inspected by 60 MU the following day. It was struck off charge and it is believed to have become a ground instructional airframe, but its new identity is not yet known.

Ken Gray was born in November 1914 in Christchurch, New Zealand. He joined the RAF in 1937. Only a month after this accident F/O Gray and the other four named above were killed in a flying accident in Scotland. 102 Squadron had been sent on detactment to Kinloss and Whitley N1500 was being flown back to Driffield when it crashed in Aberdeenshire with the seven dying of their injuries over the following weeks.

Gray was 25 years old when he died, his DFC was awarded for his actions on 27/28th November 1939 while on Ops to Wilhelmshaven, the Citation for the award tells the story..

"Pilot Officer Gray and Pilot Officer Long were respectively Pilot and Navigator on a night reconnaissance flight over enemy territory during November 1939. During the operations a snowstorm was encountered and the aircraft became badly iced-up, in addition to being subjected to anti-aircraft fire. Nevertheless the reconnaissance flight was continued but it was not found possible to reach the objective as eventually weather conditions rendered the aircraft practically impossible to control, the upper surface of one wing and half that of the other wing having been stripped of fabric and one flap jammed down. The wireless apparatus also failed. The journey home involved a flight of 342 miles over the sea during very heavy rainstorms and it was mainly due to the skill, courage and splendid team work of Pilot Officer Gray and Pilot Officer Long that the aircraft and crew were brought safely back". They were able to land safely at Bircham Newton, Norfolk. For his actions on this night P/O Gray was awarded the DFC (Gazetted 2nd January 1940).

His Czech War Cross was awarded for his efforts on 9th March 1940, Errol Martin's research has determined that the crew were detailed for a leaflet raid on Prague. The aircraft "encountered severe icing conditions over Prague, and one engine kept stopping. In spite of the obvious risks, he pressed on with the sortie for a total duration of over eight hours. This time his determination was rewarded by a Czech War Cross from the free Czech Government...". Errols work in New Zealander's service is second to none. Ken Gray returned to New Zealand after the War and died in August 1995. His twin brother Colin Gray DSO, DFC and 2 Bars, was the highest scoring New Zealand fighter pilot of the War.