Whitley P4951 at Linton on Ouse airfield.
On 9th September 1940 this aircraft was returning from Ops to Bremen when it undershot
on landing at 04.10hrs at Linton on Ouse and damaged the undercarriage when it ran through
the boundary hedge and onto rough ground.
Pilot - Sgt William Templeton Christie RAFVR (742182), uninjured.
Crew - Names unknown, uninjured.
"Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal this officer has taken part in 27 operational
flights. Flight Lieutenant Christie has always displayed courage and determination of a very high order, pressing home his attacks on the most heavily
defended targets. On one occasion he was detailed to attack Mannheim. In the face of heavy opposition he first dropped flares and then made
his attack from a very low leved. He is an outstanding captain of aircraft who has consistently displayed skill and judgment of a high order, while his devotion to duty has inspired his fellow pilots."
William Christie became a well decorated pilot; he was awarded the DFM later in 1940 for service with 58 Squadron (Gazetted on 24th December 1940),
with whom he completed a Tour. He was later
Commissioned in April 1941 (63779) and awarded
the DSO (Gazetted 15th January 1943) prior to his death with 7 Squadron on 12th December 1942 flying on Stirling BF379.
He is buried in Milan War Cemetery. His crew of seven were able to bale out but became PoW's. The Citation for his DSO reads..
Whitley P4951 was built to contract 75147/38 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 15th April 1940 and delivered to 58 Squadron shortly afterwards. Cat.M/FB damage was recorded at Thornaby following a series of incidents on 29th June 1940 (as
stated on this website) and it was repaired on site and returned to the unit in early July 1940. It sustained
Cat.R/FB on 9th September 1940 (as detailed above)
but although Cat.R damage was recorded it was repaired on site by a team from Baginton and returned to the
unit in November 1940. It then moved with 58 Squadron to St.Eval on 8th April 1942 and to Stornoway on 30th August 1942.
In December 1942 58 Squadron ceased using Whitleys and the aircraft was flown into MU storage until being taken on charge by 42 OTU in May 1943. Nothing further is known about the history other than it was at an MU store by 20th March 1945 when 42 OTU disbanded. It was struck off charge and returned to produce (broken up and the metal re-used) on 19th April 1945.