Whitley P4952 hit by flak, returned to Leeming airfield.
On the 21st July 1940 the crew of this aircraft were tasked with bombing Dusseldorf but the aircraft sustained flak damage.
The pilot was able to make a safe return and land at Leeming without further damage and the aircraft was later repaired.
Pilot - F/O Garfield W Prior, RAFVR (37611) uninjured.
Crew - Names unknown, uninjured.
F/O Prior was awarded the DFC in October 1940, he rose through the ranks and as S/Ldr he was reported missing presumed killed flying
with 218 Squadron on 22nd January 1944.
Whitley P4952 was built to contract 75147/38 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 15th April 1940. It was delivered to 10 Squadron based
at Dishforth in the same month during the units conversion from Mk.IV Whitley's. Cat.M/FB damage was recorded following flak damage in May 1940 and the aircraft was
repaired on site and returned to the unit. It moved with the unit to Leeming on 8th July 1940 and was again damaged by flak on 21st July 1940 on ops to Dusseldorf and the pilot was again
able to make a return to Leeming. It was again repaired on site and returned to the unit. On 15th October 1940 it sustained Cat.W/FB damage on return from ops to Stettin, short
of fuel and lost it was abandoned safely at 05.02hrs over Bellingham, Northumberland.