Whitley P4953 at Leeming airfield.
On the night of 11th/12th August 1940 this aircraft and seven other 10 Squadron Whitleys and eight 51 Squadron aircraft undertook Ops to Gelsenkirchen to drop incendiary bombs, known as "razzles". This type of incendiary was a made from pills of phospherous covered in gauze and placed between pieces of celluliod, while in the aircraft they were carried in containers topped up with water. When released down the flare chute they had a habit of lodging themselves in the tail plane of the Whitley and in the rudder hinges of the aircraft
but did not catch fire immediately as they were wet. The aircraft landed safely at Leeming but when the incendiary bombs dried out they ignited. In the case of Whitley P4953 the damage sustained at Leeming was repaired. At least four 10 Squadron aircraft on this raid were hit by flak and of the eight aircraft being used, six sustained damage by the incendiaries catching fire on landing. The identities of some of these aircraft are not yet known. The probable crew of Whitley P4953 are listed below.
Pilot - F/O Michael Thomas Gibson Henry RAF (39876), of Compton Chamberlayne, Wiltshire.
Second Pilot - F/O Peter Wellwood Fortune Landale RAFVR (70379), of Dumfries, Scotland.
Observer - Sgt J Shaw.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt G L "Larry" Donnelly RAF.
Air Gunner - Sgt George Frederick Dove RAF (621162).
His name appears in a number of places around his home area, he is listed on the
Kirkmahoe War Memorial inside the village church, he is also commemerated by a
stained glass window inside the small church at Dalswinton. The photographs shown
here were posted on the Scottish War Memorials Project Forum.
"This airman has been employed as wireless operator-air gunner since the beginning of the war and hits
participated in attacks on targets in Germany, Italy, Norway, France and Belgium."
He survived the War and later published a book, "The Whitley Boys", in 1991.
"On the night of 14th February 1943, Pilot Officer Gates, Flight Sergeant Dove and Sergeants Williams, Bain and
Airey were members of the
crew of an aircraft captained by Sergeant Hazard, which was detailed to attack Milan. Whilst over the target area,
the aircraft was attacked by an enemy fighter from close range. Its gunfire exploded some incendiary bombs
which had failed to release and a fire quickly developed in the bomber. The fuselage became a mass of
flames reaching through the mid-upper turret manned by Flight Sergeant Dove. Ammunition in the turret
boxes and ducts commenced to explode in all directions. In the face of an appalling situation, Flight
Sergeant Dove coolly remained at his post. Although he was burned about the hands and face, he manned
his guns with grim resolution, skill and accuracy. He delivered a devastating burst at the attacker,
which had already been engaged and hit by the rear gunner and succeeded in destroying it.
Disregarding the roaring flames, he then descended from his turret and went to the assistance
of Sergeant Airey, the rear gunner, who had been wounded, and extricated him from the rear turret.
The situation had become extremely critical and Sergeant Hazard ordered the crew to prepare to
abandon aircraft. When informed that one of his comrades was helpless he decided, in spite of the
grave risk entailed, to attempt a forced landing. Meanwhile, Pilot Officer Gates, assisted by
Sergeants Williams and Bain bravely tackled the fire with extinguishers and succeeded in getting
it under control. The aircraft was now down to 800 feet but, as the fire had subsided. Sergeant
Hazard quickly decided to attempt to fly the badly damaged bomber home. He regained height and
displaying fine airmanship crossed the Alps in safety, although one engine failed whilst so doing.
On the remainder of the journey Pilot Officer Gates rendered valuable assistance to his captain
and frequently ministered to his wounded comrade, Although this necessitated clambering over a
hole in the floor of the aircraft in darkness. Aided by the skilful navigation of Sergeant
Williams and good work by Sergeant Bain, the flight engineer, Sergeant Hazard succeeded in
flying the seriously damaged aircraft back to this Country. In circumstances of the greatest
danger, this aircraft crew displayed-courage, fortitude and devotion, to duty in keeping with
with the highest traditions of the Royal Air Force."
Michael Henry attended Sedbergh School, Yorkshire from 1926 to 1930. He was granted a permenant Commission into the RAF as
Acting P/O on Probation on 20th July 1937 and gained his RAF Wings in October 1937. He was made F/O on 10th December
1939 and then a F/Lt on 10th December 1940. His DFC was Gazetted on 30th July 1940 but no Citation for this award has
been found as yet but was almost certainly for service in completing a Tour with 10 Squadron. F/Lt Henry was sadly
killed in the crash of 35 Squadron Halifax L9487 on 13th January 1941 near Baldersby St.James, Yorkshire. He is
buried in Roecliffe Churchyard near Boroughbridge. Halifax L9487 was the first fatal Halifax accident and is
detailed on this website.
Peter Landale was granted a Commission in the RAF on 16th March 1937 as P/O and rose
to F/O on an unknown date. He relinquished his Commission of F/O in the RAF on 16th March
1939 but on the same day was granted a commission in the RAFVR as F/O (with seniority
backdated to 16th September 1938). Effectively transferred from the regular RAF to the Reserve.
On 13th November 1940 he was the pilot of Whitley T4232 tasked with Ops to Lorient, while outbound
the aircraft crashed in South Wales, four of the crew were injured and one sadly died. F/O Landale was
seriously injured spending a long period in hospital. He rose to F/Lt (war subs) on 18th May 1941.
As Acting S/Ldr he was the pilot of Whitley Z6624 on 25th July 1941 on Ops to Hannover. The aircraft crashed into
the North Sea and his body was never found. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, he was twenty six years old.
The formal notification of his DFC came through after his death and appeared in the London Gazette dated
13th March 1942 but the award was backdated. The citation reads.."awarded with effect from July 17th 1941.
By his great courage, skill and personal example S/Ldr Landale has set a very high standard of airmanship in the squadron.
These high qualities did not diminish after receiving injuries in a crash as a result of which he
was in hospital for six months. He was one of the most reliable captains in the squadron."
Larry Donnelly was involved in a number of battle damage and minor accidents during his time in Yorkshire,
his known incidents are detailed on this website. He was later posted to 76 Squadron and as F/Sgt he
was awarded the DFM in May 1942, the Citation reads..
George Dove was awarded the DFM for his services to 10 Squadron, probably as a result of completing a Tour with them.
It appeared in the London Gazette on 18th April 1941. He was later posted to 101 Squadron, he was
awarded the CGM for his actions during an operational flight to Milan in Lancaster ED377 on 14/15th
February 1943, the award was Gazetted on 23rd April 1943. The Citation was a joint one with
other members of his crew, it reads..
Whitley P4953 was built to contract 76147/38 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 16th April 1940. It was delivered to 10 Squadron at Dishforth later in the month and was coded "ZA-F". It then moved with the unit to Leeming on 8th July 1940. On the night of 5/6th August 1940 it again sustained minor flak damage, and again the pilot was able to land safely at base. It was again repaired on site and returned to the unit days later. On 11/12th August 1940 it returned from Ops, as detailed above but caught fire on landing at Leeming. Again it was repaired on site and returned to the unit in a couple of days. It was later transferred to 10 OTU base at Abingdon in early 1941. On 28th March 1942 it suffered engine failure on take off from Abingdon, hit trees near Radley Road and crashed with two of the then crew being injured. Cat.E2/FA damage was recorded and the aircraft written off.