Whitley P4964 hit by flak, returned to Dishforth airfield.
On 18th September 1940 this aircraft hit by flak on Ops to Zeebrugge, the pilot was able to make the return to land safely at their
Dishforth base but the rear gunner had sustained injuries in the flak burst.
Pilot - Sgt Anthony Stewart Reginald Edmund Ennis RAFVR (740735), of Edgware, Middlesex. Uninjured.
Crew - Names unknown. Uninjured.
Rear Gunner - Sgt R Graham, injured.
Anthony Ennis was born in Canterbury, Kent. He received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 2nd August 1941 and had been posted to 158 Squadron by May 1942 and was awarded the DFC for service with them. Gazetted on 19th May 1942 the citation was a joint one with his rear gunner, P/O A H Hanson, it reads..
"One night in May 1942, F/Lt Ennis and P/O Hanson, as pilot and rear gunner respectively
of an aircraft, were detailed to carry out a low level attack on Warnemunde. The target was
heavily defended both with searchlights and anti-aircraft fire, which made a low-level attack very
hazardous. F/Lt Ennis displaying great courage, flew the aircraft at a very low level, but found that he could not penetrate the heavy defences. In all, three attempts were made, before the target was reached and attacked successfully. Throughout this time P/O Hanson continued firing at the searchlights and other defences and destroyed at least two searchlights. The skill and courage
displayed by him contributed largely to the safe return of the aircraft."
Anthony Ennis was appointed to A-Flight Commander of 158 Squadron on 16th June 1942 having been
promoted to the rank of F/O (war subs) on 18th May 1942, F/O (prob) on 2nd August 1942 and F/Lt (war subs) on 15th August 1942. As Acting S/Ldr he was awarded the DSO for service with 158 Squadron, Gazetted on 6th November 1942, the citation reads..
"This officer has completed many operational sorties. There are very few targets in Germany which have not suffered as a result of his remarkable spirit of determination to achieve his objective. In February 1941 he was employed on a special mission to Malta which
he accomplished with complete success, and in May 1942, he was awarded the DFC."
He was later posted to 99 Squadron and was their Commanding Officer from 15th March 1944 to 24th May 1944. On 17th June 1944 he died while the unit was serving in India. Buried in
Imphal War Cemetery, India he was twenty six years old.
Whitley P4964 was built to contract 75147/38 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 28th April 1940. It was
delivered to 10 Squadron based at Dishforth on 29th April 1940. Following a minor accident at Dishforth in May 1940 Cat.M(C)/FA damage was recorded and it was repaired on site but was later transferred to 78 Squadron at Dishforth on 15th July 1940 when the unit moved in from Linton on Ouse on that date. On 18th September 1940 Cat.M/FB damage was sustained (as detailed above). It was again repaired and returned to it's unit but on 2nd October 1940 it failed to return from bombing oil installations at Sterkrade and crashed at near Hessenweg, Holland with its crew of five being killed.
