Whitley P5005 at Topcliffe airfield.

Stated as occuring on the 22nd of December 1940 (but possibly on the 28th) this aircraft was parked at Topcliffe airfield when it was struck by another Whitley. As can be seen in the photographs the aircraft sustained serious damage to its tail end. The damage would seemingly be too great for repair.

Previous to this account I have not seen any other which tries to identify the aircraft involved. Upon blowing the photograph up the serial looks to be P5005 which is listed as being damaged in December 1940 and to have been damaged at Topcliffe in similar circumstances (ie struck by another while parked). P5005 was repaired and it later transferred to 19 OTU.

On 28th December 1940 Whitley T4293 struck an unknown Whitley on the ground at Topcliffe. I would suggest the two incidents are infact one and the same one and the date of the 28th December is the correct one.

Pilot - None.

The aircraft serial number is visable when blown up and shows the aircraft to be P5005. This was Leonard Cheshire aircraft it was the aircraft flown by him for which his actions resulted in the DSO being awarded to him.