Whitley P5023 near Kirk Deighton, Wetherby.
On 11th October 1940 crew on this aircraft were returning from Ops to Merseburg when the aircraft ran out of fuel before
reaching base. The crew force-landed it in a field near Kirk Deighton in the early hours and with its wheels down near to
Loshpot Lane. The aircraft was refuelled by hand with the help of local people and flown out of the field after the removal
of hedges on other side of the lane leading away from the village.
Crew - Unknown.
Whitley P5023 was built to contract 75147/38 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd, at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 5th June 1940.
After a period of MU storage it was taken on charge by 77 Squadron at Linton on Ouse on 28th August 1940 when the unit moved in from
Driffield which was bombed out. The aircraft was a replacement for N1355 "KN-X", which had crashed at Cottam on 20th August 1940. On
5th October 1940 it moved with unit to Topcliffe and sustained Cat.M damage in the incident recorded above. It continued to serve with
77 Squadron until being transferred to 10 OTU at Abingdon in 1941. On 24th October 1941 it sustained Cat.W/FA damage
when it struck a tall tree whilst flying in poor visibility, it rolled over and crashed killing the then crew of four
at Eaton, Berkshire.