Whitley P5091 near Snape, Masham.

On 9th October 1940 the crew of this aircraft were returning from Ops to Hanau and were flying in poor visibilty in the early hours. They are believed to have joined the circuit and were waiting to land at Topcliffe but the aircraft hit trees near Snape, Masham, some miles west of Topcliffe at 03.55hrs and caught fire. Sadly the crew of five were killed as a result of the crash. Although reported to have been in the landing circuit it is probably that they had left it given the poor visibility and distance of the crash from Topcliffe. It was also believed that the aircraft had infact ran out of fuel just prior to the crash.

Pilot - Sgt George W Brown RAF (566550), aged ? Of Ashington. Buried Seaton Hurst Churchyard, Northumberland.

Pilot - Midshipman David A C Hadingham RN (HMS Daedalus), attached 77 Squadron. Aged 19, of Sanderstead. Buried Sanderstead, Surrey.

Observer - Sgt William G MacMorland RAFVR (751459), aged 23, of Stock, Essex. Buried Topcliffe Cemetery, Yorkshire.

Wireless Operator - Sgt Joseph R Wardman RAFVR (938888), aged 27, of Hull. Buried Hull Western Cemetery, Yorkshire.

(Wirless Operator/) Air Gunner - Sgt Cleveland Cottham RAF (637463), aged 19, of Sevenoaks, Kent. Buried Topcliffe Cemetery, Yorkshire.

Sgt Cottham's gravestone at Topcliffe Cemetery.

Sgt Macmorland's gravestone at Topcliffe Cemetery and a small plaque placed there by his wife some years ago.

Joseph Wardman and his gravestone in Hull's Western Cemetery.

Whitley P5091 was built to contract 75147/38 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd, at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 4th July 1940. After a period of MU storage it was allocated to 102 Squadron at Leeming on 25th August 1940 as a replacement aircraft for one destroyed on 15th August 1940 in the raid on Driffield. This allocation was quickly changed and the aircraft was taken on charge by 77 Squadron at Linton on Ouse on 28th August 1940 but also as a replacement aircraft; for P5056 destroyed at Driffield on 15th August. P5091 moved on 5th October 1940 with the unit to Topcliffe airfield. It sustained Cat.W/FB damage on 9th October 1940 at Snape as detailed above.