Aircraft accidents in Yorkshire.

Whitley T4206 at Topcliffe airfield.

In the early hours of 15th October 1940 the crew of this aircraft were returning from Ops to Stettin having taken off from Topcliffe at 17.40hrs the previous evening. The weather was poor over base and with visibilty being reduced - reported to have been marginal for landing there. The pilot was attempting to fly a short circuit but struck a tree in the undershoot area at 03.30hrs. The aircraft crashed and sadly one of the crew, the second pilot, died from his injuries.

Pilot - Sgt Thomas E Coogan RAF (534642), injured. Of Geasby, Cheshire.

Second Pilot - S/Ldr George R H Black RAF (37373), aged 27, of New Barkby. Buried Barkby Cemetery, Leicestershire.

? - Sgt Boddington, injured.

? - Sgt Garwood, injured.

(WOp/)AG - Sgt James W Woodroffe RAFVR (937800), of Radford, Coventry. Injured.

Sgt Thomas Coogan crashed landed Whitley N1356 at Jurby on the Isle of Man on 8th June 1940 while on a training flight with 77 Squadron. He was later awarded the DFM in January 1941 for service with 77 Squadron and after completing his Tour he was later posted to 19 OTU probably to instruct. He was sadly killed on 16th March 1942 flying Lysander R9120 which crashed on Findhorn Beach, near Kinloss killing him and one other. He is buried in Kinloss Abbey Burial Ground.

George Black was granted a commission in the Special Reserve on 16th March 1942 as P/O on probation. He was graded as P/O on 21st March 1933 and rose to F/O on an unknown date probably in 1934. As F/O in the Special Reserve he became attached to the RAF on 7th May 1935 to 6th November 1935 but on 24th October he relinquished his commission in the Special Reserve on appointment to a short service commission in the RAF (General Duties Branch) to the rank of P/O on probation. He was confirmed in the rank of P/O on 24th October 1936. He was later promoted to F/O on 24th April 1937 and then to F/Lt on 24th April 1939. The date he was promoted to S/Ldr is not yet known.

F/Sgt Woodroffe was killed on 30th November 1941 flying in Whitley Z9299, he was still with 77 Squadron and his buried in Sage War Cemetery. He was twenty five years old.

Whitley T4206 was built to contract 38599/39 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd, at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 5th September 1940. It was taken on charge by 77 Squadron at Linton on Ouse shortly after this date and on 5th October 1940 it moved with the unit to Topcliffe. It was destroyed with Cat.W/FB damage recorded following the crash at Topcliffe ten days later as recorded above.