Whitley Z6800, hit by flak, landed at Linton on Ouse on return.
On the night of 31st August/1st September 1941 the crew of this aircraft were tasked with bombing Essen, over the target there was poor visibilty but heavy flak was
encountered and the aircraft was hit and slightly damaged. The crew made a return to Yorkshire but were diverted to land at Linton on Ouse at 02.55hrs, possibly because of the damage
sustained when Whitley Z6868 had blown up on take-off hours earlier.
Whitley Z6800 was later repaired but lost on 30th November 1941 on Ops to Hamburg. One of those named below was in it when the aircraft was lost.
Pilot - Sgt John W Stell RAFVR (1051815).
2nd Pilot - Sgt William B Archibald RAFVR (533809). Of Tobago, West Indies.
Obs - Sgt John A Groom RAFVR (964955), of Stoke Newington, London.
WOp/AG - Sgt Charles (Maxie) Miller, of Edinburgh, Scotland.
AG - Sgt Thomas O McIlquham RCAF (R/67064), of Carleton Place, Ontario, Canada.
Thomas McIlquham was born in Carleton Place in 1911, he enlisted into the RCAF in July 1940. He was involved in a number of
mishaps before completing a Tour with 102 Squadron for which he was awarded the DFM in July 1942. Hugh Halliday's research states that
on one occasion the aircraft he was in blew up and his turret landed in a haystack saving his life. The citation for the DFM
reads.."One night in May this airman was the rear gunner of an aircraft detailed to attack Cologne. His aircraft was attacked
by a Focke Wulfe 190. Sergeant McIlquham waited until the fighter was within short range and then opened fire. Upon a second
attack being made he fired a long burst which sent the enemy aircraft spinning to the ground. Later the same night Flight
Sergeant McIlquham destroyed another Focke Wulfe 190. One night in June he was the rear gunner of a bomber detailed to attack
Bremen. His aircraft was attacked by a Messerschmitt 109. He fired two bursts and the enemy aircraft broke away and fell out
of control with the engine on fire. Flight Sergeant McInquham is a cool and skilful air gunner whose courage and determination
are an inspiration to the squadron." His award was presented at Buckingham Palace in November 1942, soon after he was posted
back to Canada on instructional duties, 102 Squadron veteran Ed Cooke recalls, in an internet posting, this was
rumoured to be because he used to take a high powered light with him in the rear turret to lure enemy aircraft
in try and pick them off. He was later commissioned in October 1943 and survived the War. He sadly
drowned in January 1956 after trying to rescue his son after his lorry went through the ice into Mississippi
Lake on a fishing trip. He was undoubtably a very skillful air gunner.
F/Sgt Stell was later posted to 76 Squadron and lost on 4th June 1942 in Halifax R9457 on Ops to Bremen.
He is listed on the Runnymede Memorial. The aircraft crashed on land and in more recent years the crash site has been found and
there is a possibilty that human remains found at the site may be his.
F/Sgt Archibald was later posted to 35 Squadron and lost on 30th March 1942 in Halifax R9496 while trying to sink the Tirpitz. He is buried in Trondheim Cemetery, Norway.
As yet research is ongoing as to whether he was one of a small number of black Caribbean airmen flying in the RAF or his parents were white
in the Caribbean living or working. Prior to joining the RAF he attended Bedford Modern School.
Sgt Groom was lost on 30th November 1941 flying in Whitley Z6800 (this aircraft) which was lost on Ops to Hamburg after being
hit by flak.
The name of Maxie Miller will become regular with 102 Squadron mishaps. After this incident he was on board
Whitley Z6871 which crashed at Danby Head on 30th
September 1941,
details here. He then baled out of another Whitley which injured him. After recovering he was posted away to
an OTU probably for instructional duties.
