On 26th February 1941 the crew of this aircraft had set out from Dishforth in Yorkshire at 18.45hrs to bomb Cologne. On their return to the UK they became hopelessly lost and overshot England completely. At 04.45hrs the aircraft struck the top of Sgurr nan Ceannaichean on the south side of Glen Carron, in Wester Ross, Scotland. The aircraft broke up over the northern slopes of the mountain killing all on board.
Pilot - W/C Gerald Thomas Toland RAF (34033), aged 30. His wife lived at Ardersier, Inverness-shire. Buried Moreton Corbett, Shropshire.
Pilot - Sgt George Alexander Forsyth RAFVR (740576), aged 28. His wife lived at Earls Court, London. Buried Tidesbrook, Sussex.
Observer - P/O Donald Henry Gates RAFVR (85287), aged 34, of Felpham. Buried Lambeth, London.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt George Russel Armstrong RAFVR (966934), aged 29, of Crosby, Liverpool. Buried Great Crosby, Lancashire.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Norman Leslie Lane RAFVR (935263), aged 21, of Lemington. Buried Newburn (Lemington) Cemetery, Northumberland.
I located some parts of this aircraft in August 2006. The remains are well scattered and the Whitley Project is known to have legally recovered parts for their project.
Gerald Toland was in the RAF as far back as the early 1930s. As Acting P/O he was posted to 101 Squadron at Andover on 18th February 1934 and confirmed in the rank of P/O on 3rd March 1934. He rose to F/O on 3rd October 1938 and was posted to 144 Squadron at Bicester on 11th January 1937. After a brief spelling training he was posted back to 144 Squadron at Hemswell on 20th July 1937. He rose to F/Lt on 8th June 1937. His further promotions in rank are not yet known.
Donald Gates received his commission and was made P/O on probation on 22nd September 1940, he rose to F/O (war subs) on 22nd September 1941 but this was later cancelled and he reverted to P/O. The reason for this is not known.