Whitley K8953 at Driffield airfield.
On 4th October 1939 this 77 Squadron aircraft was struck by Whitley N1352 while it was parked at Driffield airfield and damage was sustained to both aircraft.
No Crew.
Whitley K8953 was built to contract 522438/36 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd at Baginton and was delivered to 102 Squadron at Driffield on 14th October 1938. It transferred to 77 Squadron
at Driffield on 6th December 1938. Cat.M/FA damage was recorded following the mishap at Driffield detailed above and it was repaired on site but this variant of Whitley was withdrawn from operational use in the same month so repair was not a priority and the it languished at Driffield throughout the winter and spring of 1939/40 before repairs were completed. The aircraft was later flown to Marshall's for further repairs, modifications and re-assembly it was then issued to 2 BATF (Beam Approach Training Flight) at Linton on Ouse on 6th March 1941. It suffered a Cat.M/FA accident on 11th March 1941 when it was damaged whilst taxying at Silloth and again repaired on site and then returned to 2 BATF. It moved with the unit to Driffield on 14th April 1941 and was later transferred to PTS (Parachute Training Squadron) at Ringway on 21st October 1941. This unit was re-named No.1 Parachute Training School on 15th February 1942 and here it suffered a Cat.M/FA mishap on 12th March 1942 when the tail wheel fell into a hole at Ringway. It was again repaired on site and returned to No.1 PTS on 7th May 1942 and then suffered a Cat. M/FA mishap on 30th July 1942 when the tail wheel collapsed at Ringway. Again it was repaired on site and returned to No.1 PTS on 5th September 1942. It then suffered a further Cat.M accident on 21st November 1942 but no location or reason has been found. Although reported as repaired on site the aircraft was converted to instruction airframe 4112M and issued as a training airframe to the 6th Airborne Division and after this there is no further trace of its existance.