Whitley K9047 (undamaged) landed at Dishforth airfield.
On 18th December 1939 this 51 Squadron aircraft was one of two of the unit sent to undertake a weather recconnaisance flight to Sylt and Borkum area. On the return leg a temperature inversion occurred at around 1400-1600 feet. This aircraft descended quickly and this caused the pilot to suffer deafness and pain in his ears. The crew landed safely back at Dishforth but the pilot was admitted to hospital. The aircraft received no damage.
Pilot - S/Ldr William Henry Nigel Turner RAF (26216). Injured.
Navigator - P/O Anthony Colin Peach RAF (40256).
Observer - Sgt Robert George Bruce RAF (524136).
Wireless Operator - LAC D S Edmondson RAF (543850).
Air Gunner - AC1 J Boyd RAF (619108).
Sgt Bruce was killed on 5th April 1940 in 51 Squadron Whitley K9040 that failed to return from a training flight, it was believed crashed off Milford Haven. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
The other four were flying 51 Squadron Whitley N1408 on 18th May 1940 on an operational flight when it crashed in Germany. All became PoWs.