Whitley N1414 damaged by flak, returned to Dishforth airfield.
to bomb
On the night of 9th / 10th June 1940 the crew of this 51 Squadron aircraft were tasked with flying an operational flight to attack road and rail communications in the Doullens area of Northern France. The aircraft took off from Dishforth at 21.35hrs and sustained flak damage to the tail of the aircraft. The rear gunner sustained injuries to the arm and neck in the flak burst. On their return to England the aircraft was landed at Bircham Newton so that the rear gunner could be removed from the aircraft and receive hospital treatment. The remaining four crew then appear to have given the damage a quick check and with none of the controls damage they resumed the flight to Dishforth where they landed at 05.40hrs.
Pilot - F/Lt James Brian Tait RAF (33291).
Pilot (Navigator) - P/O Peter Gascoyne Brodie RAF (41662).
Observer - Sgt Alfred Adair Griffin RAF (514579).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Basil Arthur Curtis RAF (552463).
Rear Gunner - Sgt Robertson Walker McNeil RAF (620473). Injured.
Alfred Griffin was awarded the DFM, Gazetted on 22nd November 1940.
Basil Curtis was also awarded the DFM for service with 51 Squadron, Gazetted on 22nd October 1940. He received a commission on 19th March 1943 but was then killed on 29th April 1943 when 196 Squadron Wellington HE395 failed to return from a mine laying flight. He is buried in Denmark.
"Willie" Tait was involved in a number of minor mishaps during the early part of the War while he was stationed in Yorkshire. He became one of the Commonwealths most decorated airmen and his life is well documented. He became G/C Tait DSO and 3 Bars, DFC and Bar, ADC. James "Willie" Tait was born in December 1916 in Manchester. He was trained at Cranwell and received a commission as P/O on 1st August 1936 and was posted to 51 Squadron to fly Whitleys. He rose to F/O on 1st February 1938. He was awarded the DFC with 51 Squadron in late 1939-early 1940 and rose to be 51 Squadron's commanding officer by the end of 1940. On 10th February 1941 he led a paratroop dropping flight to Italy from Malta and was awarded the DSO for his actions on this. He was posted to 35 Squadron in February 1941 and was awarded the Bar to DFC on 30th June 1941 for leading a daylight raid on Kiel, he was later MiD in September 1941. After completing a further Tour he was rested from Ops and posted to an OTU. In mid-1942 he was posted to command 78 Squadron and was MiD again during this period. He was then given a desk job as base operations commander at Waddington in March 1944 but later returned to operational flying as Master Bomber with 5 Group in May 1944 for which he was awarded the 2nd Bar to the DSO. In July 1944 he took over command of 617 Squadron and was awarded the Bar to the DFC for a raid on the Kembs Dam later that summer. In September 1944 he led 617 Squadron in a series of attacks to sink the Tirpitz ship. Having completed 101 operational flights he was grounded in December 1944 and was recommended for the Victoria Cross for "sustained gallantry" over his five years of operational flying, the VC was turned down but he was awarded the 3rd Bar to the DSO (Gazetted on 5th January 1945), the citation reads.."this officer has displayed conspicuous bravery and extreme devotion to duty in the face of the enemy, constantly exemplified over a long period of operational flying. He has completed a very large number of sorties, many of them against most dangerous and difficult targets and the successes obtained are a magnificent tribute to his brilliant leadership and unsurpassed skill. On three occasions Wing Commander Tait has led attacks on the German battleship "Tirpitz". The last occasion was on the 12th November 1944. The vessel was lying at Tromso. Visibility was good as Wing Commander Tait led his squadron in to the attack. In spite of continuous fire from 3 ships and from land batteries, the attack was pressed home. The first bomb, dropped by Wing Commander Tait, hit the Tirpitz. Another hit was obtained almost immediately and another 12,000 lb. bomb fell close alongside. The battleship caught fire and smoke poured from her. Finally she capsized. By his outstanding skill and leadership Wing Commander Tait played a prominent part in the success of this operation. This officer has completed 98 sorties and throughout has set an example of a high order." Only one other airman was awarded 3 Bars to the DSO. He saw post-War service rising again to G/C in 1953. In 1959 he was appointed ADC to The Queen and he retired from the RAF in 1964. After a career in civilian life he retired in 1981 and died in August 2007.
Whitley N1414 was built to contract 75147/38 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 1st November 1939 but was then flown to MU storage. It was later issued to 51 Squadron at Dishforth in May 1940 when the unit began converting from Mk.IV Whitley's. On 10th June 1940 it was damaged by flak on ops as detailed above but again the pilot on this occasion was able to return safely to Dishforth. Cat.M/FB damage was again recorded and the aircraft repaired on site and returned to the unit. On 8th September 1940 the aircraft was returning from ops; a reconnaissance flight over of the Belgium Coast, when it crashed in forced landing at Hindringham, Norfolk. The crew on that occasion survived.
Peter Brodie was made a PoW following Whitley P4968 failing to return from Ops on 20th August 1940.
