Whitley N1464 at Dishforth airfield.
On 11th October 1940 this 51 Squadron aircraft was to be used to undertake a flying training exercise involving practicing a series of taking off and landings. One of the landings at Dishforth was heavy, the aircraft began to enter a swing and the pilot attempted to apply full power to the engines to attempt to take off again but the aircraft could not be brought under control. It swung off the runway and crash broadside. The pilot may have been practicing the take offs and landings with a loaded aircraft.
Pilot - F/Lt Gerald Arthur Lane DFC RAF (39595).
Crew - Names unknown.
Post War he remained the RAF Reserve. He relinquished his commission of S/Ldr in the RAF on 9th November 1951 on appointment to the reconstituted Royal Auxiliary Air Force Reserve of
Officers (retaining the rank of W/Co) and after ten years he finally relinquished his commission of S/Ldr on 9th November 1961 after a fine period of service to his country. He later worked in Scotland prior and was awarded the OBE in 1978 for his role as Secretary of the Highlands of Scotland Territorial & Army Volunteer Reserve Association. As of March 2016 was still living in retirement in Perth.
Whitley N1464 was built to contract 75147/38 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd, at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 17th December 1939. After a lengthy period of MU storage
it was taken on charge by 51 Squadron at Dishforth in May 1940 when the unit converted to Whitley MkV's from Whitley MkIV's. It sustained Cat.R(b)/FA in the incident recorded
above in October 1940 and was taken away to be repaired in works but appears to have never been issued to another unit. The assumption is that it was surplus to requirements
and on completion of repair was flown to an MU (ASU) where it remained until being struck off charge on 24th February 1944.
Gerald Lane was possibly born in Lambeth, London in April 1916. He received his commission on an unknown date before the outbreak of war to the rank of Acting P/O on probation, he was
confirmed in his appointment and graded as P/O on 16th November 1937. He was probably promoted to F/O in 1939 though no details of these promotions have been located in the London Gazette
at the time of creating this webpage. While in the rank of F/O he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 30th July 1940. He was promoted to F/Lt on 3rd September 1940, to S/Ldr (temp) on 1st
September 1941 and later to S/Ldr (war subs) on 19th January 1943. On 16th November 1942 he transferred to the RAF Reserve and was called up for service. He commanded 75 Squadron from December 1942 to May 1943.