On the night of 28th / 29th August 1940 the crew of this 102 Squadron aircraft were undertaking a night time cross-country training flight which involved flying to the Isle of Man. On the return leg the weather made a turn for the worse and instead of returning to Leeming the crew were given the instruction to divert to land at Linton on Ouse airfield. The aircraft successfully passed over Linton on Ouse airfield twice around 22.55hrs but because of the poor visibility it did not land, possibly as the crew did not identify where they were. The Whitley then headed away from the area again. Whilst flying in poor weather the aircraft crashed into a field at 00.35hrs close to Hay Hills Farm, near Silsden, to the south of Skipton. Four of the crew were killed, but one survived after being rescued by a member of the local Home Guard, Pte "Jock" Welsh who was eighteen years old at the time. My thanks to Mr Iain Welsh, son of the gentleman who pulled the rear gunner from the wreckage, for contacting me and for the information he was able to provide.
Whitley N1489 was built to contract 75147/38 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 3rd February 1940. It was taken on charge by 10 Squadron at Dishforth in March 1940 when the unit began converting from Whitley MkIV's to MkV's. On 8th July 1940 it moved with this unit to Leeming. On 25th August 1940 it transferred to 102 Squadron which moved to Leeming on that date, whilst Driffield was non-operational as a result of the air raid on 15th August 1940. Following the accident at Silsden on 29th August 1940 Cat.W/FA damage was recorded and the aircraft was written off.
Pilot - Sgt Norman Kelvin Bott RAFVR (742082), aged 20, of Leicester. Buried Welford Road Cemetery, Leicester.
Pilot - P/O Alexander William Fletcher RAF (42828), aged 19, of Farmoor, Oxford. Buried Cumnor Churchyard, Oxford.
Observer - Sgt Charles William Cavey Fleming "Bill" Harrison RAFVR (747970), aged 31, of London. Buried Leeming, Yorkshire.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Alan Steel RAF (550484), aged ? Buried Mexborough Cemetery.
Air Gunner - Sgt Leonard Geoffrey Smalley RAF (632821). Injured.
Sgt Harrison's grave in Leeming churchyard. Charles Harrison was born in London in 1909 and his birth was registered in the Lambeth District.
Alexander Fletcher received a commission on 23rd October 1939 to the rank of Acting P/O on probation and was later graded as P/O on probation on 20th April 1940.
Sgt Smalley recovered from his injuries but was posted to 104 Squadron. On 12th/13th August 1941 he was flying in Wellington W5461 on Ops to Berlin. The aircraft crashed in enemy territory and all the crew became a PoW's. Searching the deaths index for England Len Smalley lived in Cornwall and died in 1986 in Liskeard, Cornwall.