Whitley N1493 at Topcliffe airfield.
During the early evening of 25th November 1940 this 77 Squadron aircraft was being used to give it's pilot night landing practice. At 18.50hrs during one of the landings, being made with a strong wind, the pilot misjudged the approach and undershot, the aircraft hit a tree and crash landed. Minor damage to the aircraft resulted.
Pilot - P/O Robert George Barrell RAF (78524).
Robert Barrell was awarded the DFC for service with 77 Squadron, Gazetted in June 1941. He was then awarded the Bar to the DFC for service with 7 Squadron, Gazetted in March 1943 and then the DSO for service with 7 Squadron, Gazetted on 8th June 1943. W/Co Barrell was killed on 25th June 1943 while serving with 7 Squadron and was killed flying Lancaster ED595 that was shot down on Ops to Wuppertal. He is buried in Bergen op Zoom War Cemetery, Netherlands.