Whitley P4933 at Slade Hooton / Maltby, Rotherham.

In the early hours 19th October 1940 the crew of this 102 Squadron aircraft were returning from an operational flight to Lunen where the target had been to bomb the aluminium manufacturing plant there. The crew became lost on their return and eventually the aircraft ran out of fuel before they could find an airfield, the crew baled out at 05.30hrs and they and the aircraft crashed near Maltby, Rotherham. Two of the crew were injured in rough landings.

Pilot - P/O Kenneth Thomas Hannah RAF (42123).

Second Pilot - Sgt Harold Lewis James Chapman RAF (742270).

Observer - Sgt John Alfred Clemett RAFVR (751589). Injured.

Wireless Operator - Sgt Geoffrey Stephen Almond RAF (621039).

Air Gunner - Sgt G Robson RAF (651328). Injured.

John Hannah received a commission to the rank of Acting P/O on probation on 13th May 1939 and was graded as P/O on probation on 6th November 1939 before being confirmed in the rank of P/O on 13th March 1940. He rose to F/O on 6th November 1940 and as Acting F/Lt, Kenneth Hannah and Sgt Clemett were lost on 15th December 1940 and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. They were lost when Whitley P5012 was shot down on Ops to Berlin and crashed into the North Sea off the Dutch coast.
On 16th December 1940 Sgt Chapman was in Whitley T4289 which ditched off Whitby, his whole crew at that time were rescued.
Harold Chapman received a commission in September 1943 and survived the war.
Geoffrey Almond was awarded the DFM for service with 76 Squadron, Gazetted in early 1943. He was later posted to 158 Squadron in July 1943. He survived the War.
Whitley P4933 was built to contract 75147/38 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 27th March 1940. After a lengthy period of MU storage it was taken on charge by 102 Squadron at Driffield as a replacement for N1502 which ditched on return from Ops to Emden on 12th July 1940. On 25th August 1940 it moved with the unit to Leeming, on 1st September 1940 with the unit to Prestwick and on 10th October 1940 with the unit to Linton on Ouse. On 19th October 1940 Cat.W/FB damage was the damage assessment following the incident recorded above.

Back to 1940 monthly table.