Whitley P4934 damaged by flak, returned to Dishforth airfield.
On the night of 27th / 28th June 1940 this 51 Squadron aircraft was hit by flak during an operational flight to Duisburg, the pilot was able to make a safe return to land at Dishforth at 04.15hrs and the aircraft was later repaired. The crew were uninjured.
Pilot - F/Sgt Edward William Deacon RAF (563661).
Sgt Kearey
Sgt O'Brien
Sgt Fisher
Sgt Jolly
As P/O he was awarded the DFC for service with 51 Squadron on 22nd November 1940, but no citation has been found as yet. He was also awarded the DSO on 19th
October 1943 for service with 35 Squadron, the citation for this award reads.. "One night in September 1943, this officer piloted an aircraft detailed to attack
Montlucon. Wing Commander Deacon executed his task with great skill in spite of adverse weather, bombing his target with great precision from a low level. His
good work was well evidenced by the excellent photograph which he obtained. This officer, who has completed a very large number of sorties has invariably
displayed courage and tenacity of a high order." He was Mentioned in Despatches on 8th June 1945 and awarded the AFC on 1st January 1952 before a posting to
the Air HQ in Ceylon in 1956 and back to Yorkshire to RAF Leeming Administration Wing in 1960. He was also Commanding Officer of 202 Squadron in the Post-War period.
Whitley P4934 was built to contract 75147/38 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd., at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 28th March 1940. After a period of MU storage it was issued to 51 Squadron at Dishforth in May 1940 when the unit began converting to Whiltey Mk.V's from Mk.IV's. It sustained Cat.M/FB in the flak incident detailed above and was repaired on site and returned to the unit in July 1940 and continued to serve with them until being written off with Cat.W/FB damage on 27th February 1941 on Ops to Cologne. It was returning to the UK with failing engines and the radio unservicable and after encountering heavy snowstorms the pilot ordered the crew to abandon but only two complied before P4934 crashed into North Sea off Durham Coast. The pilot on this occasion being killed along with two other airmen. Two survived.
Edward Deacon received his commission on 7th September 1940 (with seniority back dated to 26th August 1940) and took the rank of P/O on probation. He rose
to F/O on 7th September 1941, F/Lt on 7th September 1942 and S/Ldr on 31st October 1943. He survived the War and remained in the RAF in the Post-War period
rising to W/Co on 1st July 1952 and G/C on 1st July 1963.