Whitley P4955 hit by flak, returned to Leeming airfield.
On the night of 8th/9th July 1940 the crew of this aircraft were bombing Kiel when they were hit by flak which slightly damaged the aircraft. The pilot
was able to make the return to Leeming and land without further damage and the aircraft was soon repaired. 10 Squadron had set out from Dishforth on the 8th but
the unit was moving to Leeming so all returning aircraft made the move on their return in the early hours of the 9th July and from then on Leeming was 10 Squadron's home
for some time. The crew listed below was the pilot's regular crew and were probably with him on this flight.
Pilot - F/O William Maxwell Nixon RAF (39677).
Second Pilot - F/O Peter George Whitby RAF (39918).
Observer - Sgt H W Bradley RAF (580782).
Wireless Operator - Sgt A M Somerville RAF (547146).
Air Gunner - Sgt E R Holmes RAF (631819).
Whitley P4955 was built to contract 75147/38 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was delivered directly to 10 Squadron at Dishforth on 20th April 1940. Cat.M/FB damage was recorded following it being damaged by flak on 29th June 1940 and it was repaired on site and returned to the unit the following week. It then moved with the unit up to Leeming on 8th July 1940 and was slightly damaged (Cat.M/FB) on 9th July 1940 on Ops when it was again hit by flak (as detailed above). Again it was repaired on site and returned to the unit but was lost, with Cat.W(m) being recorded when, on 17th August 1940 the crew were tasked with Ops to Jena to attack the Zeiss Works. It was hit by flak over the target and an SOS was transmitted but at 03.26hrs a made crash landing was made at Rijsbergen, Holland. The crew of five were the same as with the flak incident detailed above and all were taken PoW.
William Nixon received his commission to P/O on probation on 9th May 1937 and rose to F/O on 8th September 1939. As F/O he was awarded the DFC on 22nd November 1940 for service with 10 Squadron, he was promoted to F/Lt while in captivity. He remained in the RAF after the War rising to S/Ldr on 1st August 1947 before retiring on 1st August 1956.
Peter Whitby received his commission on 5th July 1937 to the rank of Acting P/O on probation, he was graded as P/O on probation on 3rd June 1939 and confirmed in his appointment on 10th August 1938 as P/O. He was promoted to F/O on 3rd February 1940 and F/Lt (war subs) on 3rd February 1941. Under the terms of his commission he transferred to the Reserve on 10th May 1943 and was called up for active service with immediate effect. Post-War he remained in the RAFO and was promoted to S/Ldr in March 1946 with seniority of 1st March 1942. He was Mentioned in Despatches on 29th August 1952 for distinguished service in Malaya.
Nothing else is known about Sgt's Bradley and Somerville.
Sgt E R Holmes was possibly one Ernest Holmes of Hebburn, Durham.