Whitley P4956 damaged by flak, returned to Dishforth airfield.
On the night of 17th / 18th May 1940 the crew of this 10 Squadron aircraft were tasked with bombing an oil storage plant near Bremen, they bombed the target but then acted
as a decoy to draw away searchlights and flak while Wing Commander Staton attacked the target sucessfully. P4956 was hit by shrapnel from flak and the aircraft was
penetrated in several places and the tyre of the port wheel was burst by flak. The pilot was able to make a safe return to Dishforth and landed on the flarepath
because of the damage to the aircraft.
Pilot - Sgt Arthur Stanley Johnson DFM RAF (580263).
Navigator - F/Lt Philip John Hunter Harrington RAF (37352).
Air Observer - Sgt Herbert Brian Felix Lymna RAF (580907).
Wireless Operator - LAC Francis Patrick McQuade RAF (526737).
Air Gunner - AC George Alexander Chalmers RAF (552201).
George Chalmers was born in February 1921 in Peterhead, Scotland. He entered the RAF as a boy entrant in early 1938 and trained as a wireless operator / air gunner. He was posted to 10 Squadron on 18th May 1939 and flew with this unit until being posted to 7 Squadron in August 1940 to fly Stirlings. He later received a posting to 35 Squadron and survived a close shave during an attack on the Scharnhorst ship at La Rochelle after his then skipper sustained serious injuries. He was selected to join 617 Squadron and flew in the Dams Raid as part of Bill Townsend's crew for which he was awarded the DFM. He received his commission on 27th June 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency)(52692). Post-War he remained in the RAF and continued his service with 617 Squadron and later 12 Squadron. In 1950 he flew with 38 Squadron. He left the RAF in 1961 but then served in the MoD until 1984. He died in August 2002 having lived in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. It is likely that he is buried in Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery.
Sgt Johnson was awarded the DFM on 20th February 1940 though the citation has yet to be located (if indeed there was one). His name may became familiar to
these pages. He was awarded the Bar to the DFM soon after, Gazetted on 30th July 1940 and was screened from Operation flying soon after that. He was clearly a
very able pilot. He received his commission on 17th September 1940 (with seniority of 30th August 1940); service number being 44606 thereafter and rose through
the ranks. In 1944 he was awarded the DSO for service with 83 Squadron as Acting W/Co, the citation reads.. "This officer has completed a very large number
of sorties, including attacks on most of the enemy's strongly defended targets in Germany. He has proved himself to be a skilful and courageous captain whose
determination to attack his targets with accuracy has been a prominent feature throughout his long tour. He is a most inspiring leader and his achievements
have been worthy of the greatest praise."
Philip Harrington was confirmed as P/O on probation in the Reserve of Air Force Officers on 12th March 1934 and made P/O from P/O on probation on 12th
March 1935. He was then granted a short service commission in the RAF as Acting P/O on probation on 7th October 1935 and relinquished this commission in
the Reserve on the same date. Later in October 1935 he was posted to 6 FTS at Netheravon. On completion of this course he was awarded a Special Distinction.
He was then confirmed as P/O exactly a year later. He was made F/O on 7th September 1937 and then rose to F/Lt on 6th September 1939. He was later promoted
to S/Ldr (temp) on 1st September 1941 and W/Co (temp) on 1st July 1944. Post-War he remained in the Reserve of Air Force Officers until resigning his commission
on 22nd April 1949, retaining the rank of W/Co.
Herbert Lymna was born in the New Forest in 1920. He was awarded the DFM for service with 35 Squadron, Gazetted on 12th January 1943.
The citation reads.."F/Sgt Lymna has given evidence of steadfast skill and courage while flying as navigator on many sorties against enemy
targets. On one occasion, after a successful attack on Cologne, he displayed commendable coolness, when his aircraft was damaged by anti-aircraft
fire, and three members of the crew seriously wounded. After assisting the injured, he successfully navigated the damaged aircraft back to this country." He received a commission on 17th December 1942 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency)(51511) and was promoted to F/O on probation (war subs)
on 17th June 1943. He was posted to 7 Squadron for a second Tour, as Acting F/Lt he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 15th September 1944. He was later
promoted to F/Lt (war subs) on 17th December 1944. He was also awarded the DSO and the citation for which reads.."Acting S/Ldr Lymna has taken part in
more than ninety sorties against various enemy targets, most of them heavily defended. He has consistently displayed a high standard of gallantry, and
his strong sense of discipline and devotion to duty at all times have set a very fine example. In January 1945, S/Ldr Lymna was the bomb aimer in an
aircraft detailed to attack Munich. On the outward flight some of the navigational equipment became partially unserviceable. S/Ldr Lymna skilfully
effected repairs. When nearing the target the aircraft came under heavy anti-aircraft fire and was repeatedly hit. For the second time the same
equipment became unserviceable. Nevertheless, S/Ldr Lymna again effected repairs and was able to give his captain directions for an accurate bombing
run. His cool and skilful work contributed materially to the success of the sortie. This officer has rendered much loyal and devoted service in air
operations against the enemy." He almost certainly married twice and possibly three times; once in Abingdon in 1942 (possibly as a result of
being an RAF instructor in the area), again in London in 1949 and possibly again Kings Lynn, Norfolk in 1956. He died in the Wayland area of Norfolk in 1995.
Francis McQuade later received his commission on 31st July 1942 (49654) to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency), he transferred to the Admin and
Special Duties Branch on 8th July 1943 and was promoted to F/O on probation (war subs) on the same date. He survived the War but remained in the RAF before
finally relinquishing his commission on 22nd October 1957, retaining the rank of F/O.
Whitley P4956 was built to contract 75147/38 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 21st April 1940. It was taken
on charge by 10 Squadron at Dishforth in May 1940 as a replacement for Whitley K9026 with all Mk.IV's having been withdrawn from front line operational
squadrons in May 1940. On 17th/18th May 1940 it sustained Cat.M/FB damage when it was hit by flak on an operational flight to bomb oil storage depots
at Bremen and it was one of six 10 Squadron aircraft that was hit by flak that night. The aircraft was repaired on site and returned to 10 Squadron, it
moved with the squadron to Leeming on 8th July 1940. On 20th January 1941 the Air Britain history states it sustained damage. If this happened then minor
Cat.A/FA damage was probably the assessment and it would have been repaired on site and returned to the unit. It was then damaged by flak on 15th March
1941 but this damage is not recorded in the history of the aircraft. A large fire on the wing and fuselage followed by a belly landing at Bircham Newton
would suggest, at very least, a Cat.R assessment and a repair in works but this is purely a guess on my part. After repair it was transferred to 10 OTU at
Abingdon where, on 12th July 1942 it crashed sustaining Cat.E/FA damage when it overshot on landing at Kidlington after a cross-country training exercise having suffered a double
engine failure (usually the result of running out of fuel).