Whitley P4958 damaged by flak, returned to Dishforth airfield.

On the night of 24th / 25th May 1940 the crew in this 10 Squadron aircraft was tasked with bombing road and rail communications in the Avesnes, La Capelle, Mons, Binche and Ruhr areas. This aircraft attacked the Target at Mons from 5000 feet at between 01.02hrs and 01.40hrs and the bombs were seen to exploded around the centre of the town. The crew reported very accurate light flak over the Mons area and the aircraft was hit by one burst which damaged the radio set and the air speed indicator. Two holes were also found in the aircraft's main spar and the starboard wing fuel tank was also holed. The pilot was able to return safely to land at Dishforth at 04.05hrs.

Pilot - F/O Victor Roberton Paterson RAFO (37478).

Second Pilot - P/O Donald Jeremiah RAF (40395).

Observer - Sgt Henry John Davis RAF (580766).

Wireless Operator - LAC William Ronald Armstrong RAF (551807).

Air Gunner - AC Wilfred Ronald Irving RAF (551632).

Donald Jeremiah received a short service commission as Acting P/O on probation on 9th January 1938 and was later graded as P/O on 25th October 1938. He was promoted to F/O on 25th July 1940. He was promoted to F/Lt (war subs) on 25th July 1941, Mentioned in Despatches on 24th September 1941 and promoted again to S/Ldr (temp) on 1st July 1943.
Victor Paterson was born in Glasgow in 1916 and was educated at Magdalen College, Oxford. He received a commission to the rank of Acting P/O on probation on 23rd December 1935, he was promoted to F/O on an unknown date and later to F/Lt on 28th June 1940, he was awarded the DFC while serving with 78 Squadron and Gazetted on 11th February 1941. He was promoted to S/Ldr (temp) on 1st September 1941. Having been posted to 101 Squadron by 21st September 1942 he was killed on that date flying Wellington X3815 on a mine laying flight when the aircraft was shot down by a night fighter. His body was recovered and is buried in Aabenraa Cemetery, Denmark. He was twenty six years old.
Henry Davis was flying Ops to Milan in mid August 1940 when the aircraft failed to return, he was taken prisoner of War. In September 1943 he managed to escape and evade capture and return to England. As Warrant Officer he died on 28th October 1944 but the reasons surrounding his death are not known. He was twenty six years old and was cremated at Canley Crematorium, Coventry. He was married to Barbara Davis of Braddan, Isle of Man.
William Armstrong was later posted to 76 Squadron and was awarded the DFM while serving with this squadron, Gazetted on 14th April 1942. He received a commission on 8th January 1945 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) (56986) and was promoted to F/O (war subs) on 8th July 1945.
Wildred Irving's wartime service is not known. Post-War he was appointed to a commisison in the RAFVR on 1st October 1953 for a period of fives years or the duration of his employment as a Civilian Flying Instructor. He relinquished his commission on 2nd May 1959.
Whitley P4958 was built to contract 75147/38 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 22nd April 1940. It was delivered to 10 Squadron at Dishforth in the days that followed. Cat.M/FB damage was recorded after the flak incident detailed above and it was repaired on site and returned to its unit. On the night of 8th/9th July 1940 before taking off it was planned that on their return crews were land at 10 Squadron's new home of Leeming, on this night it sustained Cat.M(c)/FB damage on Ops to Evere Airfield when it was hit by flak over Eckernforde, injuring the pilot, S/Ldr Whitworth in the face. The second pilot is believed to have taken over and returned safely to land at their new base of Leeming. After a lengthy repair on site at Leeming it was eventually transferred to 78 Squadron which were also operating out of Dishforth. On the night of 2nd December 1940, when operating out of Linton on Ouse, it crashed on take off and caught fire. Cat.W/Burnt damage was recorded and it was deemed beyond repair. The crew on this occasion were all injured. (Both these other incidents are detailed on this website).

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