Whitley P4958 damaged by flak, landed at Leeming airfield.

On the night of 8th / 9th July 1940 the crew of this 10 Squadron aircraft were undertaking an operational flight. The primary target for this night was the Howaldtswerke shipbuilding yard in Kiel, with a railway junction near Neumunster and as a "last resort" to bomb the Norderney aerodrome and seaplane base (The target was not the Evere aerodrome as previous stated on this webpage). On their return to Yorkshire instead of landing back at Dishforth from where they had taken off 10 Squadron crews are believed to have been instructed to land at Leeming where 10 Squadron were about to move to. The aircraft was hit by flak over Eckernforde, injuring the pilot in the face and damaging the aircraft. The rudder control was severed, the fixed aerial destroyed and the IFF set was hit and the self destruct device detonated. The second pilot is believed to have taken over and returned safely to land at Leeming.

Pilot - S/Ldr John Nicholas Haworth Whitworth DFC RAF (26249). Injured.

Second Pilot - Sgt Harold Herbert George Howard RAF (566734), of Lydiard Millicent, Wiltshire.

Observer - Sgt Robert Norman Lown RAF (580550).

Wireless Operator - Sgt Joseph William Stephenson RAF (550132), of Hebburn, Co.Durham.

Air Gunner - Sgt Hughie William Carter RAF (628721).

John Whitworth was born in January 1912, he trained at Cranwell and was appointed to a permanent commission in he RAF as P/O on 19th December 1931 rising to F/O on 19th June 1933, F/Lt on 19th June 1936 and S/Ldr on 1st February 1939. Having flown with 99 Squadron, 70 Squadron before a posting to 10 Squadron in 1939. He later was Commanding Officer with 78 Squadron, 35 Squadron and in 1943 of RAF Scampton (when 617 Squadron was formed). Having survived the War he was posted around the world and his final position was AOC of the RAF base in Hong Kong. His wartime promotions are as follows, he was made (temp) W/C on 1st March 1941, Acting A/Cdre in September 1943, (temp) G/C on 1st July 1944, W/C on 1st October 1946, G/C on 1st July 1950, Acting A/Cdre on 4th July 1955 and A/Cdre on 1st January 1957. He was awarded the DFC on 17th May 1940 "for gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of air operations" then the Bar to the DFC on 22nd November 1940, again "for gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of air operations".

He was also awared the DSO on 18th April 1941 again "for gallantry and devotion to duty displayed in the execution of air operations." He was Mentioned in Despatches on 24th September 1941. Postwar he was granted the CB on 11th June 1960, he retired from the RAF in July 1964 and died in November 1974.

Sgt's Howard, Carter and Stephenson were killed on 27th August 1940 on Ops to attack Milan in Whitley P4990, their aircraft was shot down over Italy. Sgt Howard was twenty four years old, Sgt Stephenson and Sgt Carter were both twenty two, they are buried in Milan War Cemetery, Italy.

Hughie Carter's father was Lt Hugh Harry Carter, he was died on 8th October 1918 while serving in the Royal East Kent Regiment (The Buffs) and is buried in High Tree Cemetery, Montbrehain, Aisne, France. His father was Regt.Sgt.Major William Carter of the East Kent Regiment.

Robert Lown was granted a commission in the RAF on 15th December 1941 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) (47877). He was promoted to F/O on probation (war subs) on 1st October 1942 and F/Lt (war subs) on 15th December 1943. He was Mentioned in Despatches on 1st January 1943. Post-War he remained in the RAF and was granted a substantive rank of F/Lt on 1st November 1947. He may well be still living as a Google search on his name gives numerous hits for someone with the same name and as a result I do not wish to add further details on a known living individual without asking his permission first.
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 a flak incident in May 1940 and after returning to its base of Dishforth it was repaired on site and returned to its unit. On the night of 8th/9th July 1940 it sustained the Cat.M(c)/FB damage detailed above and after a lengthy repair on site at Leeming it was eventually transferred to 78 Squadron who were operating out of Dishforth by that date. 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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