Whitley P4964 damaged in the air, returned to Dishforth airfield.
During the early hours of 18th September 1940 this 78 Squadron aircraft was flown on an early morning operational flight to bomb the docks and railway sidings at Ostende and took off from Dishforth at 01.50hrs. The crew released the bomb load at 03.46hrs from 2,000 feet but a flak burst close to the aircraft caused damage and injured his thumb by a flak splinter. Despite minor damage to the aircraft the pilot was able to make the return to land safely at their Dishforth base at 04.20hrs.
Pilot - Sgt Anthony Stewart Reginald Edmund Ennis RAFVR (740735).
Pilot - P/O William George Charles Gasguoine RAF (43703).
Observer - Sgt Alexander Roy Edgar RAF (581279).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Robert Graham RAF (627958). Injured.
Air Gunner - Sgt Philip Hall Richmond RAF (639639).
Anthony Ennis was born in Canterbury, Kent. He received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 2nd August 1941 and had been posted to
158 Squadron by May 1942 and was awarded the DFC for service with them. Gazetted on 19th May 1942 the citation was a joint one with his rear gunner,
P/O A H Hanson, it reads.. "One night in May 1942, F/Lt Ennis and P/O Hanson, as pilot and rear gunner respectively of an aircraft, were detailed to
carry out a low level attack on Warnemunde. The target was heavily defended both with searchlights and anti-aircraft fire, which made a low-level
attack very hazardous. F/Lt Ennis displaying great courage, flew the aircraft at a very low level, but found that he could not penetrate the heavy
defences. In all, three attempts were made, before the target was reached and attacked successfully. Throughout this time P/O Hanson continued firing
at the searchlights and other defences and destroyed at least two searchlights. The skill and courage displayed by him contributed largely to the safe
return of the aircraft." Anthony Ennis was appointed to A-Flight Commander of 158 Squadron on 16th June 1942 having been promoted to the rank of F/O
(war subs) on 18th May 1942, F/O (prob) on 2nd August 1942 and F/Lt (war subs) on 15th August 1942. As Acting S/Ldr he was awarded the DSO for
service with 158 Squadron, Gazetted on 6th November 1942, the citation reads.. "This officer has completed many operational sorties. There are
very few targets in Germany which have not suffered as a result of his remarkable spirit of determination to achieve his objective. In February
1941 he was employed on a special mission to Malta which he accomplished with complete success, and in May 1942, he was awarded the DFC." He was
later posted to 99 Squadron and was their Commanding Officer from 15th March 1944 to 24th May 1944. On 17th June 1944 he died while the unit was
serving in India. Buried in Imphal War Cemetery, India he was twenty six years old.
Whitley P4964 was built to contract 75147/38 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 28th April 1940. It was
delivered to 10 Squadron based at Dishforth on 29th April 1940. Following a minor accident at Dishforth in May 1940 Cat.M(C)/FA damage was
recorded and it was repaired on site but was later transferred to 78 Squadron at Dishforth on 15th July 1940 when the unit moved in from
Linton on Ouse on that date. On 18th September 1940 Cat.M/FB damage was sustained (as detailed above). It was again repaired and returned
to it's unit but on 2nd October 1940 it failed to return from bombing oil installations at Sterkrade and crashed at near Hessenweg, Holland
with its crew of five being killed.
