Whitley P4981 at Dishforth airfield.
During the night of 8th September 1940 this 51 Squadron aircraft stalled just above ground level while coming into land at Dishforth airfield following a training flight that involved practicing landings. The aircraft dropped onto the airfield surface and was slightly damaged.
Pilot - Sgt Arthur Roland Carvell RAFVR (742302).
Sgt Carvell later became a POW after posting to 226 Squadron when Blenheim V6085 crashed near Melville, France on 2nd July
1941 on Ops to bomb a power station at Lille. His two crew died. It is highly possible that he remained in the RAFVR until 1959
when he finally relinquished his commission of F/O.
Whitley P4981 was built to contract 75147/38 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd at Baginton and was
awaiting collection on 3rd May 1940. It was taken on charge by 51 Squadron at Dishforth a few
days later when the unit began re-equipping from Mk.IV whitley's to Mk.V's. On 8th September 1940
it sustained this damage at Dishforth and Cat.M/FA damage was recorded. It was repaired on site
and returned to unit. On 12th February 1941 Cat.W/FB damage was sustained on return from ops to
Bremen when the crew had been diverted to Drem, Scotland due to bad weather over Yorkshire.
The aircraft was still over Yorkshire and well off course when it ran out of fuel, being
abandoned at a last known position over Grimethorpe, nine miles south-east of Wakefield. The crew
survived but the precise crash location is not yet known.