Whitley P4993 damaged by flak, returned to Leeming airfield.

On the night of 11th / 12th August 1940 this aircraft was of a number of 10 Squadron aircraft detailed to bomb Gelsenkirchen, the aircraft took off from Leeming at 20.30hrs and was hit by flak in the starboard wing while over the target. The pilot was able to return to Leeming and land safely at 04.35hrs. On this night 10 Squadron were dropping incendiary bombs, known as "razzles". This type of incendiary was a made from pills of phospherous covered in gauze and placed between pieces of celluloid, while in the aircraft they were carried in containers topped up with water. When released down the flare chute they had a habit of lodging themselves in the tail plane of the Whitley and in the rudder hinges of the aircraft but did not catch fire immediately as they were wet. The aircraft landed safely at Leeming but when the incendiary bombs dried out they ignited. In the case of this Whitley any damage is believed to have just been down to flak, however at four 10 Squadron aircraft on this raid were hit by flak and of the eight aircraft being used, six sustained damage by the incendiaries catching fire on landing. The identities of some of these aircraft are not yet known and it could be that Whitley was also one of these unidentified aircraft and was further damaged after landing.

Pilot - F/Lt Gordon Learmouth Raphael DFC MiD RAF (37508).

Second Pilot - Sgt Dennis Raymond Wright RAF (741930).

Observer - Sgt John James Caswell RAF (581374).

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Bert Llewellyn Henry RAF (551737).

Air Gunner - LAC Arthur Cowie RAF (620467).

Whitley P4993 was flying Ops to Le Havre on 14th October 1940 when it struck a barrage balloon cable near Weybridge, Surrey and crashed with the loss of the crew. On board were Sgt's Wright, Henry and Caswell.

Bert Henry was nineteen years old and is buried in Harton Cemetery, South Shields, Durham.

Dennis Wright was twenty years old and is buried in Ilkeston Cemetery, Derbyshire.

John Caswell was buried in Birkdale Cemetery, Southport, Lancashire but CWGC do not list his age.

Gordon Raphael was born in Brantford, Ontario, Canada in August 1915. He enlisted into the RAF Reserve in September 1935 having attended the College of Aeronautical Engineers in Chelsea in 1934. He was granted a commission on 20th January 1936 and served with 7 Squadron later in 1936, 78 Squadron in 1937 before a posting to 77 Squadron before War was declared. He flew with 77 Squadron until 19th May 1940 when he was injured while flying Whitley N1388 on Ops to Hannover. His aircraft was attacked by an Me110 and he sustained injuries to both feet. The aircraft was also damaged in both engines and the hydraulics were put out of action, he was forced to ditch the aircraft in the North Sea and he and his crew were picked up by a destroyer to be taken into Yarmouth. He was admitted to hospital and when he recovered he was posted to 10 Squadron on 16th July 1940 to around 23rd September 1940. He was later posted to 85 Squadron in 1941 until 1943 and later rose through the ranks to command Castle Camps and Manston airfields. He was granted a commission to Acting P/O on probation on 20th January 1936 and was graded as P/O on 16th December 1936, rising to F/O on an unknown date, then to F/Lt on 16th June 1940, S/Ldr (temporary) on 1st September 1941, S/Ldr (war subs) 27th August 1942, W/Co on 1st July 1943 and to G/Capt on an unknown date but almost certainly of an Acting nature. He was a well decorated airman, he was first Mentioned in Despatches with 77 Squadron, Gazetted on 20th February 1940. He was then awarded the DFC with 77 Squadron, Gazetted on 17th May 1940. There was no citation as such but Hugh Halliday's research into Canadian Airforce awards has located the recommendation which reads.."As captain of a Whitley aircraft engaged on a Nickel flight to Warsaw on the night of 15/16 March 1940, this officer carried out his task with a precision and exactness that has marked all his operational flights. His teamwork in the air, his meticulous planning before a flight, his ability as a pilot and navigator and his complete knowledge of his equipment makes all his flights appear simple and uneventful. The flight to Warsaw, in spite of an increase in wind speed when going to the target and dense clouds on the return journey, was completed with a deviation from schedule which can be accounted for almost to a minute by the increased wind speed. Throughout the period of the present hostilities this officer has shown skill, daring and initiative on all his flights. Previous flights include a Nickel raid on Posen, as well as several security patrols, reconnaissance and Nickel raids on other German towns." He was then awarded the Bar to the DFC with 85 Squadron, Gazetted on 15th July 1941 as a night-fighter pilot, the citation reads.. "this officer has proved himself to be a relentless and skilful night fighter pilot. Since May 1941 he has destroyed three and probably another of the enemy's aircraft."

He was later awarded the DSO with 85 Squadron, Gazetted on 2nd February 1943, the citation reads.. "Since being awarded the Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross, Wing Commander Raphael has destroyed three enemy aircraft at night. By his inspiring leadership, great skill and untiring efforts he has contributed in a large measure to the high morale and operational efficiency of the squadron he commands." He is also believed to have been awarded a second Bar to the DFC but the date for this is not yet known. He was Mentioned in Despatches with a huge number of airmen on 1st January 1945. On 10th April 1945 he was flying a Spitfire ML232 which collided with Curtis Commando 44-77604 over Woodchurch, Kent and was killed. He is buried in the Cudham Churchyard, Orpingham, Kent. An outstanding leader and pilot, he was twenty eight years old.

Arthur Cowie was later awarded the DFM for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 9th May 1941. He received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 17th May 1941 and was promoted to F/O (war subs) on 17th May 1942. He was later posted to 199 Squadron and was the Squadron Gunnery Leader by 13th February 1943 when he was killed on Ops to Lorient in Wellington X3870 which crashed in the target area. He was twenty five years old and is buried in Guidel Communal Cemetery, Mornihan, France. His rank on the CWGC is F/Lt so it is assumed that he was in the rank of Acting F/Lt when he died and the rank was granted in death.

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