Whitley P5005 at Topcliffe airfield.
On 28th December 1940 this aircraft was parked at Topcliffe airfield when it was struck by Whitley T4293. As can be seen in the photographs shown the aircraft
sustained serious damage to the tail end.
Crew - None.
The aircraft serial number is visible when the photograph is blown up and shows the aircraft to be P5005. This was Leonard Cheshire aircraft it
was the aircraft flown by him for which his actions resulted in the DSO being awarded to him (detailed in the November 1940 section to this website).
Whitley P5005 was built to contract 75147/38 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd, at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 21st May 1940 and after a short
period of MU storage it was taken on charge by 102 Squadron at Driffield in July 1940. The aircraft moved with the unit to Leeming on 25th August 1940,
Prestwick on1st September 1940 and to Linton on Ouse on 10th October 1940. It sustained Cat.M/FB damage following action on 12th/13th November 1940 and
was repaired on site at Linton on Ouse by a team from A.W. Ltd, and returned to unit before the end of the month. It then sustained damage in a collision
at Topcliffe on 28th December 1940 and following this collission Cat.R/GA damage was recorded and it was transported after Christmas to A.W. Ltd, at
Baginton for repair. Following repair it was issued to 78 Squadron at Middleton St.George but later in the year transferred to 19 OTU at Kinloss. On
15th June 1942 Cat.E2/FA was recorded when it flew into Burgie Hill, Morayshire during a descent through cloud, sadly two of the five crew were killed.