Whitley P5011 at Dishforth airfield.
On 3rd September 1940 this 51 Squadron aircraft failed to get airborne at 21.10hrs when the crew were setting out for a night flying training flight.
The aircraft ground looped and ran through the perimeter fence before loosing it's tail plane after crossing the A1 road. The pilot had attempted to take off with an airscrew, or both set in course pitch. The aircraft sustained damage deemed enough for it to be written off.
Whitley P5011 was built to contract 75147/38 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 27th May 1940. It was taken
on charge by 51 Squadron at Dishforth the following month. On 3rd September 1940 Cat.W damage was recorded following assessment and is was written off. The photograph shown above shows the crash site at Dishforth.
Pilot - Sgt John Purdie Wilson RAFVR (741867).
? - Sgt John Eric Tilston RAFVR (740699). Injured by barbed wire.
? - Sgt Norman Henry Atkins RAF (580890).
? - Sgt Harold Gregson RAF (620436). Slightly injured.
F/Sgt Wilson was still a pilot with 51 Squadron on 26th April 1941 when Whitley Z6482 crashed into the North Sea with the loss of the five crew.
He was twenty four years old and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
John Tilston received a commission to P/O on probation (emergency) on 29th January 1942. He spent his whole working life in RAF service,
relinquishing his Commission on 1st February 1975 but retaining his rank of W/Co. A remarkable period of service which this brief account can only highlight.
Sgt Harold Gregson was awarded the DFM for service with 51 Squadron, Gazetted on 22nd November 1940. He later received a commission to the rank
of P/O on probation (emergency) on 22nd July 1943 and was later confirmed in his appointment and promoted to F/O (war subs) on 22nd January 1944 and F/Lt
(war subs) on 22nd July 1945.
Norman Atkins later received a commission and was awarded the DFC for service with 138 Squadron.