Whitley P5055 damaged by flak, returned to Leeming airfield.

On the night of 24th / 25th September 1940 the crew of this 10 Squadron aircraft were tasked with bombing Finkenheerd with the secondary target of Berlin being briefed to crews before take off. This aircraft took off at 19.00hrs but developed engine trouble over Berlin and lost height immediately, the captain instructed his crew to bomb the most convenient target available and the whole of the bomb load was dropped onto what was believed to have been a dual carriageway road in the centre of Berlin. The aircraft was struck by flak over the target and the pilot was able to make a safe return to land at West Raynham airfield at 04.25hrs before making a return to base later the in the morning. As such this incident should perhaps not be included in this list which I have given myself a rule that only battle damaged aircraft returning to Yorkshire airfields be included, however it is doubtful that the damage was repaired at West Raynham so I have included it here until more information is found to confirm it otherwise.

Pilot - P/O James Henry Steyn (42275), of Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa.

Second Pilot - Sgt Alfred Charles Hoare RAFVR (745891).

Observer - P/O Joseph Neville Forrest RAFVR (77913).

Wireless Operator - Sgt Anthony Futcher Elcoate RAF (628437).

Air Gunner - P/O Harry James Heal RAF (41583).

James Steyn received a commission, to the rank of Acting P/O on probation, on 24th June 1939, he was graded as P/O on probation on 9th December 1939 and confirmed as P/O on 1st May 1940. He then rose to F/O on 9th December 1940. He was awarded the DFC for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 17th January 1941, after he completed forty four operational flights. No citation for his DFC has yet been located. After completing a Tour he was posted to instruct at 19 OTU at Kinloss. On 13th April 1941 he was the pilot of Anson N9857 undertaking a training flight with a number of trainees. The aircraft crashed in a very remote area on on Meall nan Caorach, Ben More Assynt, Scotland with the loss of the crew of six. Because of it's remoteness all six were buried on the site and their grave is marked by a cairn and cross. I located this crash site in Summer 2009 and detail this loss on this webpage.
Anthony Elcoate was born in the Romford area of Essex in 1921. He was awarded the DFM for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 18th April 1941. He was posted to 156 Squadron in 1942 and was later awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, Gazetted on 20th April 1943 jointly with W/O Harry Taylor. He received his commission to P/O on 3rd December 1943. Their 156 Squadron pilot, S/Ldr Womersley, was awarded the DSO in January 1943, the DFC in April 1943 and the Bar to the DFC in 1945. He was clearly part of a very experienced crew.
Harry Heal received a commission on 14th January 1939 to the rank of Acting P/O on probation. He was graded as P/O on probation on 31st October 1939 and confirmed in his appointment as P/O on the same date but announced afew weeks later and backdated. He was promoted to F/O on 31st October 1940. F/O Heal was awarded the DFC for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 18th July 1941 and was later promoted to F/Lt (war subs) on 31st October 1941. The would later transfer to the RAFO probably under the terms of his commssion. As Acting S/Ldr he was awarded the Bar to the DFC for service with 635 PFF Squadron, Gazetted on 23rd March 1945, the citation for this reads.."This officer has completed numerous sorties and has now finished his second tour of operational duty. He has successfully participated in attacks against many heavily defended targets and he has always shown the utmost courage in the face of danger. Both in the air and on the ground, S/Ldr Heal has continued to maintain a high standard of skill, determination and devotion to duty." He was promoted to S/Ldr (war subs) on 2nd April 1945. He remained in the RAF post-War and finally retired after a remarkable period of service, retaining the rank of W/Co on 22nd September 1964.
Alfred Hoare was still serving with 10 Squadron on 2nd March 1941 when he was flying in Whitley T4265 which was lost on Ops to Cologne. Alfred Hoare is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial but the CWGC lists not personal information for him. Further research on the internet suggests he was from Cardiff. Also in his aircraft was one P/O A A Florigny who was also lost. By a serious twist of fate for his parents P/O Florigny's brother S/Ldr C E E Florigny was a serving pilot with 102 Squadron at the time and was flying Whitley T4261 on the same raid when his aircraft ditched off Cromer, S/Ldr Florigny was also lost and both brothers are also commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Joseph Forrest received a commission as P/O on probation on 10th March 1940. For service with 10 Squadron he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 9th May 1941 although no citation has been located at the time of creating this webpage. He was confirmed in his rank and promoted to F/O (war subs) on 10th March 1941 and then rose to F/Lt (war subs) on 10th March 1942. As Acting S/Ldr and for service with 83 Squadron he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, Gazetted on 14th May 1943, the citation reads.. "Since the award of the D.F.C. in May 1941, this officer has completed numerous sorties. On one occasion, whilst over the objective, the bomb compartment and its contents caught fire. Although his aircraft was, as a consequence, most accurately engaged by the ground defences, the sortie was successfully completed."

S/Ldr Forrest DSC DFC was flying in 97 Squadron Lancaster ED950 on 23rd August 1943 when it failed to return from Ops to Berlin, he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. He was thirty six years old and is remembered on the Godalming War Memorial.

Whitley P5055 was built to contract 75147/38 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 18th June 1940. It was allotted to 6 MU on 19th June 1940 and was received by them on 28th June 1940. The aircraft was taken on charge by 10 Squadron at Leeming on 18th August 1940. It replaced Whitley P4955 lost on Ops to Jena on 17th August 1940 and P5055 was to be allotted the same squadron code. On the night of 20th / 21st September 1940 it was slightly flak damaged on Ops, it was quickly repaired. On 25th September 1940 it was flak damaged again, Cat.M/FB recorded after this second incident. Again it was repaired on site and returned to 10 Squadron. On 28th June 1941 it failed to return from Ops to Bremen and it's crew of five were killed. Cat.W(m) damage was recorded.

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