Whitley P5073 near Alne.
On 24th October 1940 the crew of this 102 Squadron aircraft had just taken off from Tholthorpe for an operational flight to bomb Berlin at 22.00hrs
when they were attacked by an enemy aircraft at 1400ft whilst still in the airfield's circuit. The enemy aircraft
was piloted by Fw Hans Hahn, serving with 3/NJG2. The German had used a parachute flare to light up the landing
ground at Tholthorpe from where the Whitley had taken off and his gun fire had set alight part of the Whitley.
The Whitley pilot saw the tracer fire from the Luftwaffe aircraft and then saw a fire begin from underneath the aircraft.
He was attempting to make a forced landing with no lights on when the aircraft struck a tree and crashed at 22.10hrs, the fire
immediately spread. The location and description given in the AIR81 casualty file state that the aircraft crashed just west of the main Thirsk to York railway line just north of Alne. After the crash the pilot used his hands to put out the fire which had taken hold in his wireless operator's hair, he also attempted to free the rear gunner but
because of the intense heat he was forced to give up the rescue attempt when the bomb load began to explode. Both pilot and wireless operator
then took shelter on the railway embankment. The rear gunner then managed to free himself and despite his injuries was able
to make his way to the railway embankment to shelter. Sadly the other two crew were killed in the incident. An Army unit stationed nearby
arrived at the crash scene and treated the three surviving airmen for their injuries before being taken to York Military Hospital.
The aircraft's wireless operator and rear gunner were so seriously injured that both died on 2nd November 1940 in York Military Hospital.
Pilot - F/O Anthony Glyndwr Davies RAF (40806). Burn injuries.
Second Pilot - P/O Thomas Russell Murfitt RAF (42759), aged 24, of Auckland, New Zealand. Buried Newton on Ouse Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Observer - Sgt Ian Cowie Scoular RNZAF (391870), aged 25, of Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. Buried Newton on Ouse Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Angus Stewart Wilson RAF (624190). Seriously injured. Died of injuries on 2nd November 1940. Buried Stane Cemetery, Lanarkshire.
Air Gunner - P/O Terence Edward Lee RAF (43162), aged ? Died of injuries on 2nd November 1940. Buried Trusthorpe Churchyard, Lincolnshire.
Sgt Scoular (photo via Jim Rutland) and his gravestone.
P/O Murfitt (photo via Jim Rutland) and his gravestone. He received a commission to the rank of Acting P/O on probation on 9th October 1939.
He was graded as P/O on probation on 4th May 1940 and later to P/O on 8th August 1940. He had only just been married with his wife living in Harlesden, London.
Angus Wilson's grave in Stane Cemetery. He died in Fulford Military Hospital on the southern side of York.
Terence Lee received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 7th April 1940.
Anthony Davies was born on 26th May 1940 at Takeley, Essex but his father was living in Chelmsford, Essex at the time of the incident in October 1940. He received a commission to
the rank of P/O probably in late 1930 or early 1940. He rose to F/O on 3rd September 1940 and exactly a year later to F/Lt (war subs). He transferred to the Reserve
on 4th April 1942 and later to the Reserve of Air Force Officers in 1943. Having survived the War he remained in the RAF Reserve of Officers until relinquishing
his commission of F/Lt on 1st August 1955.
The pilot credited with shooting down Whitley P5073 was Fw. Hans Hahn. This was the first allied aircraft of his twelve "night-intruder" victories he was
credited with shooting down. On 13th March 1941 he shot down Blenheim near Church Fenton. His last was 12 FTS's Oxford AB767 near Grantham on 11th October
1941. His Ju88 collided with the Oxford and the crews of both aircraft lost their lives. Fw Hahn was undoubtably a fine pilot and very successful in the
role he was given operating at night near UK airfields. He is buried with many of his countrymen at Cannock Chase Cemetery, Staffordshire. He was born in
February 1919.
Whitley P5073 was built to contract 75147/38 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd, at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 21st June 1940.
After a period of MU storage it was taken on charge by 102 Squadron at Leeming in August 1940. On 1st September 1940 it moved with the
unit to Prestwick and returned to Yorkshire on 10th October 1940 when the unit moved into Linton on Ouse. On 24th October 1940
Cat.W/FB Burnt damage was recorded following the incident recorded above.