Whitley T4130 force landed at an unknown location, possibly in Yorkshire.
On the night of 24th / 25th September 1940 the crew of this 10 Squadron aircraft were tasked with an operational flight, Finkernheerd being the primary target and Berlin being the secondary target. Upon studying
the 10 Squadron ORB it would appear that crews were either briefed to land at West Raynham airfield on return to England before taking off or through a radio message as they returned, many
of 10 Squadron's aircraft made landings here on this night. This aircraft took off from base at 19.11hrs but could not locate the primary target so attacked a railway junction at
"Sebtow". On return to England this crew were refused permission to land at West Raynham. Why this was is not yet known. From here where the crew headed is open to speculation, it is
likely that the crew possibly opted to try and head for base. Where-ever they headed the aircraft ran out of fuel before an airfield could be found so the pilot made a successful
forced landing in a ploughed field. The aircraft was re-fuelled but as it was being taxied across the field it struck a plough and the starboard elevator was damaged. A repair
party was despatched from Leeming and the damage was repaired on site and it was flown out and returned to base. I speculate that the landing in the field was nearer to Leeming
than West Raynham because despatching a team from Leeming so far south would seem strange. As such no information has been found as to where this landing was made but this could
be the Whitley which is known to have landed on Emley Moor, between Leeds and Sheffield on an unknown date after it ran out of fuel.
Pilot - Sgt Victor Snell RAFVR (745231).
Second Pilot - Sgt John Eustace Rowlett RAFVR (741334).
Observer - P/O Frank Reginald Goddard RAFVR (78990).
Wireless Operator - Sgt Robert Edward Nicholson RAF (611204).
Air Gunner - Sgt Alaxander Strachan Shand RAF (630244).
Whitley T4130 was built to contract 38599/39 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 30th July 1940. It was delivered to 10 Squadron
at Leeming on the same day and sustained Cat.M damage in the incident recorded above. It was repaired on site and was back with 10 Squadron before the end of the month.
On 1st October 1940 to failed to return from Ops to Berlin, with Cat.W(m) damage being recorded. The aircraft was shot down near Badbergen with Sgt Snell being killed
and Sgt's Shand and Nicholson were taken prisoner of war.
On 18th September 1940 Sgt's Snell, Nicholson and Shand were in Whitley P4957 which landed at the dummy airfield at Cold Kirby on the North Yorkshire Moors on
return from Ops and the aircraft sustained damage, the incident is recorded on this website. Sgt Nicholson was awarded the DFM for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted
on 26th August 1941 but effective from 29th September 1940 (only days after the incident at Leeming recorded above and possibly an "immediate" DFM though as he was
made a PoW there was probably no need to make the award of it too hurried). On the night of 30th September / 1st October 1940 Sgt Snell, Sgt Shand and Sgt Nicholson
were flying in Whitley T4130 on Ops to Berlin when the aircraft was shot down over Germany. Sgt Snell was killed and Sgt's Shand and Nicholson were taken prisoner of war.
Victor Snell was twenty six years old, he is buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
Frank Goddard received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 5th May 1940. He survived the crash of Whitley T4232 in South Wales on 13th November 1940 and
was later promoted to F/O (war subs) on 5th May 1941 but transferred to the Admin and Special Duties
Branch on 19th August 1941, he later was promoted to F/Lt (war subs) on 1st January 1943. He survived the War and remained in the RAF and worked in the Aircraft Control
and Fighter Control Branches until 2nd December 1949 when he reliquished his commission and was appointed to the newly reconstituted R(Aux)AF. He finally resigned his
commission and left the Auxillary airforce on 2nd December 1957.
John Rowlett was probably born in the Birmingham area of the country in 1914. He learned to fly at the civilian Cambridge Aero Club and gained his Royal Aviators
Certificate (Cert.No.18857) on 26th June 1939. He was killed on 16th January 1941 flying with 10 Squadron on Ops to Wilhelmshaven in Whitley T4220 and was lost without
trace. Sgt Rowlett is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial and was twenty seven years old. He is also commemorated on the Ombersley War Memorial in Worcestershire.