Whitley T4152 at Leeming airfield.
On the night of 14th / 15th September 1940 the crew of this 10 Squadron aircraft were tasked with an operational flight to cause maximum damage to barges and shipping in the Antwerp area
in support of the Battle of Britain defence. This aircraft took off from Leeming at 19.41hrs and attacked the primary target at around 22.00hrs from 7,500 feet making two attacks,
the crew returned to base but overshot their landing at Leeming at 00.50hrs and struck a pill-box at the end of the flare path slightly damaging the aircraft. All below excepting
the second pilot had survived a more serious accident at Leeming earlier in the month.
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 A S Shand RAF (630244).
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. I thank Mr Graham Sharpe for the photograph of Sgt Snell's gravestone.
Sgt Shand's correct identity was probably Alfred Shand, born in Camberwell, London in 1921.
On 18th September 1940 Sgt's Snell, Rowlett, 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.
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.
Frank Goddard received a commission on 5th May 1940 to the rank of P/O on probation. 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. He transferred to the Admin and Special Duties Branch on 19th August 1941. On 1st January 1943 he was promoted to F/Lt (temp) and survived the War. On 2nd December 1947 he relinquished his commission of F/Lt in the RAFVR on appointment to the R(Aux)AF Aircraft Control Branch and with the rank of F/O. He later transferred to the Fighter Control Branch and was promoted to F/Lt on 29th April 1951. He finally reliquished his commission on 2nd December 1957.
Whitley T4152 was built to contract 38599/39 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 13th August 1940. It was taken on charge by 10 Squadron at
Leeming the following month. Cat.M/FB damage was almost certainly as bad as the damage got on 15th September 1940 in the incident recorded above and it was repaired on site and
returned to the squadron. On 22th October 1940 Cat.W(m) damage was recored after it failed to return from Ops. to Stuttgart with its then crew of five being sadly killed.