Whitley T4200 at Topcliffe airfield.
On 29th October 1940 this 77 Squadron aircraft was making a landing at Topcliffe airfield on return from an operational flight to Bremen. On the approach to land the undercarriage was lowered but the light indicators showing the legs had locked into place showed only one leg was correctly down. The pilot raised the undercarriage and made a wheels up landing at Topcliffe at 01.25hrs.
Pilot - P/O Antony Charles Letteblere Akroyd-Stuart RAF (72476).
Second Pilot - P/O Douglas Robert Bagnall RAF (43021).
Observer - Sgt A Bocking RAFVR (741713).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Albert Edward Hammond RAF (535641).
Air Gunner - Sgt Scott.
Whitley T4200 was built to contract 38599/39 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd, at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 30th August 1940. It was taken
on charge by 77 Squadron at Linton on Ouse in early September 1940 and moved to Topcliffe with this unit on 5th October 1940. On 29th October 1940
Cat.M/FB damage was recorded following this landing at Topcliffe. It is believed to have been repaired on site but it is further recorded as being Cat/R
on 17th November 1940 and after which it was sent away for repair in work in November 1940. On completion
of repair it was taken on charge by 10 OTU at Abingdon on an as yet unknown date in 1941. On 24th October 1942 it was taken on charge by 42 OTU
at Ashbourne when the unit started operating Whitley's. Here it remained until the unit disbanded on 20th March 1945 and it was flown to MU storage
for disposal on an unknown date and struck off charge on 31st May 1945.