Whitley T4212 struck by lightning, landed at Topcliffe airfield.
On the night of 14th / 15th November 1940 this 77 Squadron aircraft took off from Topcliffe at 17.10hrs to undertake an operational flight to bomb Berlin, the
crew released their bomb load on two runs and made for home. On the return flight the aircraft was struck by lightning which knocked out the radio
transmitter and possibly damaged some of the other internal equipment. They landed safely at Topcliffe at 02.35hrs and the damage was immediately repaired.
Pilot - P/O Hayden Hugh James Miller RAF (43041), of Morrinsville, New Zealand.
Second Pilot - P/O Robert George Barrell RAFVR (78524).
Observer - Sgt Fred Corlett RAFVR (745931), of Loch Promenade, Douglas, Isle of Man.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Hurlston (possibly Sgt Alfred John Hurlston (363077)).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Bingham.
Whitley T4212 was built to contract 38599/39 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd, at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 10th September 1940. It was taken on charge by
77 Squadron at Toplciffe later the same month. It was struck by lightning on Ops on 14th / 15th November 1940 damaging the radio transmitter but a safe landing was
made at base. Any damage was repaired immediately as it was next flown operationally on 17th November 1940 when, return to Topcliffe airfield the then pilot made a
heavy landing which resulted in the undercarriage collapsing. 77 Squadron's ORB however does not list any damage to this aircraft on this night but it was not flown
operationally again that month which would possibly suggest it had indeed been damaged. After repair it continued to serve with 77 Squadron until 31st July 1941 when
it was written off with Cat.W damage recorded and it stalled on take from Topcliffe for an operational flight to Boulogne and crashed but the then crew of five survived.
This incident is also detailed on this website.
Fred Corlett was awarded the DFM for servive with 77 Squadron, Gazetted on 17th January 1941. He was killed flying in Anson N5070 with 10 OTU on 27th July 1941, the
aircraft crashed near Westbury, Wiltshire with the loss of all five airmen on board. He is buried at Kirk Maughold, St Maughold Churchyard, on his native Isle of Man.
Little is known about Sgt Hurlston, if he was indeed Sgt Alfred John Hurlston then soon after this incident he was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
in the RAF so I assume that he joined the RAF as a boy at the very bottom. He received his commission to the rank of Acting P/O on probation (45920) on 13th June 1941
(with seniority of 6th May 1941). He was confirmed in the rank of P/O on probation on 4th July 1941, promoted to F/O (war subs) on 4th July 1942 (with seniority of 28th
May 1942) and later promoted to F/Lt on 1st January 1944. He remained in the RAF after war and transferred to the Technical Branch until retiring on 26th September 1956.
Robert Barrell was awarded the DFC for service with 77 Squadron, Gazetted on 6th June 1941. He was later awarded the Bar to the DFC, Gazetted on 12th March 1943 for
service with 7 Squadron and also the DSO for service with 7 Squadron, Gazetted on 11th June 1943. He was killed on 25th June 1943 flying with 7 Squadron in Lancaster
ED595 which was shot down by a night-fighter over Holland. He is buried at Bergen-Op-Zoom War Cemetery, and was still only twenty three years old.
P/O Miller survived a serious flying accident on return from Ops to Berlin on 15th December 1940 when Whitley T4138 crashed on Arden Great Moor, North York Moors.
This incident is detailed on this website and on that page I show P/O Miller's full biog. Hayden Hugh Miller was born in Eureka, New Zealand on 31st March 1914 and
joined the RAF on 29th August 1939. He was awarded the DFC for service with 77 Squadron, Gazetted in June 1941. When he retired from the RNZAF in March 1969 Wing
Commander Hayden Hugh James, OBE, DFC, AFC, MiD(x4) was probably one of the most decorated airmen in New Zealand's history.