Whitley T4274 at Yeadon airfield.
Just prior to 25th December 1940 this 502 Squadron aircraft had been flown to Yeadon airfield from the squadron's regular base in Northern Ireland so that factory personnel at Yeadon could fits auto-pilot controls. With this work complete on 25th December 1940 a regular 502 Squadron pilot was giving the aircraft a test flight, on landing at Yeadon at 12.30hrs, it failed stop on a downward sloping muddy runway in the distance available in close to no wind to assist stopping. The aircraft over ran the landing area and the undercarriage collapsed. After this mishap it was considered that the runway was unsuitable for Whitleys to land in light winds, auto controls for further aircraft was fitted locally at the squadron airfields.
Pilot - P/O Edward Ddudley Dear RAFVR (82695).
Crew - Names unknown.
Edward Dear was flying in Whitley P5045 on 12th March 1941 with 502 Squadron when the aircraft was lost. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Whitley T4274 was built to contract 38599/39 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 15th October 1940. It was taken on charge
by 502 Squadron at Aldergrove for Coastal Command duties the following month. On 25th December 1940 it sustained Cat.M(C)/FA damage as a result of the mishap at
Yeadon as stated above and was repaired on site. On completion of the repair in early 1941 it was taken on charge by 10 OTU at Abingdon and later transferred to
3 (C)OTU at Cranwell where it operated until 3 (C)OTU ceased operating Whitley's in April 1943. From there it was flown to MU for long term storage where it remained
until being broken up and returned to produce, being struck off charge on 31st May 1945.