Whitley P5055 damaged by flak, returned to Leeming airfield.
On the night of 27th / 28th May 1941 the crew of this 10 Squadron aircraft were tasked with bombing Cologne and they set out from Leeming at 22.17hrs. The crew bombed the target area from 15,000 feet at 02.39hrs through cloud. The aircraft sustained very minor damage by flak over the target but the squadron record book does not list what was damaged. The crew made a safe return to Leeming landing at 06.09hrs.
Pilot - Sgt Alan Reid Beveridge RAFVR (748353).
Second Pilot - Sgt Denzil Philip Walker RAFVR (902458).
Observer - Sgt Donald Kenneth Allport RAF (937507).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Arthur Joseph Jones RAFVR (907624).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Rodney Victor Butcher RAFVR (962421).
Whitley P5055 was built to contract 75147/38 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 18th June 1940. It was delivered
to 10 Squadron at Leeming almost certainly in mid-August 1940 as it replaced Whitley P4955 lost on Ops to Jena on 17th August 1940 as P5055 was to be
allotted the same squadron code. On the night of 20th / 21st September 1940 it was slightly damaged on Ops and was quickly repaired. On 25th September
1940 it was damaged again, Cat.M/FB recorded following flak damage, it was repaired on site and returned to 10 Squadron. It was slightly damaged as a result of flak on 28th May 1941 but this damage assessment does not appear listed on its history, Cat.A/FB damage is the likely assessment and a repair on site at Leeming also probable. On 28th June 1941 it failed to return from Ops to Bremen and it's crew of five were killed. Cat.W(m) damage was recorded.
Donald Allport had a long and distinguished career in the RAF. Having served in 10 Squadron in the early part of his flying he received his commisison to the rank of
P/O on probation on 26th March 1942 (119516) and was later promoted to F/O (war subs) on 1st October 1942 and to F/Lt (war subs) on 19th August 1943. He later served with 35 Squadron PFF and was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 18th May 1943. He was later awarded the DSO for further service with 35 Squadron, Gazetted on 2nd November 1943 as Acting S/Ldr. The citation for his DSO reads.. "As navigator, this officer has participated in a large number of sorties, many of them demanding a high degree of skill and determination. Nevertheless, Squadron Leader Allport has executed his tasks with exceptional ability and his faultless work has contributed in a large measure to the successes obtain. His achievements are worthy of the highest praise." Post-war he remained in the RAF and was appointed to a permanent commission as S/Ldr on 31st August 1949 rising to W/Co on 1st July 1965. He retired from the RAF on 13th April 1972. He died in Australia in October 2011.
Sgt Arthur Jones was awarded the DFM for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 23rd September 1941. He was still serving with 10 Squadron a year later. He received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 4th September 1942 (159227) and was promoted to F/O on 4th March 1943 and F/Lt on 4th September 1944.
F/Sgt Beveridge was still serving with 10 Squadron on 1st July 1941 when he died in the crash of Whitley Z6584 in Norfolk on return from Ops to Duisburg. He is buried in Dunbarney Cemetery, Perthshire.
Sgt Rodney Butcher was still serving with 10 Squadron on 8th July 1941 when Whitley Z6627 failed to return from Ops to Hamm. His body was never found and he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Sgt Denzil Walker was still serving with 10 Squadron on the night of 27th / 28th June 1941 when Whitley P5016 failed to return from Ops to Bremen. Sgt Walker is buried in Hamburg Cemetery. One member of his then crew, F/Sgt Ernest Philip Lewis RAFVR (970467), survived and was taken PoW but later escaped, was captured and murdered on 1st August 1944.