Whitley T4209 damaged by flak, landed at Church Fenton airfield.
On the night of 25th / 26th February 1941 the crew of this 78 Squadron Whitley were undertaking an operational flight to bomb Dusseldorf. While over Germany the
Whitley was struck by flak which damaged the hydraulics and the wireless equipment, an oil pipe also burst. The crew were able to make a landing at Church Fenton airfield at 02.51hrs.
Pilot - Sgt Anthony Stewart Reginald Edmund Ennis RAFVR (740735).
Second Pilot - Sgt D R Blackwell.
Observer - Sgt A R Edgar.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt L Tunstall (Probably Lewis Benjamin Tunstall RAFVR (938890), of Aspatria, Cumbria.)
Air Gunner - Sgt T Clow.
F/Sgt Lewis Tunstall was flying with 19 O.T.U. on 26th June 1941 when Whitley N1379 crashed near Kinloss. He was killed and is buried at Aspatria Churchyard, Cumbria.
He was twenty one years old. If he had flown with 78 Squadron earlier in the year then may well have been instructing at 19 OTU at the time. Thanks to Ade Harris for the photograph of his grave.
Anthony Ennis was born in Canterbury, Kent. He received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 2nd August 1941 and had been posted to 158 Squadron by May 1942 and was awarded the DFC for service with them. Gazetted on 19th May 1942 the citation was a joint one with his rear gunner, P/O A H Hanson, it reads.. "One night in May 1942, F/Lt Ennis and P/O Hanson, as pilot and rear gunner respectively of an aircraft, were detailed to carry out a low level attack on Warnemunde. The target was heavily defended both with searchlights and anti-aircraft fire, which made a low-level attack very hazardous. F/Lt Ennis displaying great courage, flew the aircraft at a very low level, but found that he could not penetrate the heavy defences. In all, three attempts were made, before the target was reached and attacked successfully. Throughout this time P/O Hanson continued firing at the searchlights and other defences and destroyed at least two searchlights. The skill and courage displayed by him contributed largely to the safe return of the aircraft." Anthony Ennis was appointed to A-Flight Commander of 158 Squadron on 16th June 1942 having been promoted to the rank of F/O (war subs) on 18th May 1942, F/O (prob) on 2nd August 1942 and F/Lt (war subs) on 15th August 1942. As Acting S/Ldr he was awarded the DSO for service with 158 Squadron, Gazetted on 6th November 1942, the citation reads.. "This officer has completed many operational sorties. There are very few targets in Germany which have not suffered as a result of his remarkable spirit of determination to achieve his objective. In February 1941 he was employed on a special mission to Malta which he accomplished with complete success, and in May 1942, he was awarded the DFC." He was later posted to 99 Squadron and was their Commanding Officer from 15th March 1944 to 24th May 1944. On 17th June 1944 he died while the unit was serving in India. Buried in Imphal War Cemetery, India he was twenty six years old.
Whitley T4209 was built to contract 38599/39 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd, at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 7th September 1940. The date it was taken on charge by
78 Squadron at Dishforth is not specified on the published Air Britain record of the aircraft's history, however, it was being used by 78 Squadron operationally in November
1940 so was probably taken on charge in October 1940. The damage sustained on 26th February 1941 is also not recorded in the history so must have been minor, Cat.A/FB, and
repaired locally. It was being used by 78 Squadron up until 8th July 1941 when it was ditched in the North Sea after being damaged on Ops to Hamm. Four of the five crew were sadly killed. Cat.Em damage was recorded on the paperwork.