Whitley T4220 at Leeming airfield.
This 10 Squadron aircraft took off from Leeming airfield at 16.36hrs on the 4th January 1941 to undertake an operational flight to bomb Dusseldorf but in the minutes after taking off the aircraft was recalled. On landing back at Leeming at 16.51hrs the aircraft overshot the flarepath and crashed.
Pilot - Acting S/Ldr Henry Arthur Ronald Holford (34083).
Second Pilot - Sgt Jesse.
Observer - Sgt James Francis Bassett RAFVR (745308).
Wireless Operator - Sgt Cyril Webster Fitzmaurice Durham Eisenhuth Lawson RAF (535558).
Air Gunner - Sgt Styles.
Henry Holford received a short service commission in the RAF to the rank of Acting P/O on Probation on 1st September 1933 but appears to have been
seconded to the RAF Intelligence during late 1933 and early 1934 returning to RAF Depot, Uxbridge on 21st April 1934 prior to posting. He was later
posted to 10 Squadron on 29th February 1936 and was graded as Pilot Officer on the same date. He was posted to 78 Squadron on 1st November 1936. He
later received promotions to F/O on 29th September 1937, F/Lt on 29th September 1939, S/Ldr (temp) on 1st December 1940 and to W/Co (temp) on 1st
March 1942. He was awarded the OBE for his service in the Mediterranean Air Command between 1st February and 12th May 1943, Gazetted on 17th September
1943 and while in the rank of W/Co (temp). Under the terms of his short service commission he transferred to the RAF Reserve on 1st September 1944 though
continued his service and was Mentioned in Despatches on 14th January 1944. He later commanded 51 Squadron and was awarded the DFC for this service,
Gazetted on 6th November 1945. Post-war he was appointed to a permanent commission in the RAF as W/Co on 22nd June 1948. He retired from the RAF on 30th January 1959.
Cyril Lawson was killed serving with 10 Squadron on 25th / 26th July 1941 when Whitley T4231 crashed in Belgium. He is buried at Koersel Communal Cemetery, Belgium.
The "Aircrewremembered.com" website has a superb webpage detailing this loss.
James Bassett was awarded the DFM for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 23rd September 1941. He later received his commission on 13th November 1942 to the rank of P/O on probation (135461) and was promoted to F/O on 13th July 1943. He was awarded the DFC for further service with 158 Squadron, Gazetted on 29th October 1943. The citation for his DFC reads.. "As navigator, this officer has taken part in many sorties, involving attacks on industrial centres in the Ruhr and numerous other important and well defended targets. His exceptional ability has been evident throughout and has contributed materially to the many successes achieved. By his outstanding determination and unswerving devotion to duty. This officer has set a highly commendable example." He later re-trained as a pilot and survived the War. He remained in the RAFVR until 16th May 1952.
Whitley T4220 was built to contract 38599/39 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 18th September 1940. It was taken on
charge by 10 Squadron at Leeming the following month. On 4th January 1941 it suffered Cat.A damage as a result of the mishap at Leeming and was repaired
on site very quickly and returned
to the unit. On 17th January 1941 Cat.E(m) damage was recorded when the aircraft failed to return from an operational flight to Wilhelmshaven. It's then
crew of five were reported as missing and commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.