During the day of 12th March 1941 this 10 Squadron aircraft was one of a number flown from their regular base of Leeming to Dishforth airfield where the unit began their operational flights from on this date. This aircraft then took off from Dishforth airfield at 20.35hrs to begin an operational flight to bomb Hamburg. They released their bomb load over the target area at 00.28hrs from 11,500 feet. The aircraft was hit several times by flak over the target area and damage was sustained to both outboard wing fuel tanks. The flare chute was also damaged and while the wireless operator Sgt Phillips was working with a photographic flare that was to have been dropped through the flare chute he was hit in the buttock by a fragment of flak but it did not injure him. On their return to England they made a safe landing at Leeming at 03.35hrs.
In the 10 Squadron ORB Appendix "AIR27/148" in the National Archives it shows a number of photographs of a battle damaged unidentified Whitley dated 14th March 1941. I believe that this may well show the damage sustained to Whitley T4263 the previous day or damage to Whitley P5018 damaged on Ops on 13th / 14th March 1941.
Pilot - P/O Kenna Humby RAFVR (81059).
Second Pilot - Sgt George Milburn Bigglestone RAFVR (754732).
Observer - Sgt Leslie Richard Johnson RAFVR (759190).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt I Phillips RAF (968528).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Ronald Mason Thomas RAFVR (971203).
Leslie Johnson was awarded the DFM for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 18th July 1941. He received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 23rd April 1943 (120925). He survived the War.
Kenna Humby (and Ronald Thomas) were flying Ops to Berlin on 1st October 1940 in Whitley N1483 when, on their return to England the aircraft overshot completely and was ditched in the Irish Sea. All were picked up and landed at Holyhead. Kenna Humby received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 29th June 1940 and was promoted to F/O (war subs) on 29th June 1941. For service with 10 Squadron he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 18th July 1941. He later received promotion to F/Lt on 29th June 1942 and to Acting S/Ldr on an unknown date. He was awarded the DSO for service with 199 Squadron, Gazetted on 30th November 1943. The citation for his DSO reads.. "Squadron Leader Humby has undertaken a very large number of sorties, involving attacks on a variety of targets, including Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne and Turin. Throughout his tour Squadron Leader Humby has displayed great skill and determination and his cool judgment in the face of opposition has inspired great confidence in his crew. He is a highly efficient flight commander, whose fine record is worthy of the greatest praise." Post-War he remained in the RAF until retiring on 3rd October 1967.
F/Sgt Ronald Thomas was killed flying with 405 Squadron on 2nd August 1941 when Wellington W5527 crashed into the North Sea while on an operational flight. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
F/Sgt George Bigglestone completed his Tour and was posted to 22 OTU. He died on 3rd January 1942 when Wellington X9640 crashed at Wellesbourne Mountford while flying a training flight. He was twenty one years old and is buried in Stratford on Avon Cemetery, Warwickshire.
Leslie Johnson was awarded the DFM for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 18th July 1941. He received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 23rd April 1943 (120925). He survived the War.
Whitley T4263 was built to contract 38599/39 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and awaiting collection on 4th October 1940. It was almost certainly supplied as a replacement to 10 Squadron for P4957 "ZA-E" which had crashed at Slaggyford on 30th October 1940. It was later allocated to 51 Squadron at Dishforth in October 1940 but was certainly on charge with 10 Squadron at Leeming in November 1940. As a result of the incident on 13th March 1941 Cat.A/FB damage was the assessment. It was repaired on site and continued to serve with 10 Squadron. It was again slightly damaged by flak on 28th May 1941 but this damage does not appear to have been recorded on its history. Cat.A/FB is the likely assessment and a repair on site at Leeming also probable. By August 1941 it had been transferred to 19 OTU at Kinloss. It later transferred to 10 OTU at Abingdon and by 12th December 1944 it was in MU store awaiting disposal. It was struck off charge on 18th August 1945.