Whitley Z6959 at Topcliffe airfield.
On the night of 29th / 30th September 1941 the crew of this aircraft were tasked with flying an operational flight to bomb Stettin,
they set out at 18.45hrs and attacked from 12,000ft. On their return to Topcliffe at 04.57hrs the aircraft overshot on landing and the
aircraft received damage. The unit ORB lists the aircraft as being Whitley Z6454 but this was not a Whitley, using the monthly ORB return the
likely aircraft this infact was is Whitley Z6959.
Whitley Z6959 was built to contract 106962/40 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and awaiting collection on 3rd August 1941 to be taken
on charge by 102 Squadron shortly after. It was repaired following the mishap at Topcliffe and later served with 138 Squadron (Special Duties)
at Newmarket and then the newly formed 161 Squadron (Special Duties) in February 1942. It's service with 161 Squadron was short ending and it
ended its days serving with 10 OTU at Abingdon. It crashed near St.Erne, Cornwall on 27th October 1942 following an in-flight engine fire.
The damage was assessed and Cat.E2/FA damage was recorded. At the time of this later incident the aircraft was detached to 19 Group CC and based at St.Eval.
Pilot - Sgt W J Wilson.
Second Pilot - Sgt Richard Forrest Bradbury RCAF, of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Observer - Sgt Ronald Charles Perriam RAFVR (1155037), of Nottingham.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt James Allison Steeves RCAF (R/64734), of Hillsboro, Albert County, New Brunswick, Canada.
Air Gunner - Sgt Albert Huddlestone RAF (632024).
Richard Bradbury was born 1st August 1920, he was the son of Horace and Vernie Bradbury of Victoria, British Columbia. A commissioned
P/O Bradbury was killed on 26th June 1942 while flying in Halifax W7654 on Ops to Bremen. His body was never found and he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
James Steeves was born on 12th January 1912. Sgt Steeves was killed on 7th/8th November 1941 flying in Whitley Z9128 on Ops to Berlin.
He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Sgt Perriam was killed on 17th June 1942 flying with 102 Squadron in Halifax R9530 which was shot down on Ops to Essen. The aircraft
crashed into the sea off the Dutch coast and Sgt Perriam's body was never found. He too is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, he
was twenty one years old.
Sgt Huddlestone was later awarded the DFM for service with 102 Squadron (Gazetted on 29th December 1942), the citation reads.."Sgt Huddlestone completed a number of
sorties in the role of air gunner and others as air bomber. Undeterred by enemy opposition,
he has always sought his correct target before releasing his bombs. He has taken part in attacks on such targets as Berlin, Kiel, Brest, Mannheim, Dusseldorf,
Essen and other important centres."