Whitley Z6474 near Marton le Moor, Ripon.
On 29th September 1941 this 51 Squadron aircraft was in the process of taking off from Dishforth at 22.55hrs for a non-operational circuit training flight. The pilot had already made a number of these short flights with a more experienced pilot and then a further two without him. On the third take off from Dishforth the port engine cut out as the aircraft left the ground. Unable to properly climb away and began to loose height. The pilot force-landed near Marton le Moor but the aircraft caught fire after the crash landing, the crew scrambled clear and the fire badly damaged the aircraft. The only injury appears to have been sustained by the rear gunner who cut his head.
Whitley Z6474 was built to contract 106962/40 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 28th December 1940. It was probably coded "-H" on arrival at 51 Squadron at Dishforth in February 1941 as a replacement for T4217 which had been lost on return from ops to Bremen on 11th February 1941. The 51 Squadron ORB appendix has it listed as being used for training flights between February and August 1941 so it was certainly on the books of 51 Squadron by mid-1941. As a result of the damage sustained on 29th September 1941 Cat.E2/Burnt damage was recorded on the paperwork and the aircraft was struck off charge.
Pilot - Sgt Charles Allen Guan RAAF (402349).
Second Pilot - P/O Anthony Baerlein RAFVR (68803).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt William Colloton RAFVR (1006114).
Air Gunner - Sgt D F/K Campbell RCAF (R/71648). Injured.
Charles Guan was born in September 1916 and prior to enlisting into the RAAF in Sydney in August 1940 he had done some civilian flying with the Royal Aero Club of New South Wales. He left Australia on 29th November 1940 to undertake basic pilot training in Canada and while training in Canada with 3 SFTS he was the pilot of an Anson which was damaged while taxiing. After completing his training he was awarded his Wings in April 1941 and then was posted to the UK where he trained at 19 OTU from 24th May 1941, he joined 51 Squadron on 12th August 1941. Following the incident detailed above at Marton le Moor he continued flying with 51 Squadron but was lost flying Whitley Z9220 on 31st October 1941. He was twenty five years old and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Anthony Baerlein died in the crash of Whitley Z9145 on 22nd October 1941 near Givendale, Ripon.
William Colloton died in the crash of 405 Squadron Halifax W7769 in New Street, Pocklington on 24th July 1942.
Sgt Campbell was later posted to 405 Squadron.