Whitley Z6496 damaged by flak, returned to Leeming airfield.

During the day of 13th 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 from 11,000 feet at 00.08hrs but while over the target the aircraft was struck by flak. The squadron records described the damage as being considerable but does not specify what was damaged. On their return to England they made a safe landing at Leeming at 03.44hrs.

Pilot - Sgt Leonard George Smith RAFVR (740149).

Second Pilot - Sgt Alan Reid Beveridge RAFVR (748353).

Observer - Sgt Stanley Charles Mayes RAFVR (755992).

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Vincent Gordon Marshall (936210).

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt John Thomas Evans RAF (939688).

John Evans survived the crash of Whitley P4994 at Leeming on 22nd December 1940. He was later posted to 51 Squadron and was killed on 15th September 1941 flying Ops to Hamburg in Whitley Z6953. He is buried in Hamburg Cemetery, Germany and was twenty years old.
F/Sgt Beveridge was still serving with 10 Squadron on 1st July 1941 when he died in the crash of Whitley Z6584 in Norfolk on return from Ops to Duisburg. He is buried in Dunbarney Cemetery, Perthshire.
Sgt Stanley Mayes was later posted to 76 Squadron. He was killed on 13th August 1941 when Halifax L9562 crashed near Middleton St.George. He was twenty one years old and is buried in Northampton (Kingsthorpe) Cemetery.
Vincent Marshall received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 2nd April 1943 (146648). He was promoted to F/O on October 1943 and F/Lt on 2nd April 1945.
Leonard Smith received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 17th July 1941 (102090) rising to F/Lt during the War. He transferred to the Secretarial Branch of the RAF after War with effect from 1st January 1947 and retired from the RAF in March 1958 as F/Lt and retaining the rank of S/Ldr.
Whitley Z6496 was built to contract 106962/40 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 27th January 1941 then taken on charge by 10 Squadron based at Leeming. The date 10 Squadron took charge of the aircraft is not known. It was slightly damaged by flak on 14th March 1941 in 10 Squadron use and was probably repaired at Leeming although the damage was not recorded on its published service history. It was damaged on landing at Leeming on 9th May 1941 and again this damage is not listed in the history. It was force landed near Plompton, North Yorkshire on 12th September 1941 and Cat.B/FB damage was the assessment. From there the aircraft was taken away by road to be repaired in works. On completion of the repair it was placed into MU storage. On or around 10th July 1942 the aircraft was takenn on charge by the newly formed 81 OTU at Ashbourne then on 1st September 1942 it moved with this unit to Whitchurch Heath (Tilstock). It crashed on 2nd February 1943 after suffering an engine failure on approach to land at Whitchurch Heath, the aircraft crashed on undershooting and caught fire. Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage was later recorded and the aircraft was written off.

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