Whitley Z6497 near Walton, Wetherby.
On the night of 6th / 7th May 1941 the crew of this 58 Squadron aircraft were undertaking an operational flight to bomb Hamburg. On their return they were unable to make this
last few miles to return to Linton on Ouse. The aircraft was force landed in a field close to a railway kunction near the Wetherby to Walton road at 06.00hrs without injury to the crew.
Pilot - P/O Winston Brook Mackley RNZAF (39926).
? - Sgt Bradshaw.
? - Sgt Read.
? - Sgt Lane
? - Sgt Heard
P/O Mackley was awarded the DFC for service with 58 Squadron, Gazetted on 26th September 1941.
Whitley Z6497 was built to contract 106962/40 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 28th January 1941. It was delivered to 58 Squadron at Linton on Ouse the following month. As a result of the incident on the night of 6th / 7th May 1941 was detailed above Cat.B/FB damage was recorded. It was taken away by road and repaired in works and on completion of the repair the aircraft spent some time with the AAEE at Boscombe Down before moving to 19 OTU at Kinloss where it served out it's flying time. By August 1944 all of 19 OTU Whitley's had been placed in MU storage awaiting disposal. It was finally struck off charge on 26th April 1945 and was broken up and "returned to produce".