Whitley Z6565 damaged on Ops, further damaged at Topcliffe airfield.
On 13th June 1941 this 102 Squadron aircraft suffered damage while on an operational flight to bomb Schwerte. One member of the crew was injured in the back by a flak burst and the aircraft's elevator controls damaged. The pilot was able to return to base and make a landing at Topcliffe at 06.23hrs but it was further damaged and the injured airmen then received a further head injury. The aircraft was later assessed and as the main spar was damaged it did not warrant a repair so was written off.
Pilot - Sgt Mauritz Bernard Berndsson RAFVR (758027).
Second Pilot - P/O David Noel Sampson RAF (62278).
? - Sgt Peter Service Thompson RAFVR (958416).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Cyril Higson RAF (654157).
? - Sgt Geoffrey William Griffin RAFVR (906512).
? - Sgt Harold Young RAFVR (808057). Slightly injured.
A Mauritz Berndsson may be his correct identity, he had attended South Shields Boys School and was almost certainly of Swedish extraction. Mauritz Berndsson
was awarded the DFM, Gazetted 21st November 1941 for service with 102 Squadron and was granted a commissioned on 10th March
1942 but was posted away from 102 Squadron on 12th September 1941 to 19 OTU to act as an instructor on Whitley's at Kinloss.
He later flew as a pilot with 1478 Flight in 1943 and with this Flight he served in North Africa but later returned to the
UK and to 35 Squadron. Having risen to F/Lt on 10th March 1944 and later to S/Ldr he was awarded the DFC (Gazetted on 16th
February 1945) and awarded for service with 35 Squadron, Pathfinders when he was an acting S/Ldr. He remained in the RAF
post-War and transferred to RAFVR on 27th January 1950. He relinquished his commissioned of F/Lt on 27th January 1955.
He died in 2006.
The 102 Squadron ORB gives the pilot's initials as being Sgt N.D.Berndsson for this date and earlier in 1941.
On 29th August 1941 Sgt Higson was still flying with 102 Squadron and survived the crash of Whitley Z6951 with injuries, this accident caused the death of three other members of his then crew. He later received a commission on 23rd August 1943 and was awarded the DFC for service with 466 Squadron, Gazetted on 20th July 1945.
Whitley Z6565 was built to Contract 106962/40 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 2nd March 1941.
It was taken on charge by 102 Squadron at Topcliffe later the same month. As a result of the mishap recorded above on 13th June 1941 Cat.B/FB
damage was initially recorded but after assessment it was re-Cat.E and struck off charge as being beyond repair.