Whitley Z6665 damaged by enemy aircraft, returned to Dishforth airfield.

On the night of 25th / 26th June 1941 the crew of this 51 Squadron Whitley was undertaking an operational flight to bomb Bremen and took off from Dishforth at 22.50hrs. While still outbound at 00.15hrs the Whitley was attacked by an enemy Me110 aircraft with it receiving damage pretty much across the whole aircraft. The rear turret was damaged and this injured the rear gunner in the face. The rudder control was also shot away and with difficulty the pilot was able to bring the aircraft back to England and land at Dishforth at 02.15hrs.

Pilot - Sgt Peter Ryland Griffin RAFVR (950620).

Second Pilot - Sgt William Francis Higham RAFVR (1101016).

Observer - P/O Harold Ernest Wood RAF (87364).

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt William Gray RAF (755700).

Air Gunner - Sgt Sydney James Short RAFVR (969406). Facial injuries.

Whitley Z6665 was built to contract 106962/40 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 15th April 1941. It was taken on charge later the same month by 51 Squadron at Dishfroth and as a reuslt of the damage sustained on 26th June 1941 minor Cat.A/FB damage resulted following the damage assessment. It was repaired on site and returned to 51 Squadron. Later the aircraft served with 19 OTU at Kinloss and 42 OTU at Ashbourne but the dates of transfer are not yet known. It was witten off following a ground collision at Ashbourne on 22nd February 1945 when it collided with parked Whitley LA820. Cat.E2/FA damage was recorded and the aircraft was written off.
Sydney Short was later awarded the DFM for service with 51 Squadron, Gazetted in November 1941. He would receive a commission in August 1942 and rose through to F/Lt by the end of the War.

Peter Griffin was killed on 15th August 1941 when 51 Squadron Whitley Z6819 failed to return from Hannover. he was still just twenty years old and is buried in Sage War Cemetery.

William Higham received a commission in August 1944. He may be one of the five Higham brothers from Wigan who served in WW2 detailed in newspapers in 2017.

William Gray received a commission in December 1941.

Harold Wood received a commission in October 1940. He was awarded the DFC in October 1941 for service with 51 Squadron. Having survived the War he remained in the RAF until 1960.

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