Whitley Z6738 at Dishforth airfield.
On the night of 18th / 19th May 1941 the crew of another 51 Squadron aircraft, Whitley Z6567, undertook an operational flight to bomb Kiel. On the return to base Whitley Z6567 crashed into Whitley Z6738 while trying to land at Dishforth in poor visibility, Z6738 was parked outside a hanger and mainly sustained damage to the port wing and port side of the tail. It was unoccupied at the time of the collision.
No crew.
Whitley Z6738 was built to contract 106962/40 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. and was awaiting collection on 6th May 1941. It was taken on charge by 51 Squadron at Dishforth shortly after completion. As a result of the damage sustained on 19th May 1941 repairable Cat.B/FA damage was the assessment and it was probably taken away for a repair in works. The aircraft does not appear used again until 10th July 1942 when it was taken on charge by 81 OTU at Ashbourne when the unit formed. On 1st September 1942 this unit moved to Tilstock. On an unknown date it was transferred to 19 OTU at Kinloss but by August 1944 it was in long term MU storage. It was struck off charge on 26th April 1945.