Whitley Z6751 at Rufforth airfield (under contruction).
At around 06.30hrs on 30th August 1941 this 77 Squadron aircraft was returning from an operational flight when it ran low on fuel. Before it could land at Topcliffe the fuel ran out so
pilot made a forced landing on land just south of Rufforth village and on the site of where the new airfield was being constructed. Rufforth airfield was not officially opened until June 1942 so the runways cannot have been completed when this incident occurred. The Whitley sustained slight damage and it was taken away for repair. This was the first aircraft ever to land at Rufforth airfield.
Pilot - Sgt Robert Eric Wheatley RAFVR (742812).
Second Pilot - Sgt Wilfred Edward Mortimer RAFVR (911889).
Observer - Sgt Armstrong.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Ronald William Dunkley RAFVR (952912).
Air Gunner - Sgt Myers.
Robert Wheatley completed a Tour with 77 Squadron and was awarded the DFM (Gazetted on 24th October 1941). On 30th September 1941 he was
the pilot of Whitley Z9147 that crashed at Leeming on return from Ops to Stettin. He received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation
(emergency)(110568) on 25th October 1941. Sadly he was killed on 24th March 1942 while flying with 19 OTU when Whitley Z6933 crashed in Glen
Isla. He is buried in Montrose Cemetery, he was twenty eight years old.
Sgt Wilfred Mortimer was killed flying with 77 Squadron on 13th October 1941 when Whitley Z6801 failed to return from Ops to Nurnberg. He was twenty eight years old and is buried
in Dinant Military Cemetery, Belgium.
Sgt Ron Dunkley was killed flying with 77 Squadron on 30th September 1941 when Whitley Z9150 failed to return from Ops to Stettin. He was twenty one years old and is
buried in Kiel War Cemetery.
Whitley Z6751 was built to contract 106962/40 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 17th April 1941.
It was taken on charge by 77 Squadron at Topcliffe in June 1941 and as a result of the incident at Rufforth on 30th August 1941 Cat.B/FB
damage was recorded. The aircraft was removed by road for repaired in works. In January 1942 it was taken on charge by 502 Squadron at Docking
for Coastal Command duties but this unit ceased operating Whitley's the following months so the aircraft was transferred to 10 OTU at Abingdon.
On 22nd November 1942 it was returning from an anti-submarine sweep when it clipped tree tops on approach to land at Carew Cheriton and crashed.
Sadly the then pilot was killed but five others surivived. Cat.E2/FA damage was recorded on the paperwork and the aircraft was written off.