On the night of 15th / 16th July 1941 the crew of this 102 Squadron aircraft were to undertake an operational flight to bomb Bremen. At around 02.17hrs the Whitley was attacked by an enemy aircraft. In this attack the rear gunner was sadly killed and the control surfaces damaged, control was immediately lost causing the aircraft to spin from around 10,500 feet to 3,000 feet before the pilot could regain control. Before leaving the target area the Whitley was again attacked by enemy aircraft and also engaged by flak. On their return to the UK they diverted to Driffield and made a landing there at 06.05hrs. It was found that the port tyre had burst and that there was extensive damage to the tail. For his actions on this night the pilot was awarded the Distinguished Service Order.
Pilot - F/Lt George Geoffrey Davies RAFVR (87415).
Second Pilot - P/O Edwin Graham Milton Anderson RCAF (J/4252).
Observer - P/O Nigel Jack Bennett RAF (67604).
Wireless Operator - Sgt William Swain RAFVR (966864).
Rear Gunner - Sgt Neil Stockdale RAFVR (1055309), aged 25, of Huddersfield. Buried Driffield Cemetery, Yorkshire (grave 6149).
Whitley Z6820 was built to contract 106962/40 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 21st June 1941. After a very short period of M.U. storage it was taken on charge the following month by 102 Squadron at Topcliffe. As a result of the damage on 16th July 1941 minor Cat.A/FB damage was the assessment and it was repaired on site. It was then lost on 8th November 1941 when it failed to return from Ops to Berlin. Cat.E(m) damage was recorded on the paperwork.
George Davies received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 19th October 1940. By July 1941 he was in the rank of Acting F/Lt and was awarded the DSO for service with 102 Squadron, Gazetted on 8th August 1941. The citation for his award reads..
"One night in July 1941, this officer was the captain of an aircraft which carried out an attack on Bremen. Over the target area the aircraft was subjected to heavy anti-aircraft fire whilst held in the beams of a concentration of searchlights. Nevertheless, Flight Lieutenant Davies continued his bombing run and was shortly engaged by enemy fighters. In the course of the action the rear gunner was killed and much damage inflicted to the aircraft causing it to go out of control at 10,500 feet. In spite of great difficulties, Flight Lieutenant Davies, showing exceptional skill and admirable presence of mind, succeeded in regaining control after the aircraft had fallen some. 7,000 feet. Coming out of the spin the aircraft was again attacked by enemy fighters but Flight Lieutenant Davies skilfully maintained a level flight and with a superlative display of airmanship succeeded in flying back to an aerodrome in this country where he landed safely without further damage to the aircraft or injury to his crew. Throughout the whole of this most hazardous operation, Flight Lieutenant Davies displayed the utmost courage and determination and was certainly responsible for saving the aircraft and the crew from destruction."
He was promoted to F/O on 19th October 1941 and to F/Lt on October 1943. By July 1944 he was flying with 156 Squadron PFF and on 14th / 15th July 1944 he was the pilot of Lancaster PA984 on Ops to attack Revigny when the aircraft crashed in France, a number of his then crew were killed but he and one other survived and became a PoW. Postwar he remained in the RAF and was appointed to a permanent commission in the RAF as F/Lt in April 1949 and was promoted to S/Ldr on 1st January 1955.
William Swain was awarded the DFM for service with 102 Squadron, Gazetted in October 1941.
Nigel Bennett was awarded the DFC for service with 76 Squadron, Gazetted in December 1941.
Edwin Anderson was killed on 1st September 1941 flying Whitley Z6837 when the aircraft crashed in Belgium. He is buried in Schaffen Communal Cemetery, Belgium.
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