Whitley Z6821 at "Thirsk Junction", Thirsk.
On the night of 23rd / 24th July 1941 this 102 Squadron aircraft undertook an operational flight to bom La Pallice and took off from Topcliffe at 21.53hrs. On their return the aircraft crashed near "Thirsk Junction" at 06.55hrs. The incident is referred to in a police record which states that the aircraft sustained damage to it's undercarriage and propellers. Thirsk Junction was where the Ripon railway line left the main line and the crash site is now effectively half a mile south of Carlton Miniott. The incident does not feature in the aircraft's record card which could mean that the damage was very slight.
Pilot - P/O David Bernard Delany RAFVR (63472).
Sgt S E H Morgan.
Sgt Kenneth Harwood-Smith RAFVR (918371),
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Frederick Arthur Braybrook RAF (746719).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Alexander Frederick Jaggers RAFVR (927337).
Sgt R K Craig.
David Delany was pilot of Whitley Z6871 that crashed into high ground on the North Yorkshire Moors at the end of September 1941. He had been granted a commission to P/O on 3rd April 1941 and was promoted to F/O a year later. He was awarded the AFC on 28th December 1945. In the Post-War RAF he was promoted to F/Lt in January 1946. He was granted the permenant rank of F/Lt on 9th March 1949. I have loctaed a brief reference to suggest that he may have served with 114 Squadron at some stage in his career. He served on the Near East (Suez?) between October and December 1956 and, along with many other RAF personnel he was MiD for this in the Queens Birthday Honours of June 1957. He rose to the rank of W/C on 1st July 1959 before retiring after a long and distinguished career on 10th December 1968.
Kenneth Harwood-Smith was in Whitley Z6820 on 7th / 8th November 1941 on Ops to Berlin and posted missing. He was twenty three years old and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. His younger brother P/O Norman Harwood-Smith was also killed in RAF service being lost on 10th August 1940 flying with 82 Squadron and is also commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Fred Braybrook was awarded the DFM for completing a Tour with 102 Squadron, (Gazetted in January 1942) the citation reads.."This airman's ability as a wireless operator-air gunner has contributed much to the success of the missions in which he has been engaged. Many of these have been undertaken in bad weather against targets at long distances. His cheerful enthusiasm, coolness under fire, and determined disposition have inspired all wireless operators and other aircrews in the squadron." He was commissioned on 26th October 1942 and later posted to 156 Squadron PFF for a second tour but was killed on 17th January 1943 flying in Halifax W7886 which crashed in Denmark. He was twenty two years old.
Alexander Jaggers was killed with 102 Squadron on 3rd September 1941 in Whitley Z6946 in Ipswich. He was twenty one years old and is buried in Brookwood Cemetery.
Whitley Z6821 was built to contract 106962/40 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 22nd June 1941, it was taken on
charge by 102 Squadron based at Topcliffe later the same month. It probably sustained Cat.B damage as a result of this incident at Thirsk Junction but
there is no record of it in the aircraft's history published in the Air Britain serial number book). It may have been taken away and repaired in works as
it next appears on charge with 58 Squadron at Linton on Ouse. In March 1942 it was transferred to No.1481 TT&G Flight at Binbrook and on 2nd May 1942 this
unit was re-designated 1481 (Bomber) Gunnery Flight. On 26th September 1942 it moved with the unit to Blyton then on 2nd November 1942 with the unit to
Lindholme. On 18th December 1942 this unit was re-designated 1481 (Bombing) Gunnery Flt but in April 1943 the unit ceased operating Whitleys and the
aircraft was flown into long term MU storage where it remained until being struck off charge on 15th December 1944.