Whitley Z6862 at Topcliffe airfield.
On 21st August 1941 the crew of this 102 Squadron aircraft were about to undertake a day-light training flight when it climbed too steeply on take off from Topcliffe at 14.45hrs, stalled and dived into the ground within the boundary of Topcliffe airfield. Sadly four of the crew were killed. A fire destroyed most of the aircraft and with it any real evidence of what might have happened. The investigation found that the elevator trimming tabs were found fully wound back but the rest of the elevator was destroyed so it could not be found why this was done prior to taking off.
Whitley Z6862 was built to contract 106962/40 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 1st July 1941. It was
taken on charge at Topcliffe by 102 Squadron shortly after this date and was slightly damaged by flak on 5th / 6th August 1941, it was repaired at
Topcliffe but was written off following the accident on 21st August 1941 with Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage being recorded with less than 15 hours flying to its account.
Pilot - Sgt Ian Colin Hay RAFVR (748459), aged 19, of Southend on Sea. Buried Southend on Sea Cemetery, Essex.
Second Pilot - Sgt Norman George Williams RAFVR (1006119), aged 21, of Ely, Cardiff. Buried Cardiff Western Cemetery, Glamorgan.
Observer - P/O Perry Byard Detlor RCAF (J/3763), aged 28, of Brockville, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Buried Topcliffe Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Derrick John McKenzie Bush RAFVR (928579), aged 19, of Westcliff-on-Sea. Buried Chingford Mount Cemetery, Essex.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Charles Stacey Neveu RCAF (R/54986), of Rock Island, Quebec, Canada. Badly injured.
Perry Detlor was born on 12th June 1913 at Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and was the son of Marley and Grace (nee Doyle) Detlor. As a young man he worked for his father's car sales business as a service manager, secretary and treasurer. He enlisted for RCAF service on 24th June 1940 at Kingston, Ontario. After training in Canada he was awarded his air observer's flying badge on 4th January 1941 and then a commission on 4th February 1941. He arrived in the UK soon after but his postings prior to arriving at 102 Squadron are not yet known.
Charles Neveu was born on 23rd March 1909 to Desire and Gertrude Laura Neveu, of Rock Island, Province of Quebec, Canada. He recovered from his
injuries following the accident detailed above and as a F/Sgt was killed serving with 158 Squadron. On 9th May 1942 he was in Wellington Z5562 which
crashed into the Baltic sea. He was thirty three years old and is now buried in Berlin War Cemetery, Germany. He was one of a number of 104 Squadron
personnel who were posted to form the neucleus of the newly formed 158 Squadron. I thank Graham Sharpe for the photograph of his gravestone.
