Whitley Z6868 at Topcliffe airfield.
On 31st August 1941 this 102 Squadron aircraft was being loaded with bombs at Topcliffe airfield prior to an operational flight to bomb Essen when one of the bombs
exploded. This aircraft was destoyed, Whitley Z6871 was parked nearby and was also damaged in the explosion. If the crew of Whitley Z6868 were in the
aircraft at the time of the explosion then the bomb cannot have been a high explosive as they all escaped injury. Two members of ground crew were injured.
Whitley Z6868 was built to contract 106962/40 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 5th July 1941 and taken on
charge by 102 Squadron at Topcliffe later the same month. As a result of the explosion on 31st August 1941 Cat.E2 damage was recorded.
Pilot - P/O Bruce Buchanan Percival Roy RAFVR (102583).
Second Pilot - Sgt Lawrence William Carr RAFVR (1250644).
Observer - Sgt Philip Leonard Newell Trehearn RAFVR (947664).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Philip Anthony Taylor RAFVR (995861).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Ronald Gayler RAFVR (1359401).
Ground Crew - Cpl J McKean RAFVR (1063853). Injured.
Ground Crew - AC T Hunter RAFVR (1085073). Injured.
Len Trehearn survived the crash of Whitley Z6871 near Danby on the North Yorshire Moors on 30th September 1941, detailed
here on this website. Having converted to fly in the Halifax he was killed
in the crash of Halifax R9488 near Baldersby on 14th April 1942 after the aircraft suffering the rudder overbalance problem, this was a problem that blighted
the early Halifaxes and cost many lives. The details of his loss are detailed here on this website.
Ronald Gayler was also on board Whitley Z6871 which crashed onto the North Yorkshire Moors in September 1941. He later received his commissione on
25th July 1942, and was awarded the DFC (Gazetted 12th January 1943). The citation reads.. "P/O Gayler is a wireless operator of outstanding merit who
has taken part in many operational sorties. His quiet efficiency, calm and imperturbable manner in the face of danger and his offensive spirit have
been a source of encouragement and inspiration to his crew."
Bruce Roy was lost on 8th November 1941, he was the pilot of Whitley Z6820 lost over the North Sea on Ops to Berlin. He was twenty three years
old and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Philip Taylor was killed on 30th November 1941 and is buried in Kiel War Cemetery, Germany. He was in Whitley Z9281 which crashed after being
hit by flak over the target area of Kiel.
F/Sgt Carr converted to pilot the Halifax type with 102 Squadron. On 29th April 1942 he was the pilot of Halifax W7653 which was shot down by
a night-fighter
on Ops to Cologne. He evaded capture with help from the Comete line and crossed the Pyrenees, before returning to the England. He was Mentioned in
Despatches in January 1943 with hundreds of other air personnel. He received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 26th
January 1943 (155234) and rose through the ranks to S/Ldr (war subs) in July 1945. He died in 2003.