Whitley Z6937 near Dishforth airfield.

On 8th September 1941 this 51 Squadron aircraft was returning from an operational flight having bombed Berlin and the crew were attempting to land at Dishforth. The aircraft stalled and then crashed on following a second overshoot on land to the north of the airfield at 05.50hrs. Sadly three were killed in the crash and the two others were taken to the Station Sick Quarters where one died later the same day.

Pilot - Sgt John Alfred Reynolds RAFVR (1164659), aged 21, of Reading. Buried Reading Cemetery, Berkshire.

Second Pilot - P/O Leslie Charles Ross Wilson RAF (67691), aged 19. Of St.Annes on Sea, Blackpool. Buried Dishforth Cemetery, Yorkshire.

Observer - Sgt Alexander Anthony Jessup RAFVR (911895), aged 20, possibly of Broadway, Worcestershire. Died of injuries, Buried Dishforth Cemetery, Yorkshire.

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Albert Edward Barrett RAFVR (1152714), aged 25, of Plumstead. Buried Woolwich Cemetery, London.

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Eric Cecil Duke RAFVR (947721). Injured.

Sgt Eric Duke was awarded the DFM probably for service with 51 Squadron (although the London Gazette states this was with 31 Squadron while Flight Magazine stated 51 Squadron). It was Gazetted on 21st November 1941. He received a commission on 19th December 1941 and F/Lt Eric Duke (118147) was killed serving with 405 Squadron on 2nd January 1945 was flying in Lancaster PB477 on Ops to Nuremberg.

P/O Wilson and Sgt Jessup's graves in Dishforth Cemetery. Leslie Wilson received a commission on 29th May 1941 to the rank of P/O on probation.

Alexander Jessup was born on 11th October 1920 at Burnham, Buckinghamshire and was the son of Alexander Marion Jessup and Carmen de Minondo y Beltranena. His family were closely linked to the nobility of the country. His father Alexander Marion Jessup was a son of Augustus Edward Jessup and Lady Mildred Marion Bowes-Lyon. Lady Mildred Marion Bowes-Lyon was a daughter of Claude George Bowes-Lyon, 13th Earl of Strathmore; he in turn was paternal grandfather to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother who at the time of Sgt Alexander Jessup's death was The Queen. Sgt Alexander Jessup gave his next of kin as being his uncle, Lt Alfred Claude Jessup, of Orchard Farm, Broadway, Worcestershire. His aunt Lady Maud Bowes-Lyon (of the same address) was to be notified of his death though she appears to have died earlier in 1941. Lady Maud Bowes-Lyon was also an aunt and a God-parent of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Sgt Alexander Jessup's mother was still alive in 1941 but was living in Biarritz, France, the Red Cross were approached to inform her of the accident that killed her son at Dishforth.

Whitley Z6937 was built to contract 106962/40 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 21st July 1941. It was taken on charge by 51 Squadron based at Dishforth by the end of the same month and written off as a result of the accident on 8th September 1941 with Cat.E2/FB damage recorded on the paperwork.

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