Whitley Z6973 damaged by flak, landed at Topcliffe airfield.
In the early hours of 17th October 1941 this 102 Squadron aircraft had taken off from Topcliffe at 00.48hrs for an operational flight to Duisburg, the aircraft was
hit and slightly damaged by flak during the course of the flight. The 102 Squadron ORB states that this crew bombed Amsterdam and it would seem likely that the aircraft was damaged by flak prior to this with the crew realising that proceeding into Germany was not possible. The crew were able to bring the aircraft safely back to base and land without
further damage at 07.07hrs.
Pilot - Sgt Derrick Newton Riley RAFVR (986904).
Second Pilot - Sgt Wilson Gilmore Caldwell RCAF (R/68575).
Observer - Sgt Richard Forrest Bradbury RCAF (R/12028)
? - Sgt N W Haycock.
? - P/O A J Graham.
Air Gunner - Sgt David Boddy RAFVR (1378930).
Derrick Riley was born in Derbyshire in 1915. He posted in to 102 Squadron from 58 Squadron in August 1941.
he received a commission on 24th April 1942 and was given a Mention in Despatches on 2nd June 1943. He was also awarded the DFC for service with 692 Squadron, Gazetted on 13th June 1944. The citation was a joint one with other members of his squadron, it reads.. "One night in May 1944 several crews of Mosquito aircraft were detailed for a difficult and dangerous mine-laying mission. The operation called for the highest standard of skill and accuracy. In the face of intense anti-aircraft fire, balloon defences and considerable searchlight activity the attack was pressed home with great precision from low level. That complete success was achieved in spite of such hazards is a high tribute to the calm courage and iron determination shown by the following officers who participated in various capacities as leaders and members of aircraft crew." Alongside his RAF flying during the war he was able to use the flights to become a pioneer of aerial photography for use in archeaology. He survived the war and his post-war life is very well documented elsewhere on the internet. He died in 1993. He published a number of books and one of his books "Aerial Archaeology in Britain" was re-printed in 2009 after his death. Sheffield University run a grant fund set up in his memory.
F/Sgt Caldwell was killed on 16th December 1941 while flying with 102 Squadron when Whitley Z6973 failed to return from Dunkirk. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
P/O Richard Bradbury was killed on 26th June 1942 while flying with 102 Squadron when Halifax W7654 was lost on Ops to Bremen. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
On the night of 2nd / 3rd June 1942 Sgt Boddy was flying in 102 Squadron Halifax R9491 on Ops to Essen when the aircraft crashed into the sea off Essex. Sgt Boddy's body was recovered and he is buried in Stockton on Tees Cemetery, he was thirty years old.
The P/O Graham may have been Alexander James Graham who was a Canadian who served in the RAF. He died at the age of grand age of 95 in 2015.