Whitley Z9142 damaged by flak, returned to Linton on Ouse airfield.
On the evening of 27th December 1941 this aircraft was one of a number of 58 Squadron aircraft briefed to carry out an operational flight to bomb Dusseldorf. This
aircraft took off from Linton on Ouse airfield at 17.04hrs, it was struck and slightly damaged by flak while over Rotterdam. The rear turret became difficult to operate because it was though the hydraulic system had water in it so the crew bombed Gizle Rijen airfield at 19.55hrs and made for home. The crew were able to bring the Whitley back to Linton on Ouse and landed at 22.30hrs.
Pilot - Sgt Cecil Edgar Robertson Parsons RAAF (400419).
Second Pilot - Sgt William Bilton Begy RCAF (R/66041).
Observer - Sgt Thomas William Weeks RAFVR (1102282).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Fred Taylor RAFVR (971016).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Peter Michael Everson RAFVR (922204).
Fred Taylor was awarded the DFM for service with 58 Squadron, Gazetted on 26th May 1942. He received a commission on 20th June 1942 and was later awarded the DFC for service with 78 Squadron, Gazetted on 28th April 1944, the citation states.."As air gunner, this officer has participated in a large number of sorties, most of which have been against well defended targets in Germany. He is a fearless and determined member of aircraft crew and has destroyed three enemy aircraft. In a recent attack on Nuremburg, Flight Lieutenant Taylor's aircraft was engaged by a fighter. In spite of difficulty, this resolute gunner defended his aircraft with great skill and finally with a well placed burst of fire shot the attacker down. His efficiency and coolness in action have set a very fine example." He survived the War and remained in the RAF into the 1950s.
Cecil Edgar Robertson Parsons received a Mention in Despatches on 14th January 1944. He was also awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 5th March 1946. Piper PA28 VH-WRI was registered to him in Australia as recent as 1990.
F/Sgt Peter Everson was later posted to 149 Squadron and was killed on 30th November 1942. He is buried in Milan War Cemetery, Italy. He was still just nineteen years old.
Sgt Thomas Weeks was killed on 12th March 1942 when 58 Squadron Whitley Z9227 failed to return from Ops to Emden, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
William Begy survived the War and later transferred to the RAF. He was Mentioned in Despatches for service in Malaya in 1950 and later the DFC for further service in Malaya, Gazetted on 16th March 1951.
Whitley Z9142 built to contract 106962/40 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 28th August 1941. It was taken on charge by 58 Squadron
at Linton on Ouse the following month. There is no record of the battle damage sustained on 13th October 1941 or in December 1941 in the published Air Britain history but Cat A/FB damage in the likely assessment. It was transferred to 77 Squadron at Leeming in early 1942 and on 6th May 1942 moved with the unit to Chivenor for a detachment from Bomber Command to Coastal Command. 77 Squadron moved to Elvington on 5th October 1942 and began conversion to Halifax MkII's and the Whitley's took part in no further operations being
phased out before the end of the month. The aircraft was placed in long term MU storage until deemed surplus to requirement and was then struck off charge on 12th
March 1944 and broken up to be melted down.