Whitley Z9142 damaged by enemy aircraft, returned to Linton on Ouse airfield.
On the night of 12th / 13th October 1941 the crew of this aircraft were one of a number of 58 Squadron crews tasked with flying operational flights to bomb
to Nurnburg. This specific aircraft took off at 19.00hrs but outbound the aircraft was attacked and damaged by an enemy aircraft well before the crew reached
the target which caused damage to the tail and fuselage. The hydraulics were also damaged and because of this the crew abandoned the trip, jettisoned the bombs and made for home.
The aircraft landed at 01.03hrs but the undercarriage collapsed on landing.
Pilot - P/O Douglas Edward William Brown RAFVR (64288).
Second Pilot - Sgt Frederick Scrivens RAFVR (1162246). Injured.
Observer - Sgt Bernard John Monk RAFVR (917421).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Thomas Harold Marlow RAFVR (1153788).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Norman Fenton RAFVR (952943).
Douglas Brown received a commisison to the rank of P/O on probation on 22nd February 1941. He, Monk and Fenton were killed on 8th November 1941 flying Ops to Berlin with 58
Squadron in Whitley Z9205. They are buried in Kiel War Cemetery.
Sgt Marlow was killed on 30th November 1941 when Whitley Z6506 failed to return from Ops to Hamburg. He is also commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Frederick Scrivens received a commission on 20th April 1942 and survived the War.
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 27th December 1941 in the published Air Britain history but Cat.A/FB damage in the likely assessment in both cases and a repair on site would have been made. 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.