Whitley BD252 damaged in the air, landed at Leconfield airfield.
During the afternoon of 2nd December 1942 this 1484 (Bombing) Gunnery Flight aircraft was being flown on a gunnery flight when a failure of the port engine occurred. An engine fire resulted but the flames were put out though the aircraft would then not maintain height on one engine. Despite that, the pilot managed to land at Leconfield safely at 15.26hrs although the other engine cut out just before landing. Minor damage resulted from the fire.
Pilot - F/Sgt Philip Sydney Rainer RAFVR (1153555).
Whitley BD252 was built to contract 106962/40 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 26th March 1942. It's first unit was 77 Squadron, the date it was taken on charge by them is not yet known but it was first flown by them while part of Coastal Command at Chivenor on 11th September 1942 where it was coded "V". The previous "V" was Whitley Z9461 which was lost on 13th August 1942. During September 1942 77 Squadron started using a number of the BD.. batch Whitleys so I assume that they were taken on charge around the same date in late August / early September 1942. In October 1942 77 Squadron moved to Elvington and also ceased operating Whitley MkV's. The aircraft was flown back to Elvington then transferred to 1484 Flight at Driffield shortly afterwards. On 2nd December 1942 it sustained minor Cat.A/FA damage and was repaired on site and returned to 1484 Flight. On 30th March 1943 it sustained wind damage to the elevators at Driffield while parked and was repaired on site again. Later in 1943 the aircraft went on to serve with 19 O.T.U. at Kinloss but by August 1944 it was in MU storage pending disposal. It remained in store and was struck off charge on 26th April 1945.