On 10th August 1942 this 1484 Flight aircraft had taken off from Driffield at 01.00hrs but as it left the runway the starboard engine cut out. The aircraft crashed and caught fire and all three airmen on the aircraft sustained injuries. An investigation found that the engine failed because the spark plugs had become oiled as the aircraft had been held on the ground for fifteen minutes before take off owing to enemy activity in the area. Both passengers were on attachment at Driffield from 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit and both were undergoing bomb aimer training at the time. Payne is listed as an air observer while Wildig was a wireless operator / air gunner.
Oxford BM821 was built to contract B.67831/40 by the Percival Aircraft Co. Ltd. at Luton and was awaiting collection in February 1942. It was then placed in long term MU storage before being taken on charge by 1484 Bombing and Gunnery Flight at Driffield on 24th July 1942. As a result of the crash at Driffield on 10th August 1942 the more serious damage assessment of Cat.E2/FA Burnt was recorded and the aircraft was written off.
Pilot - Sgt Harry Walmsley DFM RAFVR (1114164). Injured.
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Alfred Arthur Payne RAFVR (1210552). Injured.
Bomb Aimer - Sgt George Wildig RAFVR (919771). Injured.
Harry Walmsley was flying as second pilot in Halifax W1041 on Ops to bomb the Tirpitz on the night of 27th / 28th April 1942. The aircraft was hit by flak and its crew baled out before the aircraft crashed in Norway. He was awarded the DFM for evading capture and the citation was a joint one with his pilot. Notification was printed in the London Gazette on 16th June 1942, his pilot Acting Wing Commander D C T Bennett was awarded the DSO and Sergeant Warnsley, the DFM; their citation reads.. "One night in April 1942, Wing Commander Bennett and Sergeant Walmsley were the captain and second pilot respectively of an aircraft which attacked the German naval base in the Trondheim fjord. In spite of a fierce defensive barrage, the attack was carried out at an extremely low level. The aircraft was hit by shell-fire and, later, burst into flames. Wing Commander Bennett and Sergeant Walmsley were forced to escape by parachute but both landed safely in occupied territory. Both Wing Commander Bennett and Sergeant Walmsley displayed excellent resource and, after escaping from German soldiers and police, they eventually reached Swedish territory after a most arduous and trying journey across snow-clad mountains. Throughout, both Wing Commander Bennett and Sergeant Walmsley displayed courage, initiative and devotion to duty of the highest order." Linzee Druce details the incident in full on her website. Harry Walmsley was posted from 1484 Flight to 1502 B.A.T. Flight on 14th December 1942. He would eventually receive a commission on 13th April 1945 (196858) to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) and was promoted to F/O (war subs) on 13th October 1945. He died in 1992.
George Wildig was later posted to 158 Squadron from 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit.
Alfred Payne was involved in a mishap at 24 OTU on 18th May 1942 that saw a Whitley being hit by a vehicle on the perimeter track at Long Marston airfield.
Back to monthly table.