Halifax R9377 at Marston Moor airfield.
Halifax R9377 earlier in its life with 35 Squadron.
On 24th June 1942 this 1652 Conversion Unit aircraft swung on landing at 16.30hrs at Marston Moor airfield following an evening air-test flight, the pilot over corrected the swing and the undercarriage collapsed. 1652 Conversion Unit were preparing to take part in the third Thousand Bomber Raid the following day and while it is not yet confirmed the named pilot below flew the raid on 25th June with the named crew below, I therefore assume that they had perhaps been in the air for the air-test the previous day.
Pilot - F/O Kenneth Derek Whisken DFC RAFVR (61037).
Assumed crew...
Second Pilot - Sgt Harry Francis Spratt RCAF (R/71491).
Navigator - P/O William Henry Andrews RCAF (J/40353).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Robert Walker Wagstaff RCAF (R/71717).
Bomb Aimer - P/O David Bruce McKenzie RCAF (J/15436).
Flight Engineer - Sgt V A Martin RAF (641185).
Rear Gunner - Sgt Ian Reay Watson RCAF (R/77490).
F/O Whisken was killed the day after this mishap at Marston Moor when, on 25th / 26th June 1942 he failed to return from Ops and is buried in Dalfsen General Cemetery, Holland. He was twenty two years old. He was the pilot of Halifax V9993 which was shot down on Ops to Bremen and crashed in Holland, the aircraft was on charge with 1652 Conversion Unit at the time of the loss and this training unit was instructed to put up aircraft for a 1000 bomber raid which called for maximum effort. It is currently not known whether Whisken was an instructor flying on this Op with other screened aircrew, or whether the crew were 102 Squadron personnel converting to fly the Halifax's at the time but either way it is
likely 1652 CU was called upon by HQ to put up their aircraft to make the bomber force larger. A number of other training units lost many
aircrew on this raid. Oddly CWGC give the date of 25th June for his death, where as W R Chorley quotes the time of the aircraft being shot down
as being just after 02.00hrs on 26th July 1942. Dutch air historian Stefan Hendriks kindly provided me with extra details regarding this loss and the
photograph of Whisken's grave. His research has found that after being hit by fire from a German night-fighter and the rear gunner was killed, Whisken ordered the
rest of the crew to bale out just after midnight on the 26th. Whisken dropped the last incendiary bombs and jumped after the rest baled out. Unfortunatly his parachute failed to open and he did not survive. He was found the following morning just outside Lemelerveld. The bomber crashed about 5km east of where Whisken jumped with the body of the rear gunner found near Raalte, close to Luttenberg. I thank Mr Hendriks for this additional information and the photograph of the grave. The rear gunner, F/Sgt Ian Watson, died as a result of the action on 25th / 26th June 1942 as stated above, he is buried in Raalte General Cemetery, Holland. The rest of the crew became PoW's which included Spratt, Wagstaff, Martin and Andrews of those listed above.
Halifax R9377 was built to contract 692649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett. It was allotted to 12 MU on 3rd December 1941 then was allotted to 35 Squadron on 5th December 1941. It was taken on charge by 35 Squadron on 6th December 1941 at Linton on Ouse. As a result of flak damage on 18th December 1941 Cat.A/FB damage was the damage assessment which saw it swiftly repaired on site. The aircraft sustained further battle damage on 30th December 1941. Again Cat.A/FB damage was the damage assessment and it was again repaired on site. It continued to be used by 35 Squadron until being transferred to 1652 Conversion Unit at Marston Moor on 27th January 1942. On 24th June 1942 it crashed at Marston Moor airfield, Cat.E2/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge on the same date.
Kenneth Whisken received a commission to P/O on probation on 18th January 1941 (with seniority back dated to 14th January 1941).
He rose to F/O exactly a year later and was awarded the DFC for service with 102 Squadron, Gazetted on 13th March 1942. The citation
reads.."This officer has participated in sorties both as second pilot and as captain of aircraft. He has shown exceptional skill
and determination in pressing home his attacks at all time. P/O Whisken has attacked many important targets in Germany, including
Hamburg, Mannheim, Frankfurt, Stettin and Cologne. He has at all times set a courageous example." On 30th August 1941 he was the pilot of Whitley Z6798 which was damaged by flak but he was able to return to Topcliffe and land without further incident. On 16th April 1942 he was the pilot of Halifax R9431 which suffered an engine failure
on a training flight which resulted in the engine catching fire, he landed the aircraft at Marston Moor. On 24th June 1942
The incident detailed above was Kenneth Whisken's third crash at Marston Moor in just over two months almost certainly acting as an instructor.
