Whitley Z6490 at Driffield airfield.
On 17th June 1942 this 1484 (Target Towing) Gunnery Flight aircraft was being flown on gunnery training flight when the starboard engine failed in the air. The pilot was able to return to Driffield airfield and land safely but the failed engine then caught fire. The fire tender party put out the fire before any further damage resulted.
Pilot - Sgt Hardie.
Whitley Z6490 was built to contract 106962/40 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 21st January 1941. It was initially taken on charge by 78 Squadron at Dishforth where it was coded "EY-J". It moved to Middleton St.George with the squadron on 7th April 1941 and to Croft on 20th October 1941. There is an AM Form 1180 that shows Z6494 was with 102 Squadron on 26th January 1942 when it received damage in a gale at Dalton airfield. Cat.Ac damage resulted. In March 1942 78 Squadron ceased operating Whitley MkV's so the aircraft was transferred to 1484 Flight at Driffield. As a result of the damage sustained on 17th June 1942 minor Cat.A/FA damage was the assessment and it was repaired on site. On 29th March 1943 it was abandoned due to icing whilst on a gunnery exercise, the aircraft crashed and burnt out on the Yorkshire Wolds near the Garrowby Hill Searchlight Battery. Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage was recorded on the paperwork.