Whitley Z9132 damaged by flak, returned to Dishforth airfield.
In the early hours of 6th April 1942 the crew of this aircraft were tasked with other 51 Squadron crews in flying an operational flight to bomb the Gnome and Rhone
engine factory at Gennevilliers, Paris and left Dishforth at 01.18hrs. They released their bomb load at 04.34hrs from 2,500ft but the aircraft received slight flak
damage to the starboard wing, despite the damage the crew were able to make a safe return to base and land at 07.56hrs. Later reports stated that the engine factory
was not damaged in this raid. Around this time 51 Squadron operated some operational flights on Whitleys with just four aircrew and this was one such flight.
Pilot - Sgt Ian Stewart Horatio MacDonald RAAF (402383).
Observer - Sgt O'Brien (Probably Sgt James Thomas O'Brien RAFVR (928244)).
Wireless Operator - Sgt Helps (Probably Sgt Dennis William Helps RAFVR (978009)).
Air Gunner - Sgt James Ritchie McIntosh RAF (539090).
Whitley Z9132 was built to contract 106962/40 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 22nd August 1941. It was taken on charge by 78 Squadron at Middleton St.George the following month and moved to Croft with them on 20th October 1941. It was taken on charge by 51 Squadron at Dishforth just before this minor flak on 6th April 1942 in which Cat.A/FB damage was the result. It was repaired on site and moved to Chivenor with 51 Squadron on 6th May 1942 for Coastal Command duties. On or around 10th July 1942 it was transferred to 81 OTU at Ashbourne, which formed on that date and moved to Tilstock with them on 1st September 1942. The aircraft is finally recorded as serving with 301 FTU at Lyneham (but this unit does not appear to have operated Whitleys as part of its regular buiness. 301 FTU disbanded on 16th March 1944 and on paper it was struck off charge on 18th July 1944 and broken up. If it didn't serve with 301 FTU it may have gone into storage prior to being scrapped.
The 51 Squadron ORB lists Sgt McIntosh and Sgt O'Brien (1054488) as being posted to 296 Squadron on 4th May 1942. Searching the London Gazette for the O'Brien
service number it returns with a Sgt Robert Shipley! Earlier in the ORB it lists a Sgt O'Brien (928244) being posted in to 51 Squadron and I strong suspect that he
was the observer in Whitley Z9312 in April 1942. James Thomas O'Brien RAFVR (928244) received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on (145848)
17th January 1943 and was later awarded the DFM for service with 161 Squadron, Gazetted on 11th June 1943 but for service before receiving his commission. As fate
had it he was killed the day after his DFM was Gazetted as on 12th June 1943 he was flying with 161 Squadron on an operational SOE flight in Halifax DG406 and the
aircraft failed to return. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial and was thirty one years old.
Sgt McIntosh was later posted to 10 Squadron and was killed on 27th September 1943 flying in Halifax HR922 on Ops to Hanover. He is buried in Hanover War Cemetery
and was twenty eight years old.
The Sgt Helps listed above was probably one Sgt Dennis William Helps RAFVR (978009) and who was awarded the DFM for service with 51 Squadron, Gazetted on
He received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) (143110) on 14th December 1942 and was promoted to F/O on 14th June 1943 and F/Lt on 14th December 1944.
Postwar he remained in the RAFVR transferring to the RAF in 1946 and served until retiring on 30th June 1973.
Ian MacDonald was born Manilla, New South Wales, Australia in June 1916. He was made a PoW on 11th June 1944 while flying Mosquito DZ608 with 692 Squadron when the
aircraft failed to return from an operational flight to bomb Berlin.