Whitley Z9201 damaged by flak, returned to Dalton airfield.
During the morning of 9th January 1942 this aircraft was one of a number of 102 Squadron Whitleys being flown on an operational flight to bomb Brest where a number of German battleships were in dock. This specific 102 Squadron aircraft took off from Dalton at 03.26hrs and was slightly damaged by flak over the target area but the crew made a safe return to base of Dalton was made at 11.03hrs.
Pilot - Sgt D N Riley
? - Sgt R F Stone
? - Sgt D L Boyd
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt John Emanuel Sumpton RCAF +
? - Sgt Lionel Cecil Fantini (1280767).
? - Sgt H Huddlestone
Lionel Fantini became a PoW on 2nd / 3rd December 1942 when Halifax W7916 was shot down by a Junkers Ju88 on Ops to Frankfurt. After the war Lionel Fantini was appointed to a commission in the Catering Branch of the RAF on 27th January 1951 to the rank of P/O (2607486). He was promoted to F/O on 27th January 1954 and to F/Lt on 27th January 1960. He relinquished his commission of F/Lt on 27th January 1961 retaining his rank.
Whitley Z9201 was built to contract 106962/40 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 15th September 1941. It was taken on charge by 102 Squadron at Topcliffe the following month. On 15th November 1941 it moved with the unit to Dalton. As a result of the flak damage on 9th January 1942 minor Cat.A/FB would have been the assessment and it was almost certainly repaired on site but it is not listed in the published history of the aircraft. The following month 102 Squadron began conversion to Halifax MkII's and the aircraft was transferred to 51 Squadron at Dishforth who were still using Whitleys. On 11th June 1942 it crashed after overshooting Dishforth and Cat.E2/FA damage was recorded. It was written off.