Whitley Z9215 damaged by flak, returned to Dishforth airfield.
In the early hours 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 01.12hrs. They released their bomb load at 04.30hrs from 4,000ft but the aircraft received slight flak damage to the
starboard side of the fuselage, despite the damage the crew were able to make a safe return to base and land at 07.50hrs. 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 - P/O Geoffrey Alan Osborn RAFVR (106230).
Observer - Sgt Storey.
Wireless Operator - Sgt Reynolds.
Air Gunner - Sgt Hone (A630119).
Whitley Z9215 was built to contract 106952/40 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 30th September 1941, and the following month it was taken on charge by 78 Squadron at Middleton St.George. It then moved with 78 Squadron to Croft on 20th October 1941 and on an unknown date it was transferred to 51 Squadron at Dishforth. As a result of the minor flak damage on 6th April 1942 Cat.A/FB damage was the result and it was repaired on site. On 6th May 1942 it was taken to Chivenor by 51 Squadron for Coastal Command duties. On 22nd July 1942 it was ditched after the failure of an engine on a shipping escort mission over Irish Sea. Cat.Em damage was recorded on the paperwork.
"This officer has on two occasions displayed great gallantry in rescuing members of his crew from burning aircraft. When serving as an instructor at an Operational Training
Unit, he was engaged in testing a Whitley, which crashed and burst into flames. Flying Officer Osborn, who was thrown clear and was uninjured, immediately re-entered the aircraft
and dragged clear the observer, who was badly injured. In effecting this rescue, Flying Officer Osborn suffered severe burns about the hands and was in hospital for six weeks.
In March, 1943, Flying Officer Osborn was captain and pilot of an aircraft which crashed shortly after taking off on an operational flight. The aircraft was soon enveloped in
flames and ammunition and verey lights were exploding, Flying Officer Osborn was dazed but succeeded in extricating 4 injured members of the crew from the wreckage. In so doing
he was badly burnt about the hands, arms and face. Though in a state bordering on collapse, he did all he could to ensure that every member of his crew had been extricated
before he was finally persuaded to receive attention."
Postwar he left the RAF in May 1946 and returned to Bermuda but later returned to the UK and worked in air traffic control and later senior roles in civilian aviation management
in Bermuda. He died in June 2001 in North Carolina, USA.
Geoffrey Osborn was born in January 1922 in England but moved to Bermuda with his family at a young age and grew up there. He was among a small group of airmen who learned to
fly at the Bermuda Flying School before returning to England to join the RAF in 1940. He received his commission on 6th September 1941 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency).
He was posted to 51 Squadron in late 1941 and flew on their detachment to Cornwall to undertake parachutist dropping on 27th February 1942 flying as second pilot with F/Lt Towsey
in Whitley Z9298. This detachment returned to their parent unit soon after this and he continued to serve with them until 4th May 1942 when he was posted away to instruct at 10 OTU.
On 29th November 1942 he was the pilot of Whitley EB362 which crashed in Cornwall while on an airtest and caught fire, he returned to the burning aircraft and pulled his then
navigator clear but sustained burns to his hands. He recovered from his injuries and was later posted to 161 Squadron involved in SOE work. On 14th March 1943 his Halifax DG283
crashed near Fawley, Buckinghamshire soon after taking off for an operational SOE flight and caught fire, again he returned to the burning aircraft and dragged four members of
his crew clear of the aircraft although two later died three survived, Osborn sustained spinal injuries in the crash and by returning to the burning aircraft he sustained burns
to his arms and face and spent some weeks in hospital, after this he did not return to operational flying. For his actions in saving his crew he was recommended for the George
Cross, on 13th July 1943 the London Gazette published notification that he was to be awarded the George Medal, the citation for which reads..
Sgt Hone was posted to 296 Squadron on 4th May 1942 but nothing more is known about him.