Whitley Z9228 damaged by flak, landed at Driffield airfield.
On the night of 26th / 27th April 1942 the crew of this aircraft were tasked with other 51 Squadron crews in flying an operational flight to bomb Rostock and they took off from Dishforth at 21.53hrs, this aircraft bombed Rostock at 02.14hrs from 14,000ft and encountered flak in the target area. The aircraft was struck by this flak which injured the pilot in the face and damaged the aircraft in a number of places including the undercarriage, the crew were able to return to Yorkshire and make a landing at Driffield airfield at 06.59hrs which then saw the undercarriage collapse. The pilot was given treatment for his injuries. Around this time 51 Squadron operated some operational flights on Whitleys with just four aircrew and this was one such flight. For his actions in bringing the aircraft and crew home the pilot was awarded an immediate DFM and the details of this are given below.
Pilot - Sgt Herbert Lloyd Wynne RAFVR (1014448). Injured.
Observer - Sgt Douglas James Thornton RAFVR (911983).
Wireless Operator - Sgt Roland J Demers RCAF (R/69026).
Air Gunner - Sgt Stewart RCAF (R/77141).
For his actions on this night in April 1943 Sgt Wynne was awarded an immediate DFM, Gazetted on 22nd May 1942. The citation for his award reads.. “One night in April 1942, this airman captained an aircraft detailed to attack Rostock. Whilst over the target area, the aircraft was hit and damaged by shell-fire and Sergeant Wynne was wounded in the face. Nevertheless, the objective was successfully bombed. The return flight was made in the face of considerable difficulty owing to the damage sustained and, when still some 200 miles from the English coast, the starboard engine failed. Movable equipment was jettisoned and height was maintained. Eventually Sergeant Wynne flew the damaged aircraft to this country where he made a skilful landing with the undercarriage retracted. Throughout, this airman displayed great courage and an outstanding determination to complete his allotted task.” He received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) (129105) on 23rd May 1942 and was later promoted to F/O on 23rd November 1942. By August 1942 he had been posted to 161 Squadron and was involved in flying SOE operations. On the night of 1st / 2nd September 1942 he was involved in flying an unusual operational flight, he was the pilot of one of three Whitleys that were instructed to drop thousands of cigarettes over Holland on the instructions of Prince Bernhard of The Netherlands under the operational code name “Gasper”. On 19th March 1943 he was the pilot of Halifax DG444 undertaking an operational flight coded “Vega 3” to Norway and was lost without trace, he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. He was twenty seven years old.
Sgt Thornton had already survived the crash of Whitley Z6879 in the Middleham area of the Yorkshire Dales in January 1942, he was later posted to 296 Squadron on 4th May 1942 having received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 1st May 1942 (126032). He was promoted to F/O on 1st November 1942 and to F/Lt (war subs) on 1st May 1944. Postwar he remained in the RAF until resigning his commission of F/Lt on 29th November 1947.
Whitley Z9228 was built to contract 106962/40 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton, it was awaiting collection on 10th October 1941 and was then taken on charge later the same month by 51 Squadron based at Dishforth, probably as a replacement for Z6474 that had crashed at the end of September 1941. As a result of the battle damage sustained on 27th April 1942 minor Cat.A/FB damage was the assessment and it would have been repaired on site. On 6th May 1942 51 Squadron moved to Chivenor for an attachment in Coastal Command and the aircraft followed as soon as repairs were completed. On 27th October 1942 51 Squadron moved to Snaith and then in November 1942 they started to convert to Halifax aircraft so their Whitleys were surplus to requirements, this aircraft was placed in long term storage where it remained until being struck off charge on 19th April 1945.