Halifax JN949 at Pocklington airfield.
On 22nd December 1943 this 102 Squadron aircraft was in the process of taking off from Pocklington airfield at 11.24hrs to test the engines when it would not get airborne. With the available space to stop in reducing fast the pilot swung the aircraft off the line onto wet grass but this then rendered the brakes ineffective and it came to rest damaged. It had been used on operations the previous night but had to return early because of an unservicable engine. I presume the ground crew thought they had fixed the problem so it was about to be given an air test. The damage was initially assessed as Cat.Ac, the re-assessed Cat.B then further assessed Cat.E and written off.
Pilot - Acting F/Lt Arthur Hilton RAFVR (150105).
Pilot - P/O Kenneth Herbert Whittington RCAF (R/133936).
F/Lt Arthur Hilton was killed on the night of 15th / 16th February 1944 flying Halifax LW339 on Ops to Berlin. He is buried in Berlin War Cemetery.
Kenneth Whittington was born in Burk's Falls, Ontario, Canada in September 1916 but moved to Oshawa at the age of four. He was working with his brother in a radio repair buisness when he enlisted for RCAF service in Toronto in October 1941. He completed his training at 1658 HCU and was posted to 102 Squadron based at Pocklington and begun operational flying on 27th August 1943. For service with them he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 27th June 1944. The citation for his award reads.."This officer has completed a tour of operational duty during which he has taken part in attacks on a wide variety of targets in Germany and France including such heavily defended objectives as Berlin, Hanover and Frankfurt. In December 1943, while on the way to the target, he encountered strong opposition from enemy fighters. The rudder of his aircraft was damaged and Flight Lieutenant Whittington had great difficulty in keeping to course. Nevertheless he flew on and successfully completed his mission. This officer's tour has been marked by the courage and skill he has displayed and the determination with which he has always pressed home his attacks." Unfortunately the 102 Squadron record book does not go into any detail around his flights in December 1943 and does not mention any of his aircraft being damaged in December 1943. He was presented with his DFC on 22nd November 1948.