Whitley K8945 at Driffield aerodrome.
On 19th May 1939 this 102 Squadron aeroplane was being flown on a local night-time flying training exercise when the pilot undershot the flarepath on landing at Driffield aerodrome. It struck a bombing quadrant that must have already been deemed a hazard as the authorisation to remove this had been granted two days earlier but it had not been acted upon. At the time of this incident the pilot's visibility was restricted owing to oil on the windscreen.
Pilot - P/O Alfred Burke Thompson RAF (39585).
Whitley K8945 was built to contract 522438/36 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was delivered to 102 Squadron at Driffield on 17th September 1938. As a result of damage sustained at Driffield on 19th May 1939 Cat.M/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site. Later, on 28th October 1939 it passed to 9 M.U. at Cosford and on 8th June 1940 was taken on charge by 19 OTU at Kinloss. On 25th August 1940 it was transferred to 10 OTU at Abingdon but on 12th September 1940 went to 27 MU at Shawbury. On 13th October 1940 it was taken on charge by 10 AOS at Warmwell. On 10th October 1941 it was transferred to 8 AGS at Evanton. On 1st March 1942 an engine cut while being flown in the circuit at Evanton, it then crashed landed on mudflats near Dingwall. Cat.W/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge on 28th March 1942.