Whitley K9019 at Dishforth aerodrome.
On 14th July 1939 this 10 Squadron aeroplane was flown on a local flying training exercise around the Dishforth area. Two pilots were in the cockpit with a more experienced airman giving flying training to a lesser experienced man. The aeroplane took off in poor weather, rain effected visibility considerably with what appears to have been the lesser experienced man piloting the aeroplane but with the more experienced deemed the captain. After taking off the captain retracted the undercarriage but did not inform the pilot. The visbility became so bad on the front windscreen that the side windows had to be opened so that the two airmen could see. Because of the visbility problem the captain told the pilot to make a quick landing. A landing was made at Dishforth but because the pilot was not told the undercarriage was raised, he assumed it was still down so landed on the belly in error.
Pilot (at the time) - Sgt George Alexander Craig RAF (580069).
Captain (more experienced pilot) - Sgt James Grant MacCoubrey RAF (580264).
Whitley K9019 was built to contract 522438/36 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was taken on charge by 10 Squadron at Dishforth on 16th May 1939. As a result of being damaged at Dishforth on 14th July 1939 Cat.R/FA damage was the damage assessment. A repair on site was possibly begun but on 5th September 1939 it was transported to Airwork and General Trading Ltd. at Gatwick for a repair in works. On 10th May 1940 it was taken on charge by 10 O.T.U. at Abingdon and was then transferred to 19 OTU at Kinloss on 25th September 1940. On 17th May 1941 it was belly landed in error at Kinloss and repairable Cat.M/FA damage was carried out on site. On 1st May 1942 was slightly damaged at Kinloss when an undercarriage leg collapsed on landing. Cat.Ac/FA damage was the assessment and it was repaired on site and it was returned to 19 O.T.U. on 6th June 1942. On 10th December 1942 it required a repair on site but for an unspecified reason and was returned to 19 O.T.U. on 24th December 1942. On 27th January 1943 it was flown to 44 M.U. at Edzell and was struck off charge on 26th July 1943 having clocked up some 700 flying hours from new.
James MacCoubrey was awarded the DFM for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 30th July 1940. On 21st February 1941 P/O James MacCoubrey died of injuries received in a flying accident when Whitley N1373 of 19 O.T.U. crashed after an engine failure at Forres three days earlier. He is buried Glasgow (Lambshill) Cemetery.