ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 185435
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Wednesday 22 May 1940 |
| Time: | 01:00 LT |
| Type: |  Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk V |
| Owner/operator: | 102 (Ceylon) Sqn RAF |
| Registration: | N1528 |
| MSN: | AWA.1656 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 5 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | near Metz, Moselle 57 -
 France
|
| Phase: | Combat |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RAF Driffield, North Yorkshire |
| RAF Driffield, North Yorkshire |
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk.V N1528 (DY-E) 102 (Ceylon) Squadron, RAF: Written off (destroyed) when lost (Failed to return) from a combat operation on 22 May 1940. All five crew survived. According to the official Air Ministry file into the incident (File AIR 81/466): "Whitley N1528 force landed near Metz, France, 22 May 1940. Pilot Officer R F Beauclair, Aircraftman 2nd Class A Sedgley, Pilot Officer G H Womersley, Aircraftman 1st Class H F Hurt and Sergeant J Derbyshire - uninjured".
On the night of 21-22 May 1940, a force of 124 RAF aircraft (52 Whitleys, 47 Wellingtons, and 25 Hampdens) were tasked to attack German railway lines. 3 Wellingtons, 1 Hampden and 1 Whitley lost.
Target: Bombing - road/rail communications at Euskirchen, Julich and Rheydt. 10 Squadron sent ten aircraft, all of which bombed the target (from between 2-6,000 feet). 51 Squadron sent 12 aircraft, all of which bombed the target, One Failed To Return. 58 Squadron sent 12 aircraft, all bombed the target in the face of moderate to severe opposition. 77 Squadron sent seven aircraft. One returned early U/S (Unserviceable), six bombed the target. 102 Squadron sent nine aircraft. Two returned early U/S, one Failed To Return - and that was N1528/DY-E.
Crew of Whitley N1528:
Pilot Officer G.H. Womersley (pilot)
Pilot Officer R.F. Beauclair (2nd pilot)
Sgt J. Derbyshire (Observer)
AC.1 H.F. Hurt (Wireless Op./Air Gunner)
AC.2 A. Sedgley (Air Gunner)
Airborne at 21:24 on 21 May 1940 from RAF Driffield, North Yorkshire. Abandoned at 01:00 on 22 May 1940, near Metz (Moselle), Grand Est, France. The crew bailed out, and returned safely, via Paris, to their unit, arriving at Driffield 25 May 1940. Cause of abandonment not established, but possibly Flak/AAA.
Sources:
1. Royal Air Force Aircraft N1000-N9999 (James J. Halley, Air Britain, 1977 p 8)
2. National Archives (PRO Kew) File Air 81/466: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14501996
3. https://sites.google.com/site/wo2vpr1/home/1940-07-27-whitley
4. http://francecrashes39-45.net/page_fiche_av.php?id=1929
5. http://www.epibreren.com/ww2/raf/102_squadron.html#212205
6. https://www.baaa-acro.com/index.php/crash/crash-armstrong-whitworth-aw38-whitley-v-near-metz
7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metz .
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 15-Mar-2016 15:11 | gerard57 | Added |
| 15-Mar-2016 18:11 | gerard57 | Updated [Total fatalities] |
| 02-Nov-2018 19:35 | Nepa | Updated [Operator, Operator] |
| 29-Jul-2019 19:18 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Cn, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 29-Jul-2019 19:20 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
| 03-Jul-2022 01:52 | Ron Averes | Updated [Location] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation