Whitley near Sutton Penn Farm, Masham.

On the 18th of March 1941 this aircraft took off from Leeming at 20.21hrs to bomb Kiel. On their return the port engine seized up and then caught fire at around 6000 feet. The fire could not be put out and the flames spread to the fuselage. The pilot allowed his crew to bale out but before he could do so it was thought that he was overcome by smoke. At around 05.00hrs the aircraft crashed near to Sutton Penn Farm, north of Masham. The body of the pilot was found in the wreckage.

Pilot - Sgt Neville Watson RAFVR (754857), aged 21, of Whitley Bay. Cremated Newcastle-upon-Tyne (West Road).

Pilot - P/O William McN Spiers RAF.

Sgt Mole

Sgt Evans

Sgt Bok

I have yet to locate the crash site.

P/O William Spiers MiD was killed on 26th July 1941 still serving with 10 Sqdn, he was aged 24 and was from Leicester. He is buried in Koersel Communal Cemetery.