Whitley Z9145 at Givendale, Ripon.
On the night of 22nd / 23rd October 1941 a number of aircraft from 51 Squadron were tasked with bombing Mannheim and they left
Dishforth around 18.00hrs. Whitley Z9145 took off at 18.21hrs but did not bomb the primary target area and returned to Yorkshire.
On their return to the Dishforth area the aircraft overshot on landing but remained in the air, it did not climb away and struck a
cable stretched across the River Ure just east of Ripon at Givendale at 23.55hrs. The aircraft crashed into a field next to the river
and all five of the crew sustained injuries but sadly two died at the scene and another died in hospital. One of the crew was later
awarded a DFM and the citation makes reference to an incident in October 1941, it could refer to the same flight as this.
Whitley Z9145 was built to contract 106962/40 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 30th August
1941. It was taken on charge by 51 Squadron the following month at Dishforth as a replacement for Whitley Z6813, which was returned
to Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. for unspecified reasons. As a result of the crash near Ripon on 22nd October 1941 Cat.E2/FB(Burnt) damage
was recorded on the paperwork.
The crash site is on land belonging to the Newby Estate, in 2009 plans were put into motion for an extension of a gravel pit which
may by now have destroyed the crash site. In 2008 I was contacted by members of the nearby sailing club, the White Rose Sailing
Association (WRSA) and I thank them for their contact to add these extra details.
Pilot - Sgt John Lyon Perrin RAFVR (961016), aged 25. Buried Dishforth Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Second Pilot - P/O Anthony Baerlein RAFVR (68803), aged 29. Buried Dishforth Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Observer - Sgt Michael Anthony Farr RAFVR (1154255). Injured.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Harry Freeman Tice RCAF (R/64242). Of Dunnville, Ontario, Canada. Injured.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Ronald Ernest Sayer RAFVR (931753), aged 20, of Kingsbury. Died in hospital. Buried Kingsbury Churchyard, Middlesex.
Anthony Baerlein was born in 1912, he was the son of Edgar Baerlein who was the thirteen times winner of the Amateur Tennis Championship.
Anthony attended Eton school and was a reasonable cricketer. After leaving school he worked in film production for a while before becoming a
Daily Express journalist and novelist. His Sci-Fi novel "Daze, The Magician" was published in 1936. He had married a well known artist, actress
and dancer of the time, one Olga Edwardes (later Davenport) who he had met backstage during a performance at Regents Park Open Air Theatre,
they married in 1940. He joined the RAF in 1940 and was commissioned on 17th June 1941 to the rank of P/O. After his death his wife would
re-marry, her second husband being Nicholas Davenport who was a city economist and their country home was Hinton Manor where they held
court to the most influential artists, economists, philosophers, and politicians of the day.
The Baerlein family were originally from Bavaria and had come to the England in 1830s. Anthony Baerlein
had an older brother Richard and he was also a pilot in the RAF who flew in Coastal Command and was later one of
Churchill's pilots. After the War his brother was a well known horse racing journalist.
John Perrin's gravestone in Dishforth Cemetery.
"F/Sgt Tice has taken part in numerous operational attacks, including many of the most defended targets. One night in October 1941 his aircraft became
lost when compelled by technical failure to turn back. In most difficult conditions this airman effected repairs which enabled the aircraft to reach base."
Further details located regarding his DFM by historian Mr Hugh Halliday stated that he had flown 28 operational flights at the time and that "he is a
sound wireless operator of exceptional keenness and energy, and has set an example to others during the whole of his tour of operations."
By the time the notification that his DFM had come through he was already a PoW as on 30th September 1942 he was flying in 258 Squadron Whitley BD258 on
route to the Middle East, the aircraft was shot down by a night-fighter over water. He and two others were taken PoW while two further members of the crew
were never found. He was liberated in April 1945.
Harry Tice was born in Dunnville, Ontario on 8th April 1921 but was living in the Hamilton area of Ontario when he enlisted on 7th June 1940 and was a
student at the time. After completing his training he was posted to 51 Squadron. Following this accident near Ripon he was back in the air by the end of
December 1941. While in the rank of F/Sgt he was awarded the DFM for service with 51 Squadron, Gazetted on 27th October 1942 the citation reads..
Michael Farr received a commision in April 1943. By 11th July 1944 he was serving with 138 Squadron and was killed flying Halifax LL251 on an SOE flight. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.