OTU 10 - Whitley P4997 - Accident 12 September 1940

**tcsplinters** · 10th January 2023, 21:45

Hi

Still trying to understand the service of my grandfather.

D M CLARK
RAF # 911391 (1940-1943) or 148038 (After 1943)
Found this in the database

AIR81/3245

Whitley V P4997

Aircraftman H N Kingdom: killed; Flight Sergeant L F East, Sergeant Steel, Sergeant H J Dowling, Sergeant L G Smith, Sergeant D H Gilbert, Aircraftman D M Clark, Sergeant E A Hodges: uninjured; aircraft accident, RAF St Neots, Whitley P4997, 10 Operational Training Unit, 12 September 1940.

Now according to my grandfathers service records he was at that time at OTU 10. I found a Air1180 records for that aircraft.
https://lancasterbombersinfo.ipage.c...an-Sept/0.html

But OTU 10 ORB didnt show this aircraft, so I am assuming it was a training accident not an operation. Where would I find out info for training accidents? Anyone have any info or images on this event.

Thank you in advance
Tony

**David Duxbury** · 10th January 2023, 22:06

Tony,
As practically all flying at OTU's was connected with crew training (NOT operational) I think you are right to generally assume that he was involved in a training accident. However OTUs (and particularly Bomber OTUs) were very occasionally employed on operations (such as the 1,000 Bomber raids on Cologne, Operation Millenium, May/June 1942) as well as some special periods and circumstances involving putting the pressure on U-boats in the Bay of Biscay, which I think involved Wellingtons, Whitleys and the like. Another small point is that RAF and other British Commonwealth OTUs were generally referred to as No. x OTU rather than OTU x, and if referred to in a formal sense, then ALWAYS that way, as with Squadrons, schools, etc.