Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk.V T4225 crashed on Bingley Moor on the 16th October 1940 while being ferried by No.4 FPP

 

Thomas Dowell Trouncer Flying Officer (RAFVR) Pilot Killed

 

Flying Officer Trouncer was detailed to collect Whitley T4225 from No.6 Maintenance Unit at RAF Brize Norton and ferry that aircraft to Yeadon near Leeds before it was to be taken on to Prestwick in Ayrshire. As was normal with ferry flying he was operating the aircraft alone.

The hills west of Leeds were obscured by cloud on that day making Yeadon a hard airfield to located, being on a ridge at 600ft. While flying at just over 1,000ft the aircraft struck moorland six miles from the airfield, F/O Trouncer being killed in the crash.

Scraps of aluminium wreckage at the crash site of Whitley T4225 on Bingley Moor, Yorkshire
Small pieces of aluminium remain scattered on the moor where the aircraft crashed.
Some were for a time made more visible by moorland fires, evidence of which can be seen in this photo.