© Sources: "Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War", Volume 1, by W. R. Chorley, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the 41 Squadron ORB, PRO Air 27/424
On 18 October 1939, 41 Squadron was ordered to Wick, Caithness. The pilots took off with their 12 Spitfires, followed by the servicing party in a Whitley aircraft of 102 Squadron, which crashed on take-off. Sergeant Pilot Albert Harris, Aircraftman 1st Class Horace Jones, Sergeant Arthur Vincent and four of the Whitley's crew were killed, whilst Sergeant D. Gibbs and Corporal Jenkinson were seriously injured. Gibbs did not return to the Squadron from sick leave until 9 December 1939. (Source: 41 Squadron ORB, PRO Air 27/424)
Late in the day the crew of this aircraft were tasked to fly to Catterick and from there ferry a load of ammunition to Wick. After loading the stores, five passengers boarded the aircraft. Sgt Gaut selected the longest available take-off run, but when about half way across the airfield the Whitley suddenly rose to about 10 feet, followed by a near vertical climb at full throttle. Eye witnesses state that the bomber stalled below 100 feet, and dived nose first into the ground exploding on impact. Miraculously two of the five passengers survived the impact. Among those killed was Sgt Harris, a Spitfire pilot, who on the day previous had shared in the destruction of an He 111 20 miles east of Whitby, Yorks. Those killed were Sgt H. J. Gaut (Pilot), Plt. Off. R. A. M. Luckman, AC1 C. Paterson, AC.1 J. B. Clark, Sgt A. Vincent (41 Sqdn), Sgt. A. H. Harris (41 Sqdn) and AC1 H. Jones (41 Sqdn). Sgt. Gibbs and Cpl. Jenkinson were injured. (Source: RAF Bomber Command Losses, W. R. Chorley)
The details of those killed are:
HARRIS, Albert, aged 27, Sergeant Pilot, 563150, 41 Squadron RAF, buried in South Hinskey (St. Lawrence) Churchyard, Berkshire, England, Section O, Grave 209. Son of Arthur and Eva Harris, and husband of Violet Ann Harris, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
JONES, Horace, Aircraftman 1st Class (W. Op./Mech. U/T), 533682, 41 Squadron RAF, buried in Droylsden Cemetery, Lancashire, Section F, Grave 482
VINCENT, Arthur, aged 30, Sergeant, 560443, 41 Squadron RAF, buried in Sunderland Southwick Cemetery, Durham, Section D, Grave 1243. Son of Albert and Dorothy Jane Vincent, of Sunderland and husband of Olga Vincent, of Humbledon, Sunderland
CLARK, John Baker, aged 20, Aircraftman 1st Class, 567489, 102 Squadron RAF, buried in Thurrock (Corringham) Cemetery, Essex, England, Row D, Grave 1. Son of John Pullen Clark and Gladys Ann Clark, of Corringham
GAUT, Herbert John, Sergeant Pilot, 562936, 102 Squadron RAF, buried in Sidbury Church Cemetery, Devon, England
LUCKMAN, Reginald Arthur Morton, aged 27, Pilot Officer, 39744, 102 Squadron RAF, buried in Herne Bay Cemetery, Kent, England, Section BBR, Grave 54. Son of Cyril Herbert Morton and Mary Luckman, and husband of Phyllis Luckman
PATERSON, Charles, aged 22, Aircraftman 1st Class, W.Op. U/T, 620054, 102 Squadron RAF, buried in Aberdeen (Grove) Cemetery, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Grave 1761