Excavations > 2009>

	Whitley, Yorkshire

A 500 lb bomb was found in the wreck of a Whitley that crashed near Ebberston, Yorkshire.

The Whitely was T4136 DY-H, a Mk V of 102 Squadron that crashed on return from Politz on the night of 26-27 October 1940.
The crew were:
P/O J S G Crawford (pilot)
P/O E R Osborn (co-pilot)
Sgt W Livesay (navigator)
Sgt G E West (wireless operator)
Sgt R Adams (gunner)

It was hit by Flak over the German coast and the starboard engine put out of action. Crawford limped back across the North Sea and gave the order to bale out. All five men landed safely.

Permission was granted for the excavation on the assumption that there was no ordnance on the site, since the aircraft had bombed the target and was returning. However, one bomb had 'hung up' a fact not known until the excavation took place. The bomb was blown up on 18th August 2009 by No. 5131 (Bomb Disposal) Squadron from RAF Wittering.

Click here to see the BBC New reports:

Clip one. Clip two. Clip three.

	The RAF Bomb Disposal unit (EOD) arrives on the scene.
	The bomb and the digger's bucket are surrounded by sandbags. Fortunately the EOD team disconnected the digger itself and drove it away!
	The much anticipated 'Bang' scattered the sand far and wide.
	The crater and part of the digger bucket.