Date:	Saturday 9 September 1939
Time:	night
Type:	Armstrong Whitworth Whitley B Mk II
Owner/operator:	102 Sqn RAF
Registration:	K8950
MSN:	AWA.1394
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 5
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	Kassel -   Germany
Phase:	Combat
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	RAF Driffield, North Yorkshire
Destination airport:

Narrative:
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley B.Mk.II K8950 ("DY-M") of 102 Squadron, RAF. Written off (failed to return) on combat operations 9.9.39: Left RAF Driffield at 23:55 LT with the Ruhr as its objective. Aircraft tasked with a "Nickel" (leaflet dropping) operation. Crashed in unknown circumstances - but most likely shot down by Flak over Thuringia, crashing near Kassel, Germany.

The official Air Ministry file on the incident (File AIR 81/9) states " Whitley K8950 forced to land in Germany, 9 September 1939". All five crew from 102 Squadron were taken prisoner. The co-pilot was Pilot Officer Alfred Burke Thompson, a Canadian

crew:-
Pilot : Squadron Leader Sidney Stuart "Wank" Murray RAF 26117 [PoW]
Flight Engineer : Aircraftman 1st Class Sydney Alexander Burry RAF 524802 [PoW]
Observer : Pilot Officer Alfred Burke "Tommy" Thompson RAF 39585 [PoW]
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner : Sergeant Clement Ambrose Hill RAF 580896 [PoW]
Rear Gunner : Aircraftman 1st Class Peter Frederick Pacey RAF 567315 [PoW]

It is reported that AC.1 Sam Burry had the distinction of being POW Number 1 in German POW records

This was the "Wank" Murray who became interpreter at Luft III and who was acting in that capacity when Oberst Braune informed G/C Massey of the murder of the 50 escapers after the Great Escape.

Tommy Thompson was also at Luft III. Murray was "the only one [of the first batch of RAF prisoners] who was more than half Wings Day's age." Thompson was shown on a German newsreel, in uniform, stating - haltingly - "Since being take prisoner here in Germany, my brother officers and myself have been treated with every courtesy and consideration."

1. Royal Air Force Aircraft K1000-K9999 (James J. Halley, Air Britain 1976 p 74)
2. National Archives (PRO Kew) File AIR 81/9; https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14141988
3. http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?9814-Who-was-quot-RAF-Prisoner-No-1-quot&styleid=3
4. https://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/crash-armstrong-whitworth-aw38-whitley-iii-kassel
5. http://aircrewremembered.com/murray-sydney-stuart.html
6. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=39164 .
7. Rob Davis Bomber Command Losses Database http://robdavistelford.co.uk/webspace/raf_bc

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
17-Apr-2019 19:18	Dr. John Smith	Added
19-Apr-2019 10:33	stehlik49	Updated [Operator, ]
01-Jun-2019 16:48	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Cn, Source, Narrative, ]
15-Jun-2019 20:12	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Location, Source, Narrative, ]
28-Oct-2019 12:36	Uli Elch	Updated [Operator, Location, Narrative, ]
05-Nov-2019 21:59	Anon.	Updated [Operator, Operator, ]
15-Apr-2020 18:38	TB	Updated [Location, ]
15-Apr-2025 06:47	Rob Davis	Updated [Source, Narrative, ]