Wellington DV884 at Thornaby airfield.

On 21st February 1943 this aircraft was damaged after it swung on take off from Thornaby airfield and the tail wheel struck some rough ground. The aircraft had only just been repaired following slight damage at Thornaby two weeks previously.

Crew - Names unknown.


Wellington DV884 was ordered as a Mk B.III but was built as a MkIc by Vickers Armstrongs Ltd at Chester to contract B124362/40. It was delivered to the RAF in May 1942 and after acceptance at MU issued to 57 Squadron at Methwold. It was immediately transferred to 1429 Czech Operational Training Flight at Woolfox Lodge (because 57 Squadron no longer operated Wellington MkIc aircraft). It moved to 26 OTU at Wing for a very short period in July 1942 and returned to 1429 Czech Op.T.Flt. in August 1942 but by now they were based at Church Broughton. 1429 Cz Op. T Flt disbanded on 1st September 1942 and the aircraft passed to 27 OTU at Lichfield, where it stayed until transferred to 6 (c)OTU at Thornaby in January 1943. It suffered Cat.A/FA damage in a taxying accident at Thornaby in early February 1943 and was soon repaired, it was again damaged in a Cat.A/FA at Thornaby detailed above and again repaired. It was transferred to 3 (c)OTU at Cranwell at an unspecified date in mid-1943 and served there until being struck off charge on 28th January 1944.