Wellington BK430 at East Moor airfield.
On 30th December 1942 ground crew were working on this Wellington, when, at 18.00hrs a fire was spotted in the aircraft. A
portable oil heater was being used in the aircraft and it was lit without removing a shield attachment, the heater overheated
and a fire broke out burning off the aircraft's nose cover, damaging the upper geodetic structure of the aircraft and wiring
and instrumentation in the nose of the aircraft. The fire was eventually put out and four ground crew, LAC L McLachlan,
AC J Ward, AC E Phillips, AC A Accomb were later officially commended by the Commanding Officer of Linton on Ouse airfield
for their quick actions in saving the aircraft.
No crew.
Wellington BK430 was built to contract B124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd at Chester and delivered directly to 196 Squadron at Driffield
in November 1942 but immediately transferred to 429 Squadron at East Moor when the unit formed on 7th November 1942. It sustained damage of
Cat.B/GA on 30th December 1942 and was repaired in works. After repair was completed it was issued to 20 OTU at Lossiemouth on an
unspecified date in the spring of 1943. It later transferred to 23 OTU at Pershore and was finally destroyed with Cat.E2/FA damage being
recorded on 7th August 1943 when an engine failed on a night navigation exercise and the aircraft was crashed landed at Brunington,
Flintshire. The crew of six being sadly killed.