Hampden L4104 near Coneysthorpe, Malton.
On the 18th of October 1940 a number of aircraft set out to bomb Hamburg docks, where The Bismark was in dock at the time.
At the same time Lunen aluminium works were also targeted by a total of 28 aircraft. This specfic crew had bombed Hamburg Docks, the target
being the German ship The Bismark, and had landed at Leuchars on return to refuel. Some time later (on the 19th October) they took off again and flew south with intension of returning
to Lincolnshire to their base at Scampton but the weather here was now too bad for them
to be allowed to land, 10/10ths cloud. They were then diverted to land at Waddington, the weather here was still too bad,
they were then diverted back north to Linton on Ouse in Yorkshire. The crew became lost and made attempts at locating
themselves, this continued until the fuel ran low and eventually both engines cut out. The aircarfts wireless had also failed.
The Hampden was abandoned just before 22.00hrs with
plane crashing near Coneysthorpe, to the west of Malton. The crew are thought to have landed nearby although the exact where abouts have yet to researched.
The aircraft was built to contract 549267/39 by Handley Page Ltd at Radlett and delivered directly to 61 Sqdn at Hemswell in February
1939. It was transferred, on an as yet unspecified date, to 83 Sqdn at Scampton at a later date. It sustained Cat W/Burnt damage in the incident
detailed above.
Pilot - Sgt James G Loveluck RAF (566553), of ? - ok.
? - Sgt James M Dall RAFVR (749342), of Kirkcaldy, Fife - ok
? - Sgt Frederick G Constable RAF (581145) - ok.
W Op / Air Gunner - Sgt William K Thompson RAF (654088), of Barnes, Surrey - ok
Sadly only eight days later, Loveluck and Dall were to never be seen again when the Hampden X2990 OL-Z they were in went missing on 26th
October 1940, they are both listed on the Runnymede Memorial. They were still with 83 Squadron. Dall was 22 years old, CWGC does no record
Loveluck's age at his death.
I have yet to locate the crash site which is believed to be in a field about half a mile west of Coneysthorpe. Fellow researchers Ken Reast and
Dick Barton attempted to get permission to look for remains of this aircraft in 2007, the Castle Howard Estate refused permission. It remains the
only site to date where such permission has sadly been refused.
Sgt Thompson was killed on 27th April 1941 when the 83 Squadron Hampden he was in crashed in Germany, he is buried at Kiel, Germany and was 21 years old.
Sgt Frederick Constable was involved in another incident on 8th Novomber 1940, when Hampden P4402 crashed near Hemswell, Lincolnshire after the crew had baled out.
He was awarded the DFM with 83 Squadron, Gazetted on 17th January 1941. He was Commissioned on 1st May 1941 (55653). He remained in the RAF until the mid-1950's when he
was made a W/C.
My thanks to the RAF Scampton Historical Museum and to the 83 Squadron Association / Mr R Low for the information they have both kindly provided.