Wellington at East Moor airfield.

On the 22nd of September 1943 this aircraft was taking off for Ops to Hannover when it failed to get airborne. It ran through the overshoot area for 150 yards over the north end of the runway before the undercarriage collapsed resulting in a rapid evacuation by the crew. Damage was sustained to the undercarriage, engines and under surfaces, it was later repaired. There is police report of an unknown Wellington crashing near Thrush Farm at 19.00hrs on the 23rd September damaging the undercarriage, the crew were safe. This probably refers to the same incident.

The aircraft was built to contract B124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong's at Chester and delivered to MU store in December 1942. It is believed to have been issued to 432 Sqdn at Skipton on Swale when the unit formed on 1st May 1943 and was clearly a veteran by this stage. It moved with the unit to East Moor on 18th September 1943 and sustained damage of Cat. B/FA in this incident detailed above five days layer. It was taken away and repaired in works. On completion of the repair in early 1944 it was issued to 14 OTU at Market Harborough where it served until being written off with Cat. E2/FA damage on 30th August 1944 when it hit a HT pylon shortly after take off and crashed at Welham, Leicestershire, sadly five were killed.

Pilot - F/Sgt L G Southwood

Nav - F/Sgt A W Puffer

B A - F/Sgt J C Grover

W Op / Air Gunner - F/Sgt J H Blue

Rear Gunner - F/Sgt N W Chalk