Wellington X3399 at East Moor airfield.

At 19.20hrs on 4th January 1943 this Wellington was being taxied at East Moor prior to taking off for a night-time training exercise when the aircraft left the perimeter track just before the start of the runway. The aircraft collided with an unlit floodlight and received slight damage.

Pilot - Sgt Samuel Hanan RCAF (R/101482), Of Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

Navigator - Sgt Malcolm P "Mickey" Brown RAF (778810), Of Livingston, Rhodesia.

Crew.... possibly...

Bomb Aimer - F/Sgt Frederick H Purchase RCAF (R/105100), of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Edwin G Litchfield RAFVR (776126).

Air Gunner - Sgt Frank S Lane RCAF (R/81411), of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.

Sgt Hanan is believed to have been posted into 429 Squadron on 8th December 1942 from 16 OTU. He and Sgt Brown (and everyone on the aircraft at that time) were killed on 27th April 1943 flying Wellington HE382 which crashed in Holland. The five named above (and a second pilot) are buried in a collective grave in Bornebroek churchyard, Overrijssel, Holland. A photograph of their graves are shown below.

The original of this photograph is to be found on Hermann Hinsenveld's website's detailing Wargraves in The Netherlands. Thanks to him for allowing its use here.

Wellington X3399 was built to contract B92439/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd at their Squires Gate, Blackpool factory. It was delivered to the RAF in August 1941 and placed in long term MU storage. It was later issued to 429 Squadron at East Moor when the unit formed on 7th November 1942. It suffered Cat.A/GA damage in the incident detailed above on 4th January 1943 and was repaired on site and continued to serve with 429 Squadron carrying out eight operational flights with them. It left 429 Squadron in March 1943 and next appears on charge with 26 OTU at Wing in late-1943. It was transferred to 3 AGS at Castle Kennedy in 1944 and served with the unit until it disbanded on 21st June 1945. The aircraft was then placed in long term MU storage, eventually being struck off charge on 31st July 1947.