Hampden L4166 at Doncaster airfield.
On 19th November 1939 this 144 Squadron aircraft was one of ten that took off from Hemswell airfield and flew to Doncaster where they were scattered to, this would try and prevent damage if Hemswell airfield was attacked by enemy bombing. This aircraft was damaged on landing at Doncaster, possibly while the pilot was then undertaking a solo take-off and landings training flight using Doncaster's runway. The aircraft made a heavy landing on this small aerodrome and it finished up in a hedge on the boundary. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Hammpden L4166 was built to contract 549267/36 by Handley Page Ltd at Radlett. It was allotted to 7 Squadron on 20th April 1939 and was taken on charge by them at Finningley on 8th May 1939. It was transferred to 144 Squadron, based at Hemswell, on 5th October 1939. Following the incident on 19th November 1939 the damage was assessed and it was deemed beyond repair, Cat.W/FA was recorded and it was struck off charge on 8th December 1939.
Pilot - Sgt Harold Shields RAF (561905).
Harold Shields was awarded the DFM on 19th September 1940, any details of this have to be found but it was probably for completing a Tour with 144 Squadron. He was later posted to 83 Squadron. The date of his commission is not yet known but as P/O (47713) he was awarded the DFC with 83 Squadron, Gazetted on 14th August 1942. The citation found in "Flight" archives is a joint one and it reads.. "One day in July 1942 S/Ldr Hilton and P/O's
Partridge and Shields were pilots whilst F/Sgt Kleeman was a navigator in a force of aircraft which participated in a daylight attack on a target in the Ruhr. When reaching the
enemy's coast it was apparent that very little clond cover was available and the attack would have to be made in the face of fierce opposition. Despite this, the aircraft flew on, and, by superb airmanship and magnificent crew co-operation, the German defences were evaded and the target was bombed successfully." He was promoted to F/Lt on 1st September 1943 and later awarded the AFC (no details have been found as yet). He was also Mentioned in Despatches with a huge number of other RAF officers on 14th January 1944. He was promoted to S/Ldr on 4th November 1944. Post-War he remained in the RAF as a S/Ldr initially with the General Duties Branch, but he transferred to the Aircraft Control Branch with effect from 6th March 1948.