Hampden L4104 near Coneysthorpe, Malton.
On the night of 18th/19th 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 twenty eight aircraft. This specfic crew had bombed Hamburg
Docks, the target being the German ship but they had landed at Leuchars on return possibly after becoming lost. Later in the day on 19th
October 1940 they took off again and flew south with intention 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 cover was reported. They were then diverted to land at Waddington but
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 working out their position but eventually the fuel ran out and both engines cut out. The aircarft's wireless had also
failed which prevented them from asking for assistance. The Hampden was abandoned at 21.30hrs with aircraft 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.
Pilot - Sgt James Gwyn Loveluck RAF (566553), of ? Uninjured.
Second Pilot - Sgt James M Dall RAFVR (749342), of Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland. Uninjured.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Frederick G Constable RAF (581145), of ? Unijured.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt William K Thompson RAF (654088), of Barnes, Surrey. Uninjured.
Sadly only eight days after they baled out over Coneysthorpe two of those names above;
Sgt's Loveluck and Dall were in Hampden X2990 and tasked with mine-laying in the Gironde
river estuary in France on 26th October 1940. Sgt Loveluck was a pre-war airman who had left Bridgend School
to join the RAF technical college. Their aircraft
is believed to have crashed into the sea and both are
listed on the Runnymede Memorial. Dall was twenty two years old, the CWGC database does
not record Loveluck's age.
The aircraft is believed to have crashed into this field.
Sgt Thompson was killed on 27th April 1941 when 83 Squadron Hampden AD796 he was in crashed in Germany on Ops to Hamburg.
He is buried at Kiel, Germany and was twenty one 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 received his Commission on 1st May 1941 (45653) with seniority back dated to 16th April 1941,
to the rank of P/O on probation. He rose to F/O (war subs) exactly a year later with the same back dated seniority period and again
a year later to F/Lt (war subs). Having survived the War he was granted a permanent commission of F/Lt on 7th May 1946,
He rose to S/Ldr on 1st July 1953 and remained in the RAF until retiring on 17th January 1959.
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.
Hampden L4104 was built to contract 549267/39 by Handley Page Ltd at Radlett and was awaiting collection in December 1938.
After a short period of MU storage it was taken on charge by 61 Squadron at Hemswell in February 1939 when the unit began
converting from Blenheim MkI's to Hampden MkI's. On an unknown date it was transferred to 83 Squadron at Scampton and lost on
19th October 1940 with Cat.W/FA Burnt damage later recorded.