Hampden L4120 at Finningley airfield.
On 16th December 1940 the pilot on this aircraft was undertaking a solo flight which was almost certainly a test flight for the newly repaired aircraft after it had clipped trees near Finningley towards the end of the previous month and had just been repaired. The aircraft crashed whilst the pilot was attempting a force landing close to the airfield after the port engine failed in this second incident. The pilot was on attachment from 61 Squadron at the time of the incident.
Pilot - Sgt Ivor Philip Mapp RAFVR (741068).
Ivor Mapp was born in the Preston area of Lancashire in 1911, he was to be involved in a number flying mishaps. He crashed Hampden P4314 at Finningley on 3rd January 1941, then Hampden AE229 near Lincoln on 30th August 1941 with 50 Squadron. The most serious was when Hampden AE394 crashed on Haley's Terrace in York in February 1942. He received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) 26th April 1943, he rose to F/O on probation (war subs) on 26th October 1943 and F/Lt (war subs) on 26th April 1945. He served with 57 Squadron in 1944 and was awarded the DFC with this unit, Gazetted on 15th August 1944. He remained in the RAF until relinquishing his commission on 10th April 1956.
Hampden L4120 was built to contract 549267/36 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was awaiting collection in January 1939. It was taken on
charge by 61 Squadron at Hemswell the following month when the unit began converting from Blenheim MkI's to Hampden MkI's. On an unknown date it passed on to 106 Squadron at Finningley. It was slightly damaged on 25th November 1940 when it clipped trees while landing at Finningley, with Cat.M(u)/FA damage being recorded. The aircraft was repaired on site and returned to the unit very quickly. On 16th December 1940 on completion of the repair the incident recorded above occured and after assessment Cat.W/FA damage was recorded and it was written off.