Hampden L4150 near Lindholme airfield.
On 8th October 1940 this aircraft was returning from Ops to Osnabruck when the port engine failed on approach on the
return leg of the flight. A forced landing was made half a mile from Lindholme airfield and Cat R/FB damage was later recorded.
The 60 MU record book states that they recovered this aircraft was marshy ground suggesting it landed on ground to the east of the
airfield which is known to have been very wet and is protected wetland.
Pilot - P/O David E F Powell RAF (42880),
Navigator - Sgt Kenyon S Gowland RAF (742817),
Wireless Operator - Sgt Raymond E Drake RAF (648987),
Air Gunner - Sgt Green.
On the same aircraft as P/O Powell was Sgt Drake who was made a PoW. Raymond Drake remained in the RAF after the War rising at least to the rank of
Master Signaller. On 1st June 1953 he was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air.
David Powell received his commission to the rank of Acting P/O on probation on 23rd October 1939.
He was graded as P/O on probation on 20th April 1940 and confirmed as P/O on 14th August 1940. P/O
Powell was killed in action on 10th April 1941 when Hampden AD828 failed to return from ops to Dusseldorf. He
is buried in Jonkerbos War Cemetery. He was the son of W/Co Frank Powell MBE RAF who served in the RFC in WW1 and
continued his service in WW2 gaining his MBE in 1919.
Sgt Gowland was flying in Hampden X3000 on 30th October 1940 when the aircraft iced up and control was lost. The crew baled out and the aircraft
crashed near Barton le Street, Malton. He was killed in action on 6th November 1940 when Hampden X2907 failed to return from ops to Magdeburg. He is buried in
Ootmarsum Cemetery, Holland.
Hampden L4150 was built to contract 549267/36 by Handley Page Ltd, at Radlett and was awaiting collection in March 1939. It was taken on charge
by 76 Squadron at Finningley the following month when the unit converted from Wellesley's to Hampden's. On 22nd September 1939 it moved with the
unit to Upper Heyford and on a later unknown date it passed to the hands of 106 Squadron at Finningley. In July 1940 it was takrn on charge by
50 Squadron at Lindholme. It sustained Cat.R/FB damage following the mishap at Lindholme in October 1940 as stated above and was taken away to be
repaired in works by Handley Page Ltd. at Cricklewood. On an unspecified date in 1941 it was taken on charge by 16 OTU at Upper Heyford but in April 1942
it was placed into long term MU storage when 16 OTU fazed out Hampden's in favour of Wellington's. It remained in storage until being struck off charge
on 27th February 1944.