Hampden L4181 at Finningley Airfield.

On the 6th of July 1940 this aircraft overshot its landing at Finningley as a result of a fast landing following a night flying exercise at 23.25hrs. Around Finningley airfield at this time were a number of tented camps, so dispersed because of the fear of air-raids. Sadly the aircraft crashed through one of these groups of tents and striking a number of people in the process. The tent the aircraft struck held members of a defence gun crew; three were killed and two others injured. The aircraft was initially believed repairable but later deemed beyond repair. The crew escaped injury.

Pilot - P/O George A C Potts RAF (43943), uninjured.

Crew - Names unknown, uninjured.

AC2 Patrick J Curry RAF (573507), aged 19, of Cloonlee, Knock, Co. Mayo, Irish Republic. Buried Finningley Churchyard.

AC2 Granville J Higgs RAF (649099), aged 19, of Pentwynmawr, Newbridge, Wales. Buried Mynyddislwyn Churchyard, Monmouthshire.

AC2 Matthew Cook RAF (620895), aged 20, of Newtown, Cramlington. Buried Cramlington New Cemetery, Seaton Valley, Northumberland.

George Potts received his commission to P/O on probation on 21st June 1940 (with seniority back dated to 25th April 1941). He rose to F/O on 21st June 1941 (with seniority again back dated to 25th April 1941) but he was awarded the DFC later in 1940 with 106 Squadron (Gazetted on 22nd October 1940). He rose to F/Lt on 24th September 1941 and after posting to 50 Squadron, as Acting S/L, he was awarded the Bar to the DFC (Gazetted on 24th October 1941). He was mentioned in Despatched with a huge number of air personnel on 2nd June 1943 and rose to S/Ldr on 29th June 1943. He later served at 34 OTU at Pennfield Ridge, almost certainly as an instructor and having survived the War he remained in the RAF rising to W/C on 1st November 1947.
Hampden L4181 was built to contract 549267/36 by Handley Page Ltd. at the Radlett factory and was awaiting collection in May 1939. It was delivered to 106 Squadron based at Thornaby the same month when the unit began converting to Hampdens from Battles. It then moved with this unit to Evanton on 19th August 1939, then to Cottesmore on 1st September 1939 and to Finningley on 6th October 1939. After the incident detailed above Cat.W/FA damage was recorded and it was written off.