At 00.19hrs on 6th June 1940 Thornaby airfield suffered an enemy air raid, the attack destroyed two Hudsons; N7309 and P5157, which were being refuelled at the time. The raid was destroyed two fuel bowsers, seriously one and injured three men. The runway was also damaged. In all six bombs were dropped and exploded and a further two failed to explode. The most seriously injured was taken to the Stockton and Thornaby Hospital where he died of his injuries at 11.00hrs that morning.
Groundcrew - AC2 Frederick William Nutter RAFVR (986799), aged 18. Buried Burnley Cemetery, Lancashire.
The names of the injured are not yet known.
Hudson P5157 was built to contract 791587/38 by Lockheed at Burbank and after delivery to the UK it went to 9 MU on 1st April 1940. The aircraft was then taken on charge by 220 Squadron on 11th May 1940. It was struck off charge six days after the bombing damage on 6th June 1940.