Hampden P1248 near Concord Park, Sheffield.
At 16.25hrs on 19th April 1941 this 25 O.T.U. aircraft was flying over Sheffield in industrial smoke haze when it struck a barrage balloon cable while the pilot was undertaking an instrument
flying training flight. The aircraft lost part of it's port wing and was a result entered an uncontrollable dive from which the pilot was the only one able to
bale out before the aircraft crashed near Concord Park, Shiregreen, Sheffield. There was no wireless operator on board. One of the crew was killed and the survivor sustained injuries on landing, he
recovered to become one of the countries finest bomber pilots and later was hand picked to serve in 617 Suqadron, commonly referred to as The Dambusters.
Pilot - P/O Ralf Athelsie Pole Allsebrook RAFVR (62267). Of Cark-in-Cartmel, Lancashire. Injured.
Observer - F/O Jeffrey Bohun Ranson RAFVR (61957), aged 26, of East Hanningfield, Essex. Buried Sheffield (City Road) Cemetery, Yorkshire (H/994).
F/O Ranson's grave in the City Road Cemetery, Sheffield. Although flying an observer a number of accounts list him as being an instructor, which is feasable.
Ralf Allsebrook received a commission on 29th January 1941 and rose through the ranks. Exactly a year later he was made F/O and again a year later to F/Lt. On 14th
February 1942 he was returning from Ops to Mannheim when Hampden AE397 ran out of fuel and he ditched the aircraft off the Isle of Wight. He gained the DFC on
14th April 1942 with 49 Squadron and the DSO on 9th July 1943 but no citations for these awarded have not been found. F/Lt Allsebrook DSO DFC was killed on 16th
September 1943 with 617 Squadron flying in Lancaster EE130 when his aircraft struck a crane by the side of a canal and crashed into the canal. He was only twenty
three years old and buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery and one of the Britain's finest bomber pilots. I thank Mr Graham Sharpe for the photograph of his
gravestone. This raid was a bad night for 617 Squadron, famous for the Dambuster raid. They lost five Lancasters and thirty three aircrew died. F/Lt Allsebrook
did not take part in the Dams raid.
"http://www.chrishobbs.com/sheffield/sheffplanecrashesww2.htm" has additional information.
Hampden P1248 was built to contract 773239/38 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was awaiting collection in October 1940. It was allotted to 8 MU on 9th October 1939 and received by them shortly after. The aircraft was placed in long term MU storage until being taken on charge by the newly formed 25 O.T.U. at Finningley on 27th March 1941. Cat.E2/FA damage was the damage assessment following the incident in Sheffield on 19th April 1941. The aircraft was struck off charge on 1st May 1941.