Hampden AE394 on Haley's Terrace, nr Rowntrees factory, York.
This 50 Squadron Hampden took off from Skellingthorpe at 18.40hrs on 21st February 1942 to undertake an operational flight to bomb a railway junction to the west of Koblenz, Germany. For an unknown reason the navigator lost consciousness during the flight but it is thought that he was able to return to his post later. On the return part of the flight a navigational error caused the aircraft run low on fuel, one engine cut out prior to crossing the English coast and after
crossing the Yorkshire Coast the aircraft began to ice up. After flying on one engine for some time, with fuel running out and a lack of control of the aircraft the pilot ordered the crew to bail out when the second engine cut out over the York area. Believing that he had allowed time for the others to get clear teh pilot made good his escape and landed safely. Sadly the Hampden's lower escape hatches were jammed shut probably due to the ice formations on the aircraft. Everyone else still in the aircraft were unable to get out of the aircraft before it crashed at 02.18hrs near to the centre of York on a road named Haleys Terrace. The other airman who the pilot saw get clear of the aircraft was also killed when his parachute failed to deploy properly. The pilot was not held responsible. A small memorial plaque was erected close to the crash site in more recent years.
Pilot - W/O Ivor Philip Mapp RAFVR (741068). Uninjured.
Navigator - Sgt Hector Francis Thompson RAFVR (920520), aged 22. Born Faversham, Kent. Buried Thurlby (St.Germain) Churchyard, Lincolnshire.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Francis Reginald Law RAFVR (934284), aged 30, of Rock, Worcestershire. Buried Thurlby (St Germain) Churchyard, Lincolnshire .
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Philip Sidney Ballard RAFVR (1258728), aged 24, of Chartham. Buried Chartham Cemetery, Kent.
Francis Law was born in Chadwell Heath, Essex on 10th December 1911. He was living in Rock, Worcestershire with his wife Dorothy before enlisting into the RAF. I thank Jude Howlett, who's mother was Frank's brother, for kindly supplying the photograph of Frank and of the War Memorial in Rock for inclusion on this webpage. His burial return (within the AIR81 casualty file) gives him being buried in Grave No.216 at Thurlby. Sgt Thompson is buried in Grave No.215; i.e. ajoining plots rather in one joint grave.
Mr Derek Cooper lived close to Haley's Terrace, although he was not born at the time of the crash he was able to locate a living witness to this incident. Cissie
Bateson, now Mrs Cissie Hood, was able to recount her memories to Mr Cooper. She recalls visiting the site in the mid-morning of the same day as crash and that the
aircraft crashed on the road itself. It appeared to remain more or less intact following the crash. Other written sources suggest the aircraft crashed actually in
the grounds of Rowntree's Theatre, I now learn this was not the case, but the road on where the aircraft came down was towards the rear of this theatre but actually
not on their land. The photographs show where the aircraft came down on the road, as it was in October 2007. My thanks to Derek and Andrew Cooper for these photographs. I worked on ajoining benches to Derek Cooper for more than a decade and he spent many hours chatting about vintage aircraft radio transmitters and receivers. Derek sadly died soon after retirement and since this webpage was initially created. A pleasure to have worked with him.
Ivor Mapp was born in the Preston area of Lancashire in 1911. He was involved in a number of Hampden mishaps, he force-landed Hampden L4120 on 16th December 1940 at Finningley, crashed Hampden P4314 at Finningley on 3rd January 1941 and 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.
Hector Thompson was born on 21st November 1919 at Faversham, Kent. At the time of his death his parents were living in Croyden, Surrey.
Hampden AE394 was built to contract B67577/40 by English Electric at Samlesbury and was allotted to 29 M.U. on 11th August 1941. It was received by 29 M.U. at High Ercall on 21st September 1941. The aircraft was taken on charge by 50 Squadron at Swinderby on 30th September 1941 and moved with unit to Skellingthorpe on 26th November 1941. It was returned to English Electric on 9th January 1942 and re-issued to 50 Squadron on 21st January 1942, possibly after suffering minor damage. As a result of the crash in York on 22nd February 1942 it was written off with Cat.E/FB damage being the damage assessment. The aircraft was struck off charge on 27th February 1942.