On 24th July 1942 this No.25 Operational Training Unit aircraft had taken off from Finningley airfield at 03.30hrs with its crew tasked with a night time series of basic training in a circuits and landings exercise. Twenty minutes into the flight this aircraft had just overshot the runway on one of these landings and was begining to climb away. It had reached a height said to have been between 800 to 1,000 feet about a mile north west of the airfield when it collided with Wellington DV476 which was returning to Finningley from a training exercise. Both aircraft caught fire and crashed with the loss of all eleven airmen who were on board the aircraft. In Aviation Archaeologist Magazine (Srs 2, No.6) it states that in 1987 parts of this aircraft were located on farmland at Hayfields Farm, Rossington including a manufacturer's engine plate.
Pilot - W/O John Lawrence Smith RAF (519241), aged 26. Buried Finningley Churchyard Extension, Yorkshire.
Observer - W/O Charles Eade Lutwyche RAF (561197), aged 31, of Sutton on Sea, Lincolnshire. Buried Finningley Churchyard Extension, Yorkshire.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Albert Edwin Barrows RAFVR (1287636), aged 22, of North Kensington, London. Buried Gunnersbury Cemetery, Kensington, London.
Air Gunner - Sgt William McDonald RAF (544774), aged 24, of Paisley, Renfrewshire. Buried Finningley Churchyard Extension, Yorkshire.
Three of the graves in Finningley Churchyard Extension (Photograph of Smiths via Mr D. Frost of "http://raffinningley.co.uk") and Albert Barrows' grave in London.
Wellington T2701 was built to contract B.38600/39 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Weybridge. It was received by 46 M.U. on 24th July 1940 and was taken on charge by 40 Squadron at Wyton on 7th November 1940 who moved with this unit to Alconbury on 2nd February 1941. On 9th February 1941 it was assessed by No.43 Group D.A. as being in need of repair. With this complete it returned to 40 Squadron on 19th April 1941. During late August 1941 or early September 1941 it was again assessed by No.43 Group D.A. as being in need of repair. On 6th September 1941 it was taken to Sywell for a repair in works. The repair was complete on 6th December 1941 and it was flown to 46 M.U. six days later. On 26th February 1942 it was taken on charge by 16 O.T.U. at Upper Heyford. It was later transferred to 25 O.T.U. at Finningley on 12th April 1942. It's AM Form 78 states that it sustained minor Cat.Ac/FA damage as a result of a flying accident on 29th April 1942 but the 25 O.T.U. makes no mention of the incident (which is otherwise fairly good at recordin minor incidents). A repair on site was made and it was returned to 25 O.T.U. on 23rd May 1942. The 25 O.T.U. does list it sustaining minor damage at Finningley on 5th June 1942 which would have had minor Cat.A/FA damage and have seen it repaired on site though no mention of this incident on it's AM Form 78. As a result of the collision and crash on 24th July 1942 Cat.E2/FA damage was recorded. It was struck off charge on 31st July 1942.