Wellington Z1284 at Breighton airfield.
On the night of the 5th of February 1942 the crew on this aircraft were to undertake a night-flying program, the
aircraft collided with an "obstruction" on the airfield which damaged the port propeller and port bomb door. A landing was
made on the the airfield and there were no casulties reported.
Pilot - Sgt Patrick J D Cooney RNZAF (403951), of Gore, Southland, New Zealand. Uninjured.
F/Sgt Cooney was killed flying with 460 Squadron on 13th March 1942, he is buried in St.Joris Communal Cemetery,
Belgium. He was twenty two years old. The photograph of his gravestone was found on a webforum, posted by Rob/"Ramacal".
It is likely that the crew with him on the night of 5th February 1942 were the same as were killed with him in
Wellington Z1251 on Ops to Dunkirk. He initially flew with 142 Squadron, arriving on 21st August 1941 and being posted away on 3rd December 1941.
The crew listed below were with him on the night he lost his life, it is likely that many, or all, were with him when the minor mishap
occured at Breighton airfield.
2nd Pilot - Sgt John S Turnock RAAF (404688), of Tweed River, New South Wales, Australia.
Obs - Sgt Ian E Hart RAAF (400413), of Ivanhoe, Victoria, Australia.
WOp/AG - Sgt George N Winter RAFVR (989226), of Thornton, Bradford, Yorkshire.
WOp/AG - Sgt Jack Woodward RAFVR (1359686), of ?
AG - Sgt William A Pascoe RAFVR (1380051), of Sedgley, Staffordshire.
