On the night of 4th / 5th September 1942 the crew of this 150 Squadron aircraft were tasked with flying an operational flight to bomb Bremen and had taken off from Snaith airfield at 23.35hrs. On their return to Yorkshire the aircraft suffered engine failure so was force landed in a field at 05.25hrs in the Sutton upon Derwent area but in the landing the rear of the aircraft including the turret broke off. The turret struck a tree and sadly the rear gunner died. The remaining four airmen survived. "Hays Farm, Melbourne" is recorded as the location in Pocklington airfield ORB and in Brian Rapier's "Melbourne 10" book but this farm appears not to exist in name on the modern map. The pilot referred to the location as being "Hag Bridge" in his autobiography, Hagg Bridge is between Sutton upon Derwent and Melbourne.
Wellington Z1671 was built to contract B.97887/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Hawarden, Chester and was awaiting collection in February 1942. It was initially received by 38 MU on 16th April 1942 and was placed into MU store until being taken on charge by 150 Squadron at Snaith on 18th June 1942. As a result of this crash on 5th September 1942 it was written off with Cat.E2/FB damage being the result of the damage assessment. The aircraft was struck off charge on 10th September 1943.
Pilot - Sgt Percival John Povey Trotman RAFVR (1168608). Injured.
Navigator - Sgt Stan S Thomas.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Frederick Maxfield RAFVR (746894). Injured.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Harold Eunson Woodruff RAFVR (1190385). Injured.
Rear Gunner - P/O Vivian Weston Parry DFC RAFVR (111963), aged 27, of Cemlyn, Anglesey. Buried Llanrhwydrys Churchyard, Anglesey.
The five airmen involved in this incident near Melbourne. "SELF" refers to the pilot Sgt Trotman.
John Trotman's birth was registered in Winchester in 1921. He commenced pilot training in November 1940, and while still training at 23 Operational Training Unit he took part in the thousand bomber raids on Cologne and Essen. On 24th June 1942 he was posted to 150 Squadron. He received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 19th November 1942. He later received promotions to F/O (war subs) on 19th May 1943 and to F/Lt (war subs) on 19th November 1944. He completed a first Tour with 150 Squadron and then instructed at 81 OTU and 83 OTU before opting to begin a second Tour. He re-trained to fly Mosquitos with 1655 MTU and was posted to 692 Squadron PFF in October 1944. For service with this squadron he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 13th February 1945, the citation reads.. "One night in December 1944, Flying Officer Trotman was captain of an aircraft detailed to attack Ludwigshaven. Shortly after leaving the target area, the starboard engine failed and soon after the port engine became defective and lost power. Considerable height was lost and it seemed as though the aircraft would have to be abandoned. The defective port engine suddenly resumed full power, however, and Flying Officer Trotman flew the aircraft to an airfield in France where he executed a safe landing with the undercarriage retracted. This officer has displayed commendable gallantry and outstanding skill and has at all times proved himself a cool and resolute captain." He was also awarded the Bar to the DFC for service with 692 Squadron, Gazetted on 26th October 1945. No citation for this award has been located. The recommendation for the Bar has been located and states that "Flight Lieutenant Trotman has participated in numerous sorties since the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross. He has completed a second tour of operations against heavily defended targets in Germany including 19 attacks against Berlin. At all times he has set an inspiring example and as captain of aircraft, his skill and determination have been most marked."
He would later write his autobiography entitled "J for Johnnie", in which he describes surviving three crashes; one being near Melbourne, another presumably refers to the landing of his Mosquito in his DFC citation on 5th December at Lille. Details of the third are not known.
Vivian Parry received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 7th November 1941. P/O Parry was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for service with 150 Squadron, awarded as per the London Gazette of 13th March 1942. Public Record Office file Air.2/9262 has a draft citation when he had flown thirty five operational flights (198 operational hours) and reads.. "This officer, who joined the squadron in November 1940, as a Non-Commissioned Officer, has completed numerous sorties as rear gunner over Germany, Italy and the occupied countries. As Flight Gunnery Leader he has displayed exceptional skill and determination in action. Fearless in the face of danger, he has set an example which has proved a source of inspiration to his fellow gunners."
Harold Woodruff was later posted to 199 Squadron and was killed on 13th February 1943. He is buried at Guidel Communal Cemetery, France. He was twenty six years old and from Alvaston, Derby. He was a member of the crew of Wellington X3870 on Ops to Lorient which crashed in the target area.
Frederick Maxfield received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 14th August 1942. P/O Maxfield was in Wellington X3552 on 15th/16th October 1942 which is believed to have crashed into the sea off Holland on Ops to Cologne. He was twenty nine years old and is buried at Ulrum General Cemetery, De Marne, Holland.
Historians Eric Barton, Albert Pritchard and Ken Reast spoke to local people, located the landowner and through field walking located a handful of pieces on the site in January 2007 to confirm the location as being near Sutton Farm, Sutton upon Derwent. The photograph above was taken by Eric Barton and shows the general area of their finds on somewhat waterlogged land.