Hampden L4120 near Finningley airfield.
On 16th December 1940 the pilot of this 106 Sqaudron aircraft was undertaking a solo test flight for the newly repaired aircraft. The aircraft had clipped trees near Finningley towards the end of the previous month and received minor damage. On this test flight the aircraft took off from Finningley at 14.40hrs but it was allowed to run with the engines idling on the ground for fifteen minutes prior to take off and when it did take off the gills on the engines were open. Soon after taking off the port engine failed. The pilot allowed the port wing to drop and then lost control, while he regained control to some degree the aircraft then stalled and crashed half a mile south-east of the airfield. The aircraft had been in the air for just ten minutes. The pilot was on attachment from 61 Squadron at the time of the incident and inexperience was blamed for the accident.
Pilot - Sgt Ivor Philip Mapp RAFVR (741068).
Ivor Mapp was born in the Preston area of Lancashire in 1911, he was to be involved in a number flying mishaps. He crashed Hampden P4314 at Finningley on 3rd January 1941, then 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.
Hampden L4120 was built to contract 549267/36 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett. It was initially allotted to 61 Squadron on 28th February 1939 and was taken on charge by them on 9th March 1939 at Hemswell when the unit began converting from Blenheim MkI's to Hampden MkI's. On 30th December 1939 it was collected by 32 M.U. for an unspecified reason but then returned to 61 Squadron on 2nd January 1940. On 17th June 1940 it was taken on charge by 106 Squadron at Finningley. It was slightly damaged on 25th November 1940 when it clipped trees while landing at Finningley, with Cat.M(u)/FA damage
being recorded. The aircraft was repaired on site and returned to the unit very quickly. On 16th December 1940 it crashed at Finningley, it was assessed and
Cat.W/FA damage was recorded. It was struck off charge on 1st January 1941.