Hampden L4184 at Finningley airfield.
At 19.25hrs on 13th October 1940 this 106 Squadron aircraft was taking off from Finningley to undertake a cross country training flight when it swung out of control and the undercarriage collapsed. The aircraft was written off as damage was deemed to serious for repair. The crew were not injured.
Pilot - Sgt Robert Little Grainger RAFVR (758212).
Robert Little Grainger was later posted to 50 Squadron. On 13th March 1941 he was the pilot of Hampden X3146 which failed to return from Ops to Hamburg. No trace of his then crew nor the aircraft was ever found and Sgt Grainger is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. He was twenty years old.
Hampden L4184 was built to contract 549267/36 by Handley Page Ltd, at Radlett and was awaiting collection in May 1940. It was allotted to 106 Squadron on 4th May 1939 and was taken on charge by them at Finningley on 24th May 1939. On 10th January 1940 it was despatched to 32 MU and returned to 106 Squadron on 18th January 1940. As a result of the crash at Finningley on 13th October 1940 Cat.W/FA damage was the damage assessment which saw it written off. It was struck off charge some weeks later on 6th January 1941.