Battle L5629 between Filey and Bridlington.
On 7th October 1940 this 103 Squadron aircraft lost the engine coolant fluid while on a target towing flight undertaking a firing exercise with a number of Wellington off the North Yorkshire coastline. This was the first time 103 Squadron had flown such an exercise on the Skipsea ranges. At this time 103 Squadron appear to have been using Cottam airfield as a base where it's air gunners were housed. The aircraft may have been heading back towards Cottam at the time of this forced landing. The Polish pilot of the Battle effected a good forced-landing in a field at White Hill, between Filey and Bridlington and not far from where the Junkers Ju88 had crashed some weeks previously. As can be seen in the photograph shown below the damage was minimal and the Battle was repaired on site and flown out of the field.
Crew - Names unknown.
The pilot may have been F/O Roy Douglas Max RAF (36149) (later DSO DFC) but the squadron records appear to only list the Wellington used on the air to air firing on this date and he may have been the Wellington pilot.
Battle L5629 had an interesting history, it was built to contract 540408/36 by The Austin Motor Company Ltd, at Longbridge and was delivered to 36 MU at
Sealand on 26th April 1940. It was transferred to 6 MU at Brize Norton on 4th May 1940 and then taken on charge by the AASF at
Chateau Polignac, France on 10th May 1940. It was issued to 98 Squadron at Chateau Bougon on 18th May 1940 and then evacuated
with 98 Squadron to Gatwick on 15th June 1940. It was then taken on charge by 12 Squadron at Binbrook on 17th July 1940 but was
soon transferred to 103 Squadron at Newton on 27th July 1940. It sustained Cat.M/FA as a result of the incident near Bridlington
as stated above on 7th October 1940. It was repaired on site and returned to the unit later the same month. It was transferred to
3 Group TTF at Marham on 4th April 1941 and then to 5 Group TTF at Coningsby on 23rd August 1941 and later to Western Area Wing
at Andover on 12th December 1941. It was later flown to 9 MU at Cosford on 25th February 1942 to be placed into storage then on
20th April 1942 it was packed to be transferred to the RAAF on 31st May 1942 and shipped to Australia on an unknown date. On 13th
November 1942 it was assembled at Ansett, Victoria, Australia. On 21st March 1943 it passed to 2 Aircraft Depot, Richmond and on 6th
April 1943 it was taken on charge by 1 OTU RAAF at Bairnsdale, Victoria. On 22nd April 1943 it moved with the unit to East Sale. On
3rd September 1943 it was deemed beyond repair when it was struck on the ground by Beaufort A9-240 at East Sale. On 22nd September
1943 it was taken to The Central Recovery Deport at 7 Aircraft Depot, Tocumwal where the aircraft was struck of charge on 27th October 1943.
