On 16th August 1940 this 220 Squadron aircraft took off from Thornaby airfield at 17.30hrs for a training exercise, the lesser ranked airman was converting to fly the Hudson type, probably from previously flying Ansons. Shortly after leaving the airfield an engine failed and the aircraft crashed near Thornaby Vale Farm. Both airmen in the aircraft were taken to Station Sick Quarters at Thornaby airfield before being transferred to Stockton Hospital where the trainee later died of his injuries sustained.
Hudson N7316 was built to contract 791587/38 by Lockheed at Burbank, California. It was shipped to the UK and on arrival at Liverpool in September 1939 it was transported by
road for assembly at the British Re-assembly Division, of Lockheed Ltd. at Speke. After assembly it was received by 9 MU on 18th September 1939. It was then taken on charge by 220 Squadron at Thornaby on 7th November 1939. Following the accident at Thornaby on 16th August 1940 a Cat.W/FA damage assessment resulted and it was struck off charge on 20th August 1940.
Pilot - S/Ldr Douglas Wykeham Lydall RAFO (28091). Injured.
Pilot - P/O James Taylor Wardlaw RAF (42920), aged 22. Died of injuries 22nd August 1940. Buried Sunnyside Cemetery, Alloa, Scotland.
James Wardlaw received a commission on 23rd October 1939 to the rank of Acting P/O on probation, he was later graded as P/O on probation on 27th April 1940.
Douglass Lydall was granted a short-service commission as P/O on probation on 28th June 1929 and on 14th July 1929 he was posted to 2 FTS at Digby. He rose to F/O on 28th December 1930 and was posted to 4 Squadron on 25th November 1932. He transferred to the Reserve on 28th June 1934. As F/O he begun training at Hamble's Air Service Training School in September 1934 for a 2nd Class navigator's licence. He rose to F/Lt on 1st April 1937 (with seniority from 1st April 1936) and then to S/Ldr (temporary) on 1st March 1940. He later recovered from his injuries sustained at Thornaby and remained in the RAF Reserve however he was not promoted again for some time, possibly as a result of being inactive because of his injuries. He was Mentioned in Despatches on 14th January 1944 and was granted the rank of S/Ldr (war subs) on 6th March 1944. Having survived the War he was then awarded the MBE on 1st January 1946 while in the rank of Acting W/Co and at this date he was in the Reserve of Air Force Officers. Douglas Wykeham Lydall remained in the Air Force in the Post-War period and as S/Ldr he relinquished his commission on 10th February 1954, retaining the rank of W/Co. He may have had a brother, Jack Wykeham Lydall (39669) who flew with 46 Squadron in 1940. A Cecil Wykeham Lydall who was Chaplain of HMS Lion in WW1 may also have been a relation.
Back to 1940 monthly table.