Hampden P1337 at Finningley airfield.
On 21st November 1940 this 106 Squadron Hampden overshot on landing at Finningley following a night flying exercise and was slightly damaged when the pilot swung the aircraft to avoid the boundary hedge. Unfortunately the aircraft ran into a gun post and barbed wire.
The AM Form 1180 for the incident on 21st November 1940 lists P1337 as being an 83 Squadron aircraft but with 106 Squadron in brackets. The pilot also listed was an 83 Squadron pilot. I hazard a guess that he was undertaking training with 106 Squadron in their aircraft with other 106 Squadron aircrew.
Pilot - Sgt J K Shreeve RAF (742412).
Sgt Glenn.
Sgt Houlston.
Hampden P1337 was built to contract 773239/38 by Handley Page Ltd, at Radlett. It was allotted to 27 MU on 27th November 1939 but was received by them on 20th January 1940. After a lengthy period of MU storage it was taken on charge by 106 (T) Squadron at Finningley on 23rd April 1940. Following this incident at Finningley in November 1940 Cat.M/FA damage was recorded and it was repaired on site and returned to the unit. The aircraft was detached to 5 Group T.T.F. at Driffield on 4th February 1941 and on 9th February 1941 suffered Cat.R/FA damage when it stalled from a low height and crashed near Finningley. From here it was dismantled and removed for repair at one of the coachwork companies involved in this work. It passed to English Electric Service Aircraft Section on 30th September 1941 and was then flown to 44 MU on 26th October 1941. The aircraft was taken on charge by 455 Squadron at Swinderby on 10th December 1941. On 8th February 1942 it moved with the unit to Wigsley. On 3rd April 1942 it was flown to English Electric and on 24th April 1942 it was transferred to Coastal Command to be taken on charge by 489 Squadron at Thorney Island. On 5th August 1942 it moved with the unit to Skitten but on 12th August 1942 it was recorded as missing, Cat.E(m), when it failed to return from ops against the German heavy cruiser, Lutzow at Kiel. The aircraft crashed into the North Sea off the Dutch Coast with it's then crew being killed.