Hampden P2129 at Finningley airfield.
During the evening of 8th November 1940 the crew on this 106 Squadron aircraft were returning to base at Finningley following a cross country training flight when the undercarriage collapsed on landing at 21.45hrs. The three airmen on board were..
Pilot - Sgt John Hopkins RAF (531180).
Sgt Wilkinson.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Eric Parker Fenwick RAF (638788).
Hampden P2129 was built to contract 952962/38 by English Electric Co.Ltd, at Samlesbury and was awaiting collection in June 1940. It was allotted to 37 MU on 30th June 1940 and was received by 48 MU on 16th July 1940 and was immediately transferred to 37 MU three days later. After a short period of MU storage it was taken on charge by 106 Squadron at Finningley on 20th October 1940. As a result of the crash at Finningley on 8th November 1940 Cat.M/FA damage was the damage assessment which saw it repaired on site and continue to be used to 106 Squadron. On 26th June 1941 the aircraft was transferred to 16 O.T.U. at Upper Heyford. It was transferred to 14 O.T.U. at Cottesmore on 17th June 1942 from where it took off on a high level night bombing exercise on 1st August 1942. A flare ignited in the bomb-bay and the aircraft crashed on farmland near Cottesmore injuring it's then crew of four. The damage was assessed as being Cat.E2/FA and this resulted in it being written off. The aircraft was struck off charge on 15th August 1942.