Hampden P4338 damaged in the air, crash landed at Leconfield airfield.
On 14th November 1940 this 61 Squadron Hampden was attacked by three Spitfires while it's crew were undertaking an operational flight. It is likely that the Hampden strayed too far north
and on getting close to Hull had then not identified itself, the Spitfire pilots attacked in error mistaking it for a Dornier
Do17 or similar aircraft. The Hampden pilot was able to make a landing at Leconfield airfield at 11.10hrs but the undercarriage collapsed on landing there after the hydraulics were damaged. The pilot's rank appears often incorrectly quoted as being Pilot Officer when this incident occurred.
Pilot - F/Lt Walter Harry Powdrell RAF (37984).
? - P/O Noble.
? - Sgt Monk.
? - Sgt Charles Honory Harbott RAFVR (755024).
He was involved in a number of flying mishaps during his wartime flying. The first known one was on 15th July 1940 while training at 17 OTU, he was the pilot of
Blenheim L9171 which crashed landed at Great Raveley after engine failure. Weeks after the incident at Leconfield he was pilot of Hampden X3126 on 2nd January 1941
which crashed at Hemswell, Lincolnshire injuring a number of his crew. He was later posted to 103 Squadron and as pilot of Lancaster W4362 on 14th February 1943 he
died on Ops to Milan when his aircraft was struck by incendiaries dropped from above his aircraft. The aircraft became uncontrollable but he managed to regain some
control allowing part of his crew to abandon the aircraft. He was unable to exit the aircraft and died in the resulting crash. He is buried in Milan War Cemetery,
Italy and was thirty one years old.
Walter Powdrell born 19th September 1911 in Hawera, Taranaki, New Zealand. After attending school he began working for the Bank of New Zealand in Hawera but his real
ambition was to join the RAF, he left his job and got a job on a cargo ship that was heading from New Zealand bound for England. Has awarded a short service commission in
the RAF on 6th August 1936 to the rank of Acting P/O on probation. He was later graded as P/O on probation on 15th June 1937 and posted to 35 Squadron at Worthy Down on
27th July 1937. In May 1938 he was confirmed in the rank of P/O back dated to 15th June 1937. He rose to F/O on 15th January 1939 and F/Lt on 3rd September 1940. On an
unknown date he transferred to the Reserve of Airforce Officers and received a promotion to S/Ldr (temp) on 1st June 1942 (with seniority of 1st December 1941).
Hampden P4338 was built to contract 773239/38 by Handley Page Ltd, at Radlett and was awaiting collection in March 1940 when it was allotted to 20 MU on 26th March 1940. It was received by 20 MU on 5th April 1940 and was taken on charge by 61 Squadron at Hemswell on 5th May 1940. It sustained Cat.R/FA as a result of the "friendly" fire and damage at Leconfield on 14th November 1940. It was then repaired on site by a team from Handley Page Ltd, and returned to 61 Squadron at Hemswell. It later transferred to 144 Squadron also at Hemswell on 7th March 1941 and appears to have sustained Cat.B damage on 10th March 1941 but no detailed of how this occurred are yet known. From here it was transported for a repair in works at Tollerton. In December 1941 it passed to "Brush Ltd" and in May 1942 it was received by 29 MU. On 27th July 1942 it was taken on charge by the AAEE at Boscombe Down. The aircraft was later flown to 44 MU on 19th September 1943 and placed in store. It was to return to the A&AEE on 4th December 1943 but was struck off charge on 21st April 1944.