Hampden X2908 in Goole.
On the night of 15th / 16th November 1940 50 Squadron were tasked with bombing various targets in Hamburg. The squadron's aircraft took off from between 18.00hrs on
15th November to 02.00hrs on 16th November with this aircraft specific listed as taking off at 01.15hrs on 16th November; it was one of the last to take off from Lindholme.
This crew were tasked with bombing the Altona Power Station near Hamburg, Germany. On their return to England the aircraft ran out of fuel and
crashed on Dunhill Road in Goole close to the junction of Boothferry Road at 07.07hrs on 16th November 1940. Three of the crew were sadly killed but one
remarkably escaped with only minor injuries. Twenty eight year old fireman John Freer Richardson was later awarded the BEM for his actions on this night in attempting
to rescue the crew of this aircraft, notification of his award was printed in the London Gazette on 4th April 1941 and in the same notification as a farmer from Leeming
who attempted to rescue a pilot of crashed Spitfire X4423 at Hackforth (detailed on this website). Their citations were the same and read.. "For gallant conduct when
attempting to rescue the occupants of aircraft which crashed and caught fire. These men faced the danger of exploding bombs and ammunition with complete disregard of
their personal safety." Twenty nine year old police constable Alfred Ernest Dunn was also commended for brave conduct following the rescue operation and notification
of this commendation was also printed in the same London Gazette.
This photograph depicts the crash scene. The building in the background was repaired and is currently used by "The Courtyard". The only
signs on the outside of the building today is a less-fancy window ledge on one of the larger windows.
Pilot - Sgt Colin Richardson RAF (529564), aged 23, of Woodlands, Doncaster. Buried Adwick le Street Cemetery, Doncaster, Yorkshire.
Second Pilot - Sgt Birt Brookes RAFVR (745413), aged 27, of Brighton. Buried Brighton and Preston Cemetery, Sussex.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Charles William Ian Parker RAFVR (904426), aged 19, of Rottingdean, Brighton. Buried Rottingdean Churchyard, Sussex.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt John Donald Anderson RAF (817175). Minor injuries.
Colin Richardson's grave at Adwick le Street cemetery.
Birt Brookes attended Varndean Grammar School, Brighton from 1928 to 1933 and left school at sixteen, for the next five years
was a clerk in the Brighton Town Clerks Department. He joined the RAFVR in 1938 and was called up the following year.
Hampden X2908 had a brief history, it was built to contract B.994449/39 by English Electric Co.Ltd, at Samlesbury and was awaiting collection in July 1940. It was received by 12 MU on 19th August 1940 and was taken on charge by 50 Squadron at Lindholme on 27th August 1940. Minor Cat.M damage resulted on 1st November 1940 and it was swiftly repaired on site at Lindholme. On 16th November 1940 it crashed in Goole. Cat.W/FB was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge. It's AM Form 78 stated that it had clocked up 624 hours flying time in it's short life. I do not believe that this is correct.