Hampden AD742 near Armthorpe, Finningley.
On the night of 20th / 21st March 1941 this 50 Squadron aircraft was undertaking a mine laying flight to drop mines in the Lorient area. The aircraft left
Lindholme at 18.20hrs and while on the way back to base the aircraft and during the approach to land the aircraft struck the ground at 00.38hrs
near Armthorpe. Poor visibility and a strong gusty wind was blowing at the time. Three of the crew had only just recovered for their mishap earlier
in the year when Hampden X3143 crashed at Lindholme on 2nd January 1941.
Hampden AD742 was built to contract B.67577/40 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury. It was allotted to 24 MU on 17th December 1940 and was received by them on 22nd December 1940. It was taken on charge by 50 Squadron at Lindholme on 9th January 1941. Cat.E2/FB damage was recorded as a result of the incident on 21st March 1941. The aircraft was struck off charge six days later.
Pilot - P/O Thomas Noel Challoner Burrough RAFVR (84274), of Sneyd Park, Gloucestershire.
Second Pilot - P/O Phillip Booth Hodgson RAFVR (83725), of Hartford, Cheshire.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Douglas Edward Russell RAF (646900), of Blackpool, Lancashire.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Alfred Bryan Brooks RAF (638755), of Didsbury, Manchester. Injured.
Sgt Brooks was awarded the DFM for service with 50 Squadron with the notification of his award being printed in the London Gazette on 23rd September 1941. F/Sgt Brooks had was sadly killed while flying with 49 Squadron on 17th September 1942 flying in Lancaster R5890 which crashed in the Essen area. He was aged twenty and is buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery with the rest of the crew of R5890. I thank Graham Sharpe for the photograph of his gravestone.
Thomas Burrough was in the RAF in the early 1930's and received a commission on an unknown date but probably in 1930, he was promoted to F/O on 28th January 1931. Although not yet fully researched it seems likely that he left or resigned his Commission (probably reached the end of his short service commission period and placed into the Reserve) but later rejoined on the outbreak of war and was made a P/O on Probation on 2nd March 1940. On 10th July 1940 he was flying 16 OTU Hereford L6081 when it crashed on take off from Upper Heyford on his first solo flight on the type. On 20th September 1940 he was flying 16 OTU Hereford L6057 and landed on boggy ground at Sydenham but the aircraft's wheel sunk into the ground and the aircraft nosed-over. He was made to F/O on 2nd March 1941 and to a F/Lt on 30th July 1941. His DFC was Gazetted on 18th July 1941 and his rank was Acting S/Ldr Burrough. He was killed on 31st January 1942 flying as an official observer with 61 Squadron in Manchester L7396 which is believed to have crashed into the sea in the region of the Scillies. His body was not found and he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. He was a qualified barrister prior to enlisting. He was thirty five years old.
P/O Hodgson was killed on 3rd June 1941 flying in Hampden AD797, with 50 Squadron, while on Ops to Dusseldorf. He was twenty four years old and is buried in Leopoldsburg War Cemetery, Belgium.
F/Sgt Russell was on Hampden AD844 on Ops to Hamburg on 16th / 17th July 1941 when it was believed to have crashed into the North Sea, no trace was ever found. He was twenty two years old and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.