Hampden AD923 near Melmerby.
On 21st September 1941 the crew of this 144 Squadron aircraft were returning from an operational flight to Frankfurt and were diverted from North Luffenham towards Scampton to land owing to fog over their home airfield. Owing to poor weather at Scampton they were then diverted north to land at Dishforth. The aircraft flew three circuits of Dishforth airfield but before they could land the aircraft ran out fuel causing both engines to cut out. At 04.30hrs the aircraft was force-landed near Melmerby, close to the A1 road just north of Dishforth airfield in an area known as Hutton Moor. The aircraft was extensively damaged after hitting a hedge, wall and a pole but the crew escaped serious injury.
Hampden AD923 was built to contract B.67577/40 by English Electric Co. Ltd. at Samlesbury and was awaiting collection in February 1941. It was allotted to 24 MU on 13th March 1941 and was received by them on 23rd March 1941. After a period of MU storage it was taken on charge by 144 Squadron at Hemswell on 10th May 1941. The aircraft received minor Cat.Ac/FB damage on 3rd June 1941 which would have been repaired on site and with it being returned to 144 Squadron once complete. The aircraft later moved with the squadron to North Luffenham on 17th July 1941. As a result of the accident near Dishforth on 21st September 1941 Cat.E2/FB damage was recorded and the aircraft written off. It was struck off charge five days later.
Pilot - F/Lt William John Wesley Kingston RAF (70366), of Schull, Co.Cork, Irish Republic.
Observer - Sgt Robert Cecil William De Courcy RAFVR (1255048), of Bailey, Co.Dublin, Irish Republic.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Tod.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Joseph Arthur Tobin RAFVR (931607), of Highbury, London.
William Kingston had been in the RAF Reserve pre-War but relinquished his initial commission to been granted a short
service commission in the RAF as P/O on probation on 31st August 1939. He rose to F/O on 3rd September 1940 and to F/Lt on 3rd September 1941.
F/Lt Kingston crash landed Hampden AE441 near Langham airfield soon after his landing at Dishforth and on this second aircraft
were Sgt's Tod and De Courcy. On 7th February 1942 all three were flying in Hampden AE392 which was shot down on a mine laying flight,
all three were killed. Kingston was 27, De Courcy was 24 and Tobin was 19 years old. All are commemorated
on the Runnymede Memorial.
On 7th November 1941 Sgt Tod was in Hampden AE238 which crashed near Lichfield, Staffordshire and escaped serious injury. His full identity is not yet known.