Hampden AE149 near Finningley airfield.
On 22nd July 1941 the crew of this 25 Operational Training Unit aircraft was undertaking a night training exercise, when they returned to land at Finningley they were ordered to orbit the
airfield as Hampden P1236 had just crashed on the airfield. While orbiting AE149 suffered a failure of the port engine and the pilot force landed at 02.50hrs the airfield at Finningley. The aircraft would catch fire after the crash landing and was destroyed.
Pilot - P/O William Henry Thomson Andrews RAFVR (64905).
? - Sgt David Morgan Roberts RAFVR (1002553). Injured leg.
? - Sgt C O Rousseau (55373 ?).
? - Sgt George Alexander Potter RAFVR (1106174).
William Andrews born in Helensburgh, Scotland and was the son of George Johnston and Helen Graham Andrews (nee Thomson), his father was descended from
Irish nobility. He married Sybil Well in 1941 who was from Huddersfield, Yorkshire. William "Harry" Andrews received a commission to the rank of P/O on
Probation on 24th April 1941 from the rank of LAC. He was killed on 10th March 1942 on Ops to Essen with 49 Squadron piloting Hampden AT174. He was
thirty two years old and is buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. He left a son who was born in the same month as he died. I thank Mr Graham Sharpe
for the photograph of his gravestone.
George Potter was later awarded the DFM for service with 15 Squadron.
David Roberts received a commission in 1944 and survived the War.
Hampden AE149 was built to contract B.67577/40 by English Electric Co. Ltd. at Samlesbury and was awaiting collection in April 1941. It was allotted to 44 MU on 23rd April 1941 and was received by them on 11th May 1941. The aircraft was taken on charge by 25 O.T.U. at Finningley on 3rd July 1941. As a result of the crash on 22nd July 1941 it sustained Cat.E2/FA damage and was struck off charge on 1st August 1941.