Hampden AE375 near Patrington.
On the night of 10th / 11th October 1941 the crew of this 50 Squadron aircraft undertook an operational flight to bomb targets in the Dunkirk area, they took off from their base of Swinderby, Lincolnshire at around 18.45hrs. The crew got lost over enemy territory and spent three hours attempting to locate the targets they were ordered to release their bomb load onto. They were unable to locate the target area so returned to England without dropped the load. On their return to Northern England the aircraft appears to have drifted too far north over the Hull area and after running low on fuel they made wheels-up forced landing at 01.45hrs near Patrington. No injuries to the crew resulted and the aircraft was later collected to be taken away for repair.
Pilot - Sgt Leonard Chapple Williams RAFVR (1377183).
Pilot - Sgt William J. Johnston.
Wirelsss Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Smith.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt A Caunce.
Sgt Leonard Williams was twenty nine years old and is buried at Dalston Road Cemetery, Carlisle. He was the son of Leonard and Ann Chapple Williams and the husband of Ivy Ethel Williams (nee Austin), of Ilford, Essex.
On 1st December 1941 all of the above were flying together in Hampden P1202 when it crashed near Swinethorpe, Lincolnshire on return from an operational flight to Hamburg.
Sgt Johnston sustained facial injuries which resulted in him loosing the sight in an eye. I thank his son for kindly contacting me in July 2017 and for the additional information he was able to provide.
On 10th January 1942 Sgt Williams and Sgt Chaunce were flying in Hampden AE250 on a mine laying flight when the crew found themselves lost on the return flight, they strayed off course on return to Skellingthorpe finding themselves over the North-West of England. It was believed that the pilot was circling to try and find Crosby airfield although Crosby was not a completed airfield and had no landing lights at that time when the aircraft lost height and crashed near Brampton. Research carried out by air historian Mr Gilbert Rothery in the 1980s found the first man on the scene, Mr Frank Easton, he stated that the aircraft first crashed onto Brampton cricket field, ran through a second field, across the Carlisle to Brampton road and into a field at the other side of the road and caught fire. Mr Easton and Mr Bill Armstrong, were first on the scene and located an airman inside the burning aircraft with his flying suit on fire. They pulled him clear and he was taken away to be treated but sadly died (This was probably Sgt Alexander Bernard who had survived a flying accident on the North Yorkshire Moors in November 1941). Looking at modern-day Brampton it would appear a by-pass has been created around the town and that the aircraft had crashed across Carlisle Road. A number of modern housing and business developments would appear to have been created over land likely to have been used as the cricket pitch nearer the town. I would welcome information from residents would are able to confirm or correct these assumptions on where the cricket field was in 1942. Sgt Williams was sadly one of three who were killed. Sgt Caunce sustained serious injuries but survived.
Hampden AE375 had a long and detailed service history (kindly researched by Graham Sharpe, as per all of these webpages). Hampden AE375 was built to contract B.67577/40 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury and was awaiting collection in late August 1941. It was flown to 37 MU at Burtonwood on 31st August 1941 and on 12th September 1941 it was taken on charge by 50 Squadron at Swinderby and appears to have been coded "-B" (as the incident at Patrington is listed in one of the crew's logbooks as occurring to "B375"). As a result of the forced landing at Patrington on 11th October 1941 Cat.B/FB was recorded after inspection, ten days later it was collected by a team from 13 MU at Henlow and transported by road for repair, almost certainly to Handley Page Ltd. at Cricklewood. It was awaiting collection after repair on 4th April 1942 and ten days later flown to 29 MU at High Ercall for storage. On 16th June 1942 it was taken on charge by 408 Squadron at Baldeton. On 25th August 1942 it sustained unspecified Cat.A(c) damage but was repaired on site. On 8th September 1942 it was back with 408 Squadron but on 14th September 1942 408 Squadron ceased operating Hampden's and the personnel moved to Leeming to commence conversion to the Halifax. On 17th September 1942 this aircraft was flown into storage at 29 MU at High Ercall but on 24th October 1942 on inspection it was declared Cat.B damaged requiring a major repair (possibly an airframe stressing issue?). On 17th December 1942 it was in the care of Tollerton Aircraft Services Ltd, at Tollerton airfield and repair in works began on 19th December 1942. On 13th January 1943 the fuselage was transported to Brush Coachworks Ltd. at Loughborough where conversion to TB.1 status took place. On 1st May 1943 after re-assembly at Tollerton it was awaiting collection. On 3rd May 1943 it was flown to 23 MU at Aldergrove and on 28th May 1943 it was taken on charge by 415 Squadron at Thorney Island but was returned to Tollerton Aircraft Services Ltd. for further work to be carried out. It was ready for collection again on 2nd September 1943 but not long after on 11th October 1943 it was flown into long term storage with 44 MU at Edzell. It was struck off charge as Cat.E at 44 MU on 15th October 1944.