Hudson N7243 at Brambles Farm, Middlesbrough.

On 22nd December 1941 this No.6 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit aircraft was being flown on a training flight around the Thornaby area when it suffered elevator control problems while in the landing circuit. Having tried to rectify the problem and attempted to apply power to the engines the aircraft continued to loose height. He force-landed the plane with the wheels down in a field at Brambles Farm in the Middlesbrough area. The location was in a field near the modern-day trunk road (A1085) / Redcar road. The 6 (C)O.T.U. orb is very precise in stating it force landed on the Redcar Road owing to an obscure failure of the controls. The accident form AM765c states it was put down in a field not on a road. The aircraft was not repaired.

Pilot - Sgt Leonard Donald Dunnett RAFVR (1375998). Injured.

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Roy Samuel Darke RAFVR (972295). Injured.

Observer - Sgt Harold Simpson RAFVR (1375627). Uninjured.

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Andrew William Philip Aitchison Hendrie RAFVR (1263054). Uninjured.

Hudson N7243 was built to contract 791587/38 by The Lockheed Aircraft Corporation at Burbank, California, USA and was shipped was to the UK, arriving at Liverpool in June 1939. After assembly and testing at the Lockheed Assembly Division (UK) Ltd. at Speke in August 1939 it was issued to 24 MU on 10th July 1939. It was then taken on charge by 233 Squadron at Leuchars on 16th August 1939. On 11th April 1940 it received minor battle damage which slightly damaged the aircraft, but more worthy of a mention is that P/O Arthur Everett Evans RAF (41162) received fatal injuries as a result of the attack. The aircraft was probably repeared on site at Leuchars and returned to 233 Squadron use. It later moved to Aldergrove with them on 8th December 1940. On 20th August 1941 it was transferred to No.6 (C)O.T.U. at Thornaby and as a result of the damage sustained on 22nd December 1941 Cat.E2/FA was the damage assessment. It was then struck off charge on 31st December 1941.
Roy Darke was later posted to 48 Squadron. On 24th September 1942 he was flying in a Hudson that crashed into the sea after taking off from an airfield in Iceland. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Both Harold Simpson and Andrew Hendrie received commissions in June 1943 and May 1944 respectively. Both survived the war.

Leonard Dunnett also received a commission in July 1942 and later received a Mention in Despatches on 1st January 1946.

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