Hampden P1221 at Finningley airfield.
At 14.40hrs on 18th May 1941 this 25 Operational Training Unit aircraft was taking off from Finningley in a strong crosswind when it entered a swing at the end of the runway
and the pilot was unable to regain control. The aircraft was slightly damaged when it came to rest with the undercarriage collapsed.
Pilot - Sgt J O McCabe RNZAF (NZ.401772).
At the time of this mishap at Finningley the pilot had only four hours flying time on the Hampden. As F/Sgt he was either wounded or injured on active service just prior to 14th January 1943. He was later posted to 49 Squadron in July 1943 and flew possibly his
first operational flight with them in Lancaster ED448 on the night of 25th / 26th July 1943 to Essen. On 27th July 1943 he was flying Ops to Hamburg when his
aircraft was hit by flak in his aircraft's front windscreen, a small piece of perspex hit him in the eye and while injured he was able to make a rough landing
in England. In total he flew nine operational flights with 49 Squadron before being posted out in September 1943 as "sick".
Hampden P1221 was built to contract 773239/38 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was awaiting collection in September 1939 but was placed into long term MU
storage at 24 MU on 28th September 1939. It was taken on charge by the recently formed 25 O.T.U. at Finningley on 6th April 1941. As a result of the mishap
at Finningley on 18th May 1941 the minor Cat.B/FA damage was recorded. This then required a repair in a works factory. It was transort away and on 25th May 1941 it was in the care of "LMS", LMS refers to the London Midland and Scottish Railways Ltd who had the contract for Hampden repairs at their Wolverton factory which was in the Derby area. On completion of repair it had an engine check in the English Electric S.A.S. (Serving Aircraft Section) before being passed to 29 M.U. at the end of August 1941. It was taken on charge by 16 O.T.U. at Upper Heyford on 26th September 1941 and sustained damage in a flying accident on 19th February 1942, with Cat.Ac/FA damage being recorded. It was repaired on site by 7th March 1942 and on 26th March 1942 it was destroyed in a fatal crash with Cat.E2/FA damage recorded when it flew into the ground near Polebrook killing it's then crew of four.