Hampden P1258 at Finningley airfield.
On 15th July 1941 this 25 Operational Training Unit aircraft swung on landing at Finningley following a night training flight and the undercarriage collapsed.
Pilot - Sgt Christopher Horace Jennyn Brown RAFVR (903770).
Hampden P1258 was built to contract 773239/38 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett, was awaiting collection in October 1939 and was received by 9 MU on 4th November 1939. It was taken on charge by 106 (Training) Squadron at Finningley on 1st March 1940. On 4th February 1941 the aircraft was briefly transferred to No.5 Group Target Towing Flight at Finningley / Driffield where it remained until being transferred to the newly formed 25 O.T.U. at Finningley 26th February 1941. As a result of the incident on 15th
July 1941 Cat.B/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was transported away to be repaired in a works factory. The aircraft was listed as repaired and ready for collection on 20th December 1941. It was probably converted to TB.1 status at this stage in it's life. On 25th March 1942 it was taken on charge by 489 Squadron. On 4th June 1942 it swung on take off from Thorney Island and the undercarriage collapsed. It was assessed as having sustained Cat.B/FB damage so was transported to the LMS Carriage Works, Derby for a repair in works. It was taken on charge by 455 Squadron at Leuchars on 9t November 1942 but on 12th January 1943 was assessmed as having Cat.Ac/FB damage, a month later during the repair it was re-assessed and upped to Re-Cat.B damage so was taken away and repaired in a works factory again. While at 23 MU on 29th April 1943 it sustained Cat.Ac/FB damage in a flying accident. It then sustained Cat.B/FA damage at Tollerton on 25th June 1943. Finally repaired it was taken on charge to 415 Squadron RCAF at Thorney Island. On the night of 15th / 16th August 1943 it failed to return from a shipping patrol off the Dutch Coast and was believed to have been shot down by a night fighter. Cat.E(m)
damage was recorded on the paperwork, sadly all four crew were killed with the bodies of only two ever been recovered.