Hampden P4314 at Finningley airfield.
During the evening of 3rd January 1941 the pilot of this 106 Squadron aircraft was undertaking a night navigation training flight. At 20.55hrs the aircraft suffered an engine failure on approach to land at Finningley. He force landed the aircraft a mile south of Finningley airfield. The pilot was not injured. This was his second flying accident in just over three weeks, after the first incident it was recommended that he be given further dual control flying experience in Ansons but this did not happen
Pilot - Sgt Ivor Philip Mapp RAFVR (741068).
Ivor Mapp was born in the Preston area of Lancashire in 1911, he was to be involved in a number flying mishaps. He crashed Hampden L4120 at Finningley on 16th December 1940, Hampden P4314 at Finningley on 3rd January 1941, Hampden AE229 near Lincoln on 30th August 1941 with 50 Squadron. The most serious was when Hampden AE394 crashed on Haley's Terrace in York in February 1942 when all of his then crew were killed. He received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) 26th April 1943, he rose to F/O on probation (war subs) on 26th October 1943 and F/Lt (war subs) on 26th April 1945. He served with 57 Squadron in 1944 and was awarded the DFC with this unit, Gazetted on 15th August 1944. He remained in the RAF until relinquishing his commission on 10th April 1956.
Hampden P4314 was built to contract 773239/38 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was awaiting collection in February 1940. On 27th February 1940 it was allotted to 9 MU and was received by then on 18th March 1940. The aircraft was taken on charge by the recently formed 7 Squadron at Finningley on 7th May 1940 but this unit disbanded on 30th May 1940 and the aircraft was subsequently transferred to 14 OTU at Cottesmore on 20th May 1940. On 23rd July 1940 it landed heavily at Cottesmore and the undercarriage was damaged. Cat.E damage appears to have been the initial damage assessment that would have written the aircraft off but it appears then to have been re-assessed and downgraded to Cat.B damage. The aircraft was transported for repair in works by a repair facility at Tollerton. On 1st October 1940 it was received by 20 MU and then passed to English Electric, Service Aircraft Section on 19th November 1940. It was then passed to 12 MU on 2nd December 1940 before being taken on charge by 106 Squadron at Finningley on 10th December 1940. On 3rd January 1941 it crashed near Finningley. Cat.E1/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was written off. The aircraft was salvaged and the parts were handed to the LMS carriage works facility at Derby who had a contract to repair Hampdens.