Hampden P4369 at Finningley airfield.
On 10th July 1941 the undercarriage of this 25 Operational Training Unit aircraft was not fully locked down when it landed at Finningley at 00.25hrs. The undercarriage collapsed on
landing and the aircraft sustained damage.
Pilot - Sgt Alister Douglas Atkinson RAFVR (968783).
Hampden P4369 was built to contract 773239/38 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury and was awaiting collection in April 1940. It was allotted to 20 MU on 25th April 1940 and was received by them on 18th May 1940. The aircraft was taken on charge by 144 Squadron at Hemswell on 2nd June 1940. On 28th July 1940 it sustained damage when it swung on landing at Ingham and the undercarriage collapsed. Cat.B/FA damage was recorded on the paperwork. The aircarft was transported for repair in works though the location on the aircraft's AM Form 78 is not readable. On 28th February 1941 it was flown to English Electric, Service Aircraft Section and a month later was flown to 20 MU. It was taken on charge by 25 O.T.U. at Finningley on 6th May 1941. On 10th July 1941 it crashed at Finningley. Cat.R(b)/FA damage was the damage assessment which appears to have been repaired on site with it being returned to 25 O.T.U. once complete. It left 25 O.T.U. in December 1941 for some form of work to be carried out at the LMS Carriage Works who had a repair contract for Hampdens. This may have been when it was converted to TB.1 status. By the end of June 1942 it was awaiting collection. Where it was for the following year is not clear from the AM Form 78In July 1943 was the taken on charge by T.D.U. at Gosport where it remained until November 1943. It was flown to 44 MU and was struck off charge on 17th January 1944. The aircraft's AM Form 78 from 1942 is very poorly written.