Hampden P4400 at Finningley airfield.
On 28th April 1941 the crew of this 25 Operational Training Unit aircraft were about to undertake an evening dusk basic circuit flying training flight. At 20.55hrs as the aircraft picked up speed on the runway at Finningley the aircraft developed a swing which was not corrected in time and the undercarriage collapsed.
Pilot - Sgt William Francis Jordan RAFVR (982958).
Hampden P4400 was built to contract 773239/38 by Handley Page Ltd, at Radlett. It was allotted to 12 MU on 1st June 1940 and was received by them on 19th June 1940. The aircraft was taken on charge by 61 Squadron at Hemswell on 1st July 1940 and remained with them until 6th August 1940 when it sustained Cat.Ac/FA damage in a flying accident. On 20th August 1940 when it was taken to Tollerton for work to be carried out (to Rollasons?). Once repaired it was flown to 20 MU on 1st March 1941 and was then transferred to the newly formed 25 O.T.U. at Finningley on 30th March 1943. Minor Cat.A/FA damage was recorded after the mishap at Finningley on 28th April 1941. It doesn't appear to have been repaired on site. It was taken to LMS Carriage Works, Service Aircraft Section on 12th May 1941 and once repaired it was flown to English Electric on 13th October 1941 for modifications. It passed to 29 MU on 21st November 1941 and was then taken on charge by 44 Squadron at Waddington on 10th December 1941. It was transferred to the newly formed 420 Squadron also at Waddington on 30th December 1941 where it carried the squadron code "PT-J". On 12th February 1942 Cat.E(m) damage was recorded when it failed to
return from an operational flight known as "Operation Fuller" which involved attacking German battle cruisers in the English Channel. It carried a crew of four who were all recorded as missing. The aircraft was struck off charge two days later.