Hampden P4413 at Pocklington airfield.

On the night of 15th / 16th September 1941 the crew of this 106 Squadron aircraft undertook an operational flight to bomb Hamburg. They took off from their Coningsby base at 18.33hrs and released their bomb load at 22.00hrs. While over enemy territory the crew were forced to take a considerable amount of evasive action that resulted in a higher than normal fuel consumption. On the return flight the crew realised that the aircraft would be running low on fuel by the time they made it back to England and having cross the English coast and flying in land for around ten minutes the aircraft suffered a failure of the port engine. Being near to Pocklington the crew went to land there. Before the wheels had lowered properly or before they could lowered manually the aircraft had lost height that a landing had to be attempted. At 03.20hrs the aircraft drifted off the flare path and towards the hangers, the pilot managed to stall the aircraft after clearing the hangers and finished up sat across the Barmby Moor to Pocklington road (this would have been the road that ran across the north side of the airfield). The aircraft sustained serious damage and was later written off as a result. One member of the crew was slightly injured.

Hampden P4413 was built to contract 773239/38 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was allotted to 8 MU on 1st June 1940. It was received by 8 MU on 20th July 1940 and was immediately taken on charge by 106 Squadron, at Finningley, on 28th July 1940. It moved with the unit to Coningsby on 23rd February 1941. On 18th August 1941 it received Cat.Ac/FB damage as the result of a minor flying incident (yet to be researched by me). It was repaired on site and returned to 106 squadron. As a result of the accident on 16th September 1941 Cat.E/FB damage was recorded and the aircraft was written off.

Pilot - P/O Martin Patrick Loftus RAF (89352).

Observer - Sgt Frank William Walley RAFVR (1169900).

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Albert Edward Flowerday RAFVR (755477).

Air Gunner - P/O George William Ward RAF (84909). Minor injuries.