At 21.35hrs on 11th September 1941 this 25 Operational Training Unit aircraft overshot on landing at Finningley airfield causing the starboard undercarriage leg to apparently collapsed. The aircraft sustained some damage mainly the starboard wing and engine and two members of aircrew were injured. The aircraft struck the petrol dump on the airfield boundary.
Pilot - Sgt Peter Hollowell Foster RAFVR (933501). Uninjured.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Harry Hughes RAFVR (1053683). Injured.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Albert Richard Hostler RAFVR (1167745). Injured.
Wellington R1078 was built to contract 992424/39 by Vickers Armstrong’s Ltd. at Hawarden and was awaiting collection in September 1940. The aircraft was initially received by 51 MU on 21st September 1940 placed in MU storage until being taken on charge by 25 O.T.U. at Finningley on 28th February 1941. The aircraft sustained minor Cat.Ac/FB damage as a result of the crash at Finningley on 11th September 1941 but was transported for repair at the Vickers factory at Castle Bromwich rather than being repaired on site at Finningley. The repairs were complete by May 1942 and after a short spell with 46 MU it was transferred to 11 O.T.U. at Honington on 7th June 1942. On 26th June 1942 it was being used on the Thousand Bomber raid to Bremen when it failed to return. Three of it's then crew were killed while two became PoW. Cat.E(m) damage was recorded on the paperwork. It was struck off charge on 1st July 1942.
On 25th October 1941 Sgt Harry Hughes was killed in a flying accident when Hampden P1234 of 25 O.T.U. crashed near Weybridge, Surrey. He is buried at Frodsham (St.Laurence) Churchyard.
Sgt Peter Foster was killed on 13th March 1942 in 83 Squadron Manchester L7423 failed to return from an operational flight to Cologne. He is buried in Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Netherlands.
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