Wellington R1218 at Sand Hutton, Stamford Bridge.
In the early hours of 25th April 1941 this 15 Squadron aircraft and crew were returning from an operational flight to Kiel when the crew became lost in poor weather. After circling beacons and search light positions they received no reponses to making "darky" procedures. The crew were unable to locate their position, they then abandoned
the aircraft when it ran out of fuel. The aircraft crashed near Sand Hutton at 04.35hrs. The crew escaped serious injury and returned to flying soon after this incident.
Wellington R1218 was built to contract 992424/39 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Chester and was awaiting collection in October 1940. On 23rd October 1940 it was allotted to 8 MU and was received by them on 6th November 1940. It was taken on charge by 15 Squadron at Wyton on 22nd February 1941. It was destroyed as a result of the incident on 25th April 1941 and Cat.E2/FB damage was recorded on the paperwork. It was struck off charge on 1st May 1941.
Pilot - Sgt Arthur Wyn Idwal Jones RAFVR (740081).
? - Sgt Brown RAF.
? - Sgt Barrass RAF.
? - Sgt Stewart RAF.
? - Sgt Strang RAF.
Rear Gunner - Sgt Galloway RAF. Slightly injured.
He lost a brother on active service; Sgt David Vincent Jones RAFVR (1430702), was killed on 13th August 1943 while serving with 619
Squadron when Lancaster JA844 collided another Lancaster over Sussex on return from Ops to Milan. This aircraft crashed just off the
Littlehampton coast. He is buried in Treflys Churchyard, Caernarvonshire and was twenty three years old.
Arthur Jones received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 5th August 1941 (102593). By May 1942 he held the rank of
Acting F/Lt and had been posted to 218 Squadron. He was sadly killed when Stirling W7535 crashed in Paris on 30th May 1942 killing the
whole of his then crew. He was twenty four years old and is buried in Dreux Communual Cemetery, France.
Nothing more is known about the other airmen in the incident at Sand Hutton.