Wellington W5426 at Driffield airfield.
On the night of 27th / 28th May 1941 this 104 squadron aircraft was to have been used on an operational flight to bomb Cologne but before the aircraft could take off it collided with a workman's wheelbarrow left on an unlit dispersal point at Driffield airfield. The aircraft was slightly damaged.
Pilot - S/Ldr Peter Henry Cribb RAF (33360).
Crew - Names unknown.
Peter Cribb served with 58 Squadron before posting to 104 Squadron. He later served with 35 Squadron and the Bomber Development Unit before commanding
582 Squadron and the Pathfinder Wing. He was awarded the DSO and Bar, the DFC and Bar and later the CBE and rose to the rank of Air Commodore. His life is well
detailed on the internet, he died in 2011.
Wellington W5426 was built to contract B.71441/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Weybridge and was awaiting collection in January 1941. It was allotted to 12 MU on 24th January 1941 and was received by them on 10th February 1942. It was initially placed in MU storage and was then taken on charge by 104 Squadron at Driffield on 10th April 1941 days after they had formed. As a result of the damage sustained there on 27th May 1941 minor Cat.A/GA resulted and a repair on site was made. This incident does not feature on the aircraft's AM Form 78 so was probably very minor. It then sustained Cat.B/FA damage on 28th July 1941 and this was more than could be repaired on site so a repair in works was done. In April 1942 it was flown to 8 MU but was seemed to have Cat.B/FA damage on 30th July 1942. After repair it eventually went to the OAPU on 19th March 1943 though was later damaged to Cat.B status. After another repair it was issued to OADU on 8th January 1944. It was written off on 12th March 1944, possibly after a flying accident. The history is very vague.