Wellington W5426 at Driffield airfield.
On the night of 27th / 28th July 1941 this 104 Squadron aircraft was being flown on an operational flight and took off from Driffield at 22.47hrs. Owing to thick cloud over the target area the crew could not see the intended target so did not release their bomb load. They turned and made for home jettisoning the bomb load in the sea and withe the rear turret becoming unservicable over the enemy coastline. At 03.15hrs, while flying in the general area of Driffield airfield the starboard engine cut out, the aircraft was damaged on landing at Driffield and the rear gunner sustained minor injuries. It would appear from the damage (both mainplanes and fuselage damaged) that the undercarriage legs probably collapsed.
Pilot - Sgt William Thomas Ross Stephenson RCAF (R/52876).
Second Pilot - Sgt John Walter Nowlan RAFVR (928472).
Observer - Sgt John Jenkins Hunter RAFVR (926803).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Kenneth Hutchinson RAFVR (961049).
Air Gunner - Sgt D Storer RAFVR (999005).
Air Gunner - Sgt Cunningham RAFVR (1377096). Slightly injured.
Sgt Storer became a PoW on 13th August 1941 when Wellington W5461 failed to return from Ops to Berlin.
John Jenkins later received a commission and the DFC for service with 105 Squadron.
On 16th August 1941 Stephenson, Nowlan and Hutchinson were killed flying Wellington W5532 when it was shot down over Lincolnshire.
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.