Wellington W5484 at Pocklington airfield.
On the night of 12th / 13th October 1941 405 Squadron, based at Pocklington, were tasked with bombing Nuremburg. One of their seven aircraft that were to have been used was taxying prior to take off and although it was being marshalled through a gateway by ground staff one of the main wheels became caught in a wire fence. Disiplinary action was taken against the ground crew members who failed to notity the pilot of the aircraft in time for him to stop. The aircraft damaged the elevators and the tailplane but was soon repaired. Two others did not start and one returned early leaving just three to make the trip.
Pilot - F/Lt John McCormack RCAF (J/4881).
Navigator - (Probably) F/Lt William Henry Fetherston RCAF (J/4530).
Rest of crew - Names unknown.
John McCormack was born 28th September 1920 in Silverthorn, Toronto, Ontario, Canada and was the son of Leroy Meredith and Helen (nee Dodds) MacCormack. His father had served in the RFC and RAF in WW1 and while he worked as a school principle in Toronto before WW2 he served as an instructor in Canada during WW2. While John (or "Jack") was still at college in 1940 when he enlisted for RCAF service he had excelled at Rugby at school and coached younger boys during summer holidays. He enlisted for RCAF service on 19th September 1940 in Toronto and after training as a pilot in Canada was awarded his Flying Badge on 17th March 1941. He received a commission the following day and left Canada for service in the UK in early April 1941. He was killed when Magister L8162 crashed near Pocklington airfield on 4th April 1942 and is buried at Barmby Moor Churchyard.
Wellington W5484 was built to contract B.71441/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Weybridge and was awaiting collection in March 1941. It was received by 23 MU on 8th April 1941 and was taken on charge by 405 Squadron at Driffield on 28th May 1941 a month after they formed. 405 Squadron moved to Pocklington on 20th June 1941. It's AM Form 78 lists that minor Cat.Ac damage was sustained on 6th July 1941 though how this occurred is not yet known. It would have been repaired on site and returned to 405 Squadron. As a result of this ground accident on 12th October 1941 minor Cat.M/GA damage would have been as bad as the damage assessment was recorded but it does not feature on the aircraft's AM Form 78 exactly. On 15th December 1941 the undercarriage collapsed on landing at Pocklington following a heavy landing. On 21st December 1941 it's AM Form 78 states it received a repair on site. It was returned to 405 Squadron on 31st January 1942. The aircraft was later transferred to 12 Squadron at Binbrook on 8th July 1942 but on 26th July 1942 it sustained minor Cat.Ac/FB battle damage. It was repaired on site and returned to 12 Squadron on 8th August 1942. Exactly what happened to it then isn't known. In August 1942 12 Squadron converted to a different variant of Wellington which could have meant the aircraft was placed in long term MU storage. It's AM Form 78 does not state that this happened. It does give that it sustained Cat.B/FA damage at some point which was then cancelled and a further assessment on 23rd June 1943 saw the aircraft written off with Re-Cat.E damage.