Wellington W5497 at Pocklington airfield.
On the night of 22nd / 23rd August 1941 405 Squadron sent up six aircraft to bomb Mannheim and two aircraft to bomb Le Havre.
Prior to the operational flights that evening some of the crews were instructed to undertake airtests; one dual flying exercise
and one local flying exercise and in total eleven aircraft were used for these exercises. At 15.30hrs this aircraft overshot on
landing at Pocklington airfield after the wind had turned 180 degrees and the aircraft had landed with the wind behind it. This
was one of two aircraft to do exactly the same thing within minutes on this date at Pocklington.
Pilot - Sgt V I McKinley RCAF (R/67677), of Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Crew - Names unknown.
Wellington Z5497 was built to contract B.71441/40 by Vickers Armstrong’s Ltd. at Weybridge and was delivered to 33 M.U. at Lyneham on 22nd April 1941. It was taken on charge by 405 Squadron at Driffield on 14th June 1941 and moved to Pocklington with them on 20th June 1941. It was damaged on landing at Pocklington on 22nd August 1941 while being air-tested prior to that night's operations. The date of 22nd August 1941 is given as an assessment by No.43 Group D.A. for a repair in works. On 18th September 1941 it was transported to Brooklands Aviation Ltd. at Sywell for a repair in a works factory. On 28th November 1941 the repairs were complete and on 10th December 1941 it was flown to 46 M.U. at Lossiemouth. On 14th February 1942 it was again taken on charge by 405 Squadron at Pocklington. As a result of minor damage at Pocklington on 17th March 1942 Cat.Ac/FA damage was the initial damage assessment. On 25th March 1942 it was re-assessed as Re.Cat.B damage, it was then transported to Brooklands Aviation Ltd. at Sywell for another repair in works but was then re-assessed when work started and deemed beyond repair. On 6th April 1942 it was Re.Cat.E and struck off charge two days later.