Wellington W5519 near Finningley airfield.
On 25th October 1941 this 305 Squadron aircraft was being flown on an non-operational flight when the port engine failed. The pilot was unable to feather the port propeller owing to loss of oil in the feathering system and was then unable to maintain height. The aircraft must have already been in the general area of Finningley at that time and made a forced landing on rough ground at 15.38hrs. The aircraft suffered minor damage and was repaired.
Captain / Navigator - F/Lt Kazimierz Sniegula PAF.
Pilot - Sgt Marian Lembrych PAF (793474).
Kazimierz Sniegula was born on 1st March 1903 and served in the Polish Air Force after graduating in 1928. He flew in France before arriving
in England when France fell. He was later awarded the British DFC and commanded 305 Squadron and would survive the War. He died in Canada in 1985.
Wellington W5519 was built to contract B.71441/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Weybridge and was awaiting collection in April 1941. It was initially flown to 23 M.U. at Aldergrove on 3rd May 1941 and after at lengthy period of MU storage there it was taken on charge by 305 Squadron at Lindholme on 22nd July 1941 as the unit began converting from Wellington MkIc's to Mk.II's. As a result of the mishap on 25th October 1941 near Finningley Cat.Ac/FA damage was the damage assessment and the aircraft was repaired on site by a team from Fairfield Aviation Ltd, beginning on 30th October 1941. It was returned to 305 Squadron on 10th January 1942 but was re-coded "SM-U". On 11th April 1942 it ditched off Cromer, Norfolk on return from Ops to Essen. The aircraft had been badly shot up by a night fighter, thankfully all of the then six crew members were rescued. Cat.Em damage was recorded on the paperwork and it was struck off charge on 30th April 1942. It had clocked up just short of 140 hours flying time.