Wellington W5529 at Lindholme airfield.
On 3rd October 1941 this 305 Squadron aircraft was being given an airtest to test the engines, while flying locally the port engine failed and the pilot could not maintain height. While trying to return to land at Lindholme airfield at 16.15hrs the pilot was trying to avoid crashing into the married quarters so banked the aircraft but it struck the ground.
Pilot - Sgt Jozef Szybka PAF (P.783606). Injured.
Air Gunner? (Pilot?) - Sgt Jan Duda PAF (P.782321). Injured.
Ground Crew - LAC Jablonski PAF (P.782292). Injured.
Ground Crew - LAC Matysiak PAF (P.782967). Injured.
On 26th June 1942 the commissioned Jozef Szybka was flying in Wellington Z8528 on Ops to Bremen when it was ditched off Great Yarmouth.
After some hours in the dinghy he was rescued.
On 25th August 1944 he was flying with Warrant Officer Antoni Chlopicki when they were killed on a training flight but to date I have not
been able to identify the incident in which they lost their lives.
Wellington W5529 was built to contract B.71441/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Weybridge and was awaiting collection in May 1941. It was received by 12 MU on 11th May 1941. It's AM Form 78 states that it was taken on charge by 40 Squadron on 1st July 1941 and was then transferred to 99 Squadron on 19th July 1941. Both may have been only allocations only. 40 Squadron at Alconbury and also 99 Squadron at Waterbeach never operated Mk.II Wellingtons. On 8th September 1941 it was taken on charge by 305
Squadron at Lindholme (who did operator MkII's!). As a result of the accident at Lindholme on 3rd October 1941 Cat.E2/FA was recorded. The aircraft was struck off charge the following day.