Wellington W5565 at Pocklington airfield.
During the late afternoon on 15th December 1941 this 405 Squadron aircraft was being flown around the area of Pocklington airfield so that a less experienced pilot could be given night flying experience in a Wellington with a more experienced pilot. While the aircraft was in the air the weather closed in so the pilots made a landing at Pocklington airfield but due to a strong cross wind and rain causing poor visibility the aircraft swung off the runway. The more experienced pilot tried to bring the aircraft to a halt but it ran into a barbed wire fence and the undercarriage collapsed.
Instructor Pilot - S/Ldr John McCormack RCAF (J/4881), of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
"Trainee" Pilot - Name unknown.
S/Ldr MacCormack was killed only weeks later when Magister L8162 crashed near Pocklington airfield on 4th April 1942. He is buried in the military plot with the churchyard at Barmby Moor.
Wellington W5565 was built by Vickers Armstrong Ltd. It was received by 33 MU on 8th June 1941 and was then taken on charge by 405 Squadron on 28th June 1941. On 12th July 1941 it was assessed as damaged by No.43 Group D.A. as having Cat.Ac damage. This damage assessment may relate to it being one of the aircraft that was damaged at Pocklington on 7th July 1941 that the 405 Squadron records do not fully identify. This damage was repaired on site and the aircraft was returned to 405 Squadron. It sustained Cat.Ac/FA damage as a result of the incident on 15th December 1941 which was repaired on site and returned to 405 Squadron on 27th December 1941. On 24th January 1942 it was damaged at Pocklington when it overshot on a wet or frozen runway after suffering brake failure. The damage was assesed on site and it was deemed to have repairable Cat.B/FA damage that resulted in it being transported for repair at Brooklands on 3rd February 1942. The repair was complete in May 1942 and after passing through 12 MU and 33 MU it went to the OADU on 13th July 1942. It then passed to 1440 Flight on 24th July 1942 and was flown out to the Middle East by the OADU on 11th August 1942. The aircraft survived the war and was struck off charge in 1947 or 1948.