Hampden X2968 at Finningley airfield.
On the night of 9th / 10th January 1941 the crew of this 106 Squadron aircraft had undertaken an operational flight to bomb Gelsenkirchen. This aircraft returned to
base at 00.05hrs but on landing at Finningley the undercarriage collapsed. It was thought that the pilot had turned out some of the lighting in the cockpit as the brightness as effecting his visibility. Unfortunately he probably then was unaware that the undercarriage unlocked warning light was then not illuminating.
Pilot - Sgt R J West RAF (748585).
Second Pilot - P/O Roger Edward Rowle Paramore RAFVR (84309).
? - Sgt Harker.
? - Sgt Hunt.
Hampden X4968 was built to contract B.994449/39 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury and was awaiting collection in August 1940. It was allotted to 12 MU on 29th August 1940 and was received by them on 8th September 1940. The aircraft was then taken on charge by 106 Squadron at Finningley on 22nd September 1940. It sustained Cat.Ac/FB damage as a result of the incident at Finningley on 10th January 1941. It was repaired
on site and returned to 106 Squadron. By the end of May 1941 106 Squadron had ceased operating "X..' serial Hampdens and the aircraft was transferred to
16 O.T.U. at Upper Heyford on 8th June 1941. On 21st February 1942 the aircraft was destroyed in a crash during a training flight and Cat.E2/FA(Burnt) damage
was recorded following a crash near Upper Heyford with the then crew of two being killed.