Hampden X3123 struck a balloon cable at Patrington, force landed at Welwick.
On the night of 2nd / 3rd August 1941 Hampden AE154 flew an operational flight to bomb Kiel, the crew were a number belonging to 83 Squadron who flew
operationally this night. On the return leg this aircraft appears to have drifted too far north while crossing the North Sea and before making land-fall
it ran out of fuel so the pilot ditched the aircraft some forty miles off Bridlington at 07.00hrs without serious injury to any of the crew. The following morning 83 Squadron sent up a number of their Hampdens to carry out searches of the North
Sea in the area the crew of Hampden AT154 made a distress call prior to ditching. The search must have been a success as the crew of AE154 were later rescued.
Hampden X3123 was one of the aircraft 83 Squadron sent out for the sea search but while flying over the Holderness area in poor visibility the aircraft
collided with two balloon cables in the Patrington area, injuring one of the crew. As the damage was severe enough to prevent the aircraft flying on it was force landed at 10.30hrs on Beacon Hill, just north of the village of Welwick.
Pilot - S/Ldr John Henry Kynoch RAF (40232). Uninjured.
Navigator - Sgt Albert Edward Fairman RAFVR (926563). Injured
Wireless Operator - Sgt William Albert Brooks RAFVR (925823). Uninjured.
Air Gunner - Sgt Clive Banham DFC RAF (548528). Uninjured.
Hampden X3123 was built by English Electric and was allotted to 12 MU on 1st November 1940. It was received by them on 12th November 1940 and was taken on charge by 83 Squadron on 22nd November 1940. It appears to have had an uneventful life until 3rd August 1941 when the landing was made a Welwick. Cat.A/FB damage appears to have been the damage assessment that required a repair in works. It was taken away by road and was finally repaired at the repair works at Tollerton. By mid-December 1941 it was ready for collection. The aircraft was then passed to No.5 A.D.S. and then No.1 A.A.S. but was damaged in May 1943. It was never to serve with a flying unit again. Once repaired in Autumn 1943 it passed to 44 MU and was then struck off charge on 24th January 1944.