Unidentified Wellington (Z8421?) at Pocklington airfield.
On 28th February 1942 an aircraft burst a tyre on landing at Pocklington airfield due to stones being left on the runway by contractors. The aircraft
ground looped and the undercarriage collapsed. The identity of the aircraft is not confirmed but was probably 405 Squadron Wellington Z8421 that was damaged on this date.
Crew - Names unknown.
Wellington Z8421 was built to contract B.71441/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd, at Weybridge and was awaiting collection in October 1941. It was received by 8 MU on 6th October 1941 and then taken on charge by 104 Squadron at Pocklington on 11th October 1941. The following day it was transferred to 405 Squadron. As a result of the incident on 5th January 1942 Cat.A/FA was the damage assessment. It was repaired on site and returned to 405 Squadron use. The aircraft's AM Form 78 states that on 28th February 1942 it received Cat.B/FA damage. The 405 Squadron records are very poor at identifying their aircraft. This 28th February 1942 incident probably relates to a ground looping Wellington where the undercarriage then collapsed after it burst a tyre on landing caused by stones being left on the runway at Pocklington. The aircraft was transported to Sywell for a repair in works at Sywell a few days later and once repaired it was received by 12 MU on 15th May 1942. After passed through the O.A.P.U. on 9th August 1942 it was taken on charge by 15 O.T.U. at Harwell on 22nd July 1942. It then passed to No.1 O.A.D.U. at Portreath on 27th August 1942 and was then flown out to the Middle East between 25th September 1942 and 8th October 1942. Once there it was taken on charge by 104 Squadron but the date this occurred is not yet known. It was still with 104 Squadron, based at Hani West, Tunisia, in July 1943. The aircraft was struck off charge on 27th April 1944.