Hampden AT135 damaged by friendly fire. Landed at Driffield.
During the evening of 28th / 29th March 1942 420 Squadron Hampden AE246 failed to return from an operational flight to bomb Lubeck. The aircraft must have sent out a distress signal stating that they were ditching because during the day of 29th March 1942 420 Squadron flew sea-search flights to look for the missing crew of AE246. Hampden AT135 was part of the sea search and having flown a square grid search the crew were returning to the English Coast when they were was mis-identified as an enemy aircraft and attacked by three Spitfires at 12.00hrs. The Hampden received damage but the pilot was able to remain in control and crash landed at Driffield. The crew of the missing Hampden AE246 subsequently became PoWs. I have not yet identified the Spitfire unit responsible for their part in this incident. A court of inquiry resulted so records should exist. I have searched all Spitfire flying units that were based in Yorkshire and none of their orbs list any attacks being made on this date though some do list they were sent to track approaching aircraft. 332 Squadron or 610 Squadron would be my guess at the unit involved.
Pilot - P/O Bernard Mortimer Adilman RCAF (J/6390).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt W W Fleger RCAF (R/60560).