Wellington BJ696 damaged in the air, landed at Lissett airfield.
On 12th August 1942 this 12 O.T.U. aircraft took off from Chipping Warden for the crew to undertake a training flight that took the aircraft out over the North Sea. While flying in the area off Bridlington the Wellington was fired on by a British Convoy. Shrapnel from one burst entered the fuselage and mortally wounding the air bomber. The rear gunner sustained a compound fracture of the left radius and severe lacerations to his left knee and thigh. The pilot made an emergency landing at Lissett airfield. The 2 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit / Catfoss airfield record book mentions the incident and states that Wellington BJ696 from Chipping Warden crashed on landing at nearby Lissett airfield.
Pilot - Sgt Serger.
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Dennis Hubert Weston RAF (656324), aged 25. Buried Much Marcle (St. Bartholomew) Churchyard, Hertfordshire.
Rear Gunner - Sgt Lloyd. Injured.
Navigator - Sgt Dean.
Air Gunner - Sgt J A Jones. Injured. Admitted to Bridlington Hospital.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Pyke.
Wellington BJ696 was built to contract B.124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong’s Ltd. at Hawarden and was flown to 18 M.U. at Dumfries on 11th July 1942. On 31st July 1942 it was taken on charge by 12 O.T.U. at Chipping Warden. As a result of the damage sustained on 12th August 1942 the damage was initially assessed on site as being Cat.B damage which would have almost certainly resulted in the aircraft being transported away by road for a repair. On 24th August 1942 the damage was re-assessed on site at Lissett and downgraded to Cat.Ac. A repair on site was carried at Lissett by a team from Fairfield Aviation at Elstree., on the aircraft's AM Form 78 it states that it was returned to 12 O.T.U. on 19th September 1942. The aircraft did not leave Lissett until 6th October 1942 when the 2 (C)OTU record book mentions it's departure at 15.10hrs to be returned to Chipping Warden. 29th March 1943 the aircraft sustained unspecified Cat.Ac/FA damage and was repaired on site by a team from Vickers at Weybridge. On 10th April 1943 it was returned to 12 O.T.U. charge. On 19th November 1943 it received a repair on site by Vickers from Weybridge for unspecified damage. On 4th December 1943 it was returned to 12 O.T.U. charge. On 15th March 1944 it belly landed at Chipping Warden and caught fire. Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge three days later having clocked up a total of 646 flying hours.
Sgt Cyril Martin Pyke 1801298, 550 Sqn + 13-7-44 bomb aimer