Wellington BJ917 collided in the air, returned to Leeming airfield.

On the night of 13th / 14th October 1942 this 420 Squadron aircraft was to be used operational for an attack on Kiel. While technically based at Skipton on Swale airfield for this date the squadron used Leeming airfield to undertake the operational order from and also landed there on return. The crew of this aircraft left Leeming at 18.48hrs. While returning from the target area the aircraft collided with another unidentified aircraft and part of the tail was severed. Despite the damage the crew were able to return to Leeming airfield and land safely at 01.14hrs. Unfortunately the 420 Squadron records do not identify the aircraft however given the nature of the damage it would take some time to obtain the spare tail and/or get specialist repairers to make good the aircraft. It would be right to assume the aircraft would not be repaired the following day. By a process of illimination the only Wellington that reached the target on 13th / 14th October and was then used on 15th / 16th October 1942 was Wellington BJ917.

Pilot - F/Sgt W W Kennedy.

? - F/Sgt J W May.

? - P/O G J Williams.

? - Sgt J F Goldstone.

? - Sgt A D F Watt.

Wellington BJ917 was built to contract B.124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong's at Hawarden, Chester and was awaiting collection in August 1942. It was taken on charge almost immediately by 420 Squadron at Skipton on Swale on 25th September 1942 as they were converting to Wellington MkIII's from Hampdens. The aircraft's AM Form 78 makes no mention of the damage sustained on 14th October 1942 so was probably minor Cat.A/FA. 420 Squadron moved to Middleton St.George on 15th October 1942 so the aircraft must have been left behind for repair at Leeming and returned to them later. It was used by them operationally on 20th December 1942. The aircraft sustained Cat.Ac/FA damage on 7th February 1943 in a flying accident though no details are known. Once repaired it was transferred to 26 OTU at Wing on 22nd March 1943, then 16 OTU at Barford St.John on 20th January 1944 and finally 12 OTU at Chipping Warden on 8th April 1944. It was destroyed on 29th August 1944 when it caught fire on landing at Edgehill, after which Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage was recorded and it was written off.

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