On 10th December 1942 the crew of this No.25 Operational Training Unit aircraft must have been nearing the end of their training with the unit so were selected for flying a "Nickel" operational flight to Lille. They took off from Finningley at 20.55hrs and appear to have carried out the operational order without incident. On their return to Yorkshire the crew were unable to locate their home airfield of Finningley and due to a navigational error the aircraft eventually ended up some way north of the Finningley area. The crew transmitted a "Darkie" request for navigational assistance which was answered by Leconfield airfield. The crew then managed to locate Leconfield's flare path and were making a circuit of the airfield prior to landing when the starboard engine cut out. The pilot was unable to maintain height on the port engine so made a forced-landing at 02.20hrs near Lodge Farm, Arram East, near Leconfield. A minor human error in switching fuel tanks had caused the engine to fail.
Pilot - Sgt Kenneth Robert Grant Millar RCAF (R/96339). Injured.
Navigator - Sgt Robert Henry Pennells RAFVR (1391441). Injured.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt James Henry Smith Harsley RAFVR (1380381).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Maurice Henry King RAFVR (1335800).
Rear Gunner - Sgt Clarence William Foster RAFVR (1550950).
Wellington BK259 was built to contract B.124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong Ltd. at Chester and was received by 48 M.U. at Hawarden on 12th September 1942. It was taken on charge by 25 O.T.U. at Finningley on 21st September 1942. It sustained minor Cat.Ac/FA damage in a minor flying accident on 12th October 1942 but how this happened is not known. The aircraft was repaired on site by a team from Vickers at Weybridge and was returned to 25 O.T.U. on 25th October 1942. As a result of the damage sustained on 10th December 1942 repairable Cat.B/FA damage was the initial damage assessment but was Re-Cat.E on 18th December 1942 and was struck off charge on the same date. The aircraft's AM Form 78 then strangely gives a transfer to 8 M.U. on 21st March 1946 and a further struck off charge date of 9th May 1947. What happened to the aircraft between December 1942 and March 1946 is not known.
All those named above are shown on this photograph, left to right, Sgt King, Sgt Pennells, Sgt Millar, x, Sgt Foster, x, x, Sgt Harsley. Photograph found on www.bomberhistory.co.uk/49squadron
Sgt Millar and F/Sgt's Pennells, Harsley and King were later posted to 1654 C.U in January 1943. They then served with 49 Squadron and were then posted to 83 Squadron in July 1943. They were reported missing on 26th November 1943 flying Ops to Berlin in Lancaster JA913, the aircraft was shot down over the target area and their burial locations are now not known so as a result they are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. F/Sgt Pennells was twenty one years old, P/O Millar and F/Sgt Harsley was twenty two and F/Sgt King was also twenty two. Sgt Pennells was awarded the DFM but Gazetted on 20th April 1945.
Kenneth Millar. Photograph found on www.veterans.gc.ca
Sgt Foster was also initially posted to 49 Squadron and later posted to 83 Squadron. On 20th October 1943 he was flying in Lancaster JB154 on Ops to Leipzig when the aircraft was shot down by a night-fighter over Holland with the loss of the whole crew. F/Sgt Foster was buried at Assen, Holland, he was twenty one years old. A memorial created from a propeller blade found at the crash site is a fitting tribute to this crew.