On the night of 31st July / 1st August 1942 this aircraft was one of 25 Operational Training Unit that were required to fly a large raid on Dusseldorf. This aircraft took off from Finningley at 23.52hrs but while over Germany the aircraft was damaged by flak. The crew managed to fly the aircraft back to Finningley and land at 05.04hrs.
Pilot - F/Sgt Thompson.
? - Sgt Lewis.
? - Sgt Holdaway.
? - Sgt Glass.
? - Sgt Matthews.
Wellington DV720 was built to contract B.124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Hawarden and was awaiting collection in March 1942. The aircraft was received by 44 MU at Edzell on 27th March 1943 and was taken on charge by 26 O.T.U. at Wing on 7th April 1942. It was transferred to 25 O.T.U. at Finningley on 13th May 1942. On 29th June 1942 it was involved in a very minor ground accident at Finningley that injured a member of ground crew but received little damage. As a result of flak damage on 1st August 1942 Cat.A/FB damage would have been the damage assessment that then saw a repair on site. The aircraft was later transferred back to 26 O.T.U. at Wing on 15th September 1942. It sustained Cat.Ac/FA damage in a flying accident on 25th January 1943 that saw it again repaired on site. The aircraft was later transferred to 11 O.T.U. at Westcott on 16th May 1943. On 16th July 1943 it suffered an engine failure on take off from Westcott and overshot into a railway cutting. Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge having clocked up a total of 527 hours flying from new.
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