Wellington DV936 at Finningley airfield.

During the night of 11th / 12th July 1942 this No.25 Operational Training Unit aircraft was flown on a circuits and landings training exercise using Finningley airfield. At 00.05hrs the aircraft landed for the second time. The pilot believed that the aircraft may have sustained a broken tail wheel assembly. With the engines still running the pilot despached another member of his crew to leave the aircraft and to check the tail wheel. This airman left the aircraft and checked the wheel but then walked into a rotating propeller while returning to the forward entrance which caused him scalp and shoulder injuries.

Pilot - P/O Ian Willoughby Bazalgette RAFVR (118131).

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - P/O George Wallace Ross RAFVR (119354). Injured.

Further crew - Names unknown.

Both these airmen were posted to 115 Squadron on 16th September 1942 with Navigator, P/O W A Bowen (131529) and probably Wireless Operator, Sgt G Roberts and Rear Gunner, Sgt Milton Henry Trevor Molloy (914984).

Ian Bazalgette was later awarded the DFC for service with 115 Squadron, Gazetted on 29th May 1943. He was later posted to 635 Squadron. On 4th August 1944 he was flying Lancaster ND811 on Ops to Trossy St.Maximin, France when the aircraft was badly damaged. They continued to the target and released their bomb load. Several of his then crew were able to bale out but he and two others were killed. He is buried at Senantes, France. For his actions he was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross. His life and flying is well documented.

Wellington DV936 was built to contract B124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Hawarden and was awaiting collection in June 1942. The aircraft received by 18 MU on 5th June 1942 and was was taken on charge immediately by 25 O.T.U. at Finningley on 12th June 1942. Cat.U/GA would have been any assessment of the aircraft following the incident on 12th July 1942. The aircraft was transferred to 16 O.T.U. at Upper Heyford on 15th September 1942 and then 15 O.T.U. at Harwell on 2nd October 1942. On 21st April 1943 it crashed at Wychbold, Worcestershire when an engine fire caused a wing to structurally fail. Sadly seven airmen died. Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage was the assessment and it was written off. It was struck off charge on 10th May 1943.

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