Harrow K6975 near Wentbridge / Darrington.
On 29th August 1942 this 271 Squadron aircraft left base of Doncaster at 11.35hrs to fly to Charmy Down. It left Charmy Down at 15.05hrs where it collected sixteen men and 2000lbs of kit belonging to 234 Squadron and flew to Portreath. Having then loaded the men and kit at Portreath it then took off at 17.35hrs to return to Charmy Down empty and recorded being "to check on weather". The weather must have been poor but passable for flying so the aircraft then took off from Charmy Down to return to Doncaster at 19.05hrs. As the pilot neared base the visibility was poor as to prevent the pilot from locating Doncaster airfield. The aircraft was force landed in a barley field between Wentbridge and Darrington. The incident is recorded in the 271 Squadron records and also a basic reference to this incident has been located within the National Archives file "Air38/232" and this entry gives a further reference of "C.1201/579" which I assume is a more fuller report into the incident held in another document, yet to be discovered.
The aircraft did not receive damage in the landing and was flown out of the field at 15.30hrs by the same pilot the following day.
Pilot - P/O Alan David Lintern RAFVR (129510).
Harrow K6975 was built to contract 435062/35 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was delivered to 215 Squadron at Driffield on 26th July 1937 where it carried the code "-H". 215 Squadron moved to Honington on 25th July 1938 and the aircraft moved with them. On 29th June 1939 it was flown to 9 M.U. at Cosford and on 22nd October 1939 it was taken on charge by 8 AOS at Evanton who, on 1st November 1939, were re-designated as 8 B & G.S. and then on 9th June 1941 were re-designated as 8 A.G.S.. On 8th February 1942 K6975 was transferred to 271 Squadron at Doncaster. The aircraft appears to have been undamaged in the forced landing on 29th August 1942. On 31st March 1943 it was flown to Tollerton Aircraft Services Ltd. at Tollerton airfield, possibly for an overhaul, then on 14th June 1943 it returned to 271 Squadron at Doncaster. On 29th February 1944 the unit moved to Down Ampney but were detached to Doncaster until 2nd June 1944. On 2nd June 1944 the unit became detached to Blakehill Farm until July 1944 when they returned to Down Ampney after D-Day operations. The aircraft was struck off charge on 8th November 1944.