Halifax W1090 at Croft airfield.
On 27th May 1942 this 78 Squadron aircraft was about to be given an airtest when it swung on take off at 08.40hrs and collided with the parked Halifax DG220. Halifax W1090 was wrecked but crew escaped injury. Halifax DG220 was repaired. This was the pilot's second mishap at Croft in eleven days; on 16th May 1942 he was in Halifax L9621 that crashed
on the airfield.
Pilot - Sgt Walter Dench RAFVR (1182341).
Crew - Names unknown.
Walter Dench was born in Nottingham in 1921, after his time with 78 Squadron he was later posted to 40 Squadron to fly Wellingtons and lost on 6th July 1943,
he was twenty two years old and is buried in Catania War Cemetery, Sicily. Prior to his death he had married a Darlington girl and through searching the internet it
is believed that he was a cousin of the British actress Dame Judi Dench.
Halifax W1090 was built to contract B.982938/39 by the English Electric Company Ltd at Samlesbury. On 24th April 1942 it was taken on charge by 78 Squadron at Croft. As a result of the damage on 27th May 1942 Cat.E/FA damge was the assessment and it was struck off charge on the same day.