On 1st December 1942 this aircraft was force-landed at 11.00hrs just south of Rufforth airfield after it suffered engine failure on take-off for a ferry flight and while it was being flown by an ATA pilot. The aircraft had been with 12 Squadron at Binbrook and was probably heading into storage at 23 MU but must have landed at Rufforth but why it had landed there is unknown.
Pilot - F/O Albert Barker ATA (M.506). Slightly injured - to Rufforth Sick Quarters.
? - Shepherd. Slightly injured - to Rufforth Sick Quarters. (Possibly Leonard Alfred Shepherd ATA (M.611)).
Pilot - James Donald Greenhalgh ATA (M.77). Slight injured - to York Military Hospital.
On 11th April 1937 James Greenhalgh was flying Tiger Moth G-AELD out of the Liverpool and District Aero Club at Speke when the aircraft crashed onto a beach near Prestatyn and caught fire. Sadly Frank Blenkin was killed but James Greenhaigh survived having received injuries. While in the ATA he was involved in at least three flying accidents; on 24th March 1942 to Wellington Z1614, on 30th May 1942 to Oxford DF239 and on 26th August 1942 to Wellington L7847.
Wellington X5587 was built to contract B.71441/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Weybridge and was received by 45 MU on 25th June 1941. It was initially taken on charge by 12 Squadron at Binbrook on 10th July 1941. On 15th September 1941 it sustained damage that was assessed by No.43 Group D.A. as being Cat.B/FB that required a repair in works at the Brooklands factory. After passing through 45 MU in March 1942 it was returned to 12 Squadron on 26th April 1942. On 20th July 1942 it sustained minor Cat.Ac/FB damage (possibly flak damage on Ops). It was repaired on site by a team from Fairfields and returned to 12 Squadron on 22nd August 1942. On 12th September 1942 it was slightly damaged when it was struck by Wellington W5376 at Binbrook while parked. 12 Squadron moved to Wickenby days later but W5587 may not have made the move. Cat.Ac/FA damage was the damage assessment that was again repaired on site by a team from Fairfields. The aircraft was returned to 12 Squadron on 17th October 1942. In November 1942 12 Squadron ceased operating Wellington MkII's and began conversion to Lancaster's. On 30th November 1942 it was collected by an ATA pilot who was to deliver the aircraft to 23 MU. As a result of the damage sustained on 1st December 1942 near Rufforth Cat.B/FA damage was the assessment. A repair in the Sywell factory resulted. After passing to 18 MU on 19th March 1943 and a brief period of storage, on 20th August 1943 it was taken on charge No.1 Ferry Crew Pool, based at Lyneham. It was slightly damaged in a flying accident on 23rd September 1943 that was repaired on site with it being returned to the unit once complete. On 13th December 1943 it was written off following a crash landing at Lyneham and Cat.E2/FA damage was recorded on the paperwork. The aircraft was struck off charge the following day.
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