On 22nd August 1942 the tail oleo strut of this 25 O.T.U. aircraft broke while taxying at Finningley during night flying training. The tail and oleo structure sustained damage as did Frame 85 on the fuselage.
Pilot - Sgt John Forbes Thomson RNZAF (NZ.413509).
Crew - Names unknown.
The pilot later flew with 156 Squadron with whom he was awarded the DFC, he also flew with 607 Squadron.
Wellington Z1109 was built to contract B.97887/39 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd, at Hawarden. The aircraft was received by 46 M.U. on 29th October 1941 and was taken on charge by 25 O.T.U. at Finningley on 2nd November 1941. As a result of the damage sustained on 22nd August 1942 minor Cat.cA/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site by a team from Fairfields. The aircraft was returned to 25 O.T.U. on 5th September 1942 and was transferred to 28 O.T.U. at Wymeswold two days later. On 5th March 1943 it failed to return from a leaflet dropping operational flight when it was hit by flak and crashed in the sea just off the Dutch port of Vlissingen, Holland. Cat.Em damage was recorded on the paperwork.
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