On the night of 14th May 1942 the crew of this 460 Squadron aircraft were authorised to carry out a night flying test flight, as the aircraft was being taxied from the dispersal point to the end of the runway and while it was being turned onto the perimeter track the tail wheel caught in an open drainage ditch. When the wheel was removed from the ditch the tail wheel oleo collapsed slightly damaging the tail of the aircraft. The aircraft was next used on Ops on 1st June 1942 so it cannot have been badly damaged.
Pilot - P/O John Alexander Falkiner RAAF (400952).
Navigator - Sgt Ralph Gordon Goodwin RAAF (404625).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Geoffrey Benjamin Carter RAAF (400341).
Rear Gunner - P/O H Walker RAF.
Wellington Z1249 was built to contract B.97887/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Hawarden, Chester and was awaiting collection in July 1941. It was received by 48 MU on 14th July 1941 and remained in storage until being taken on charge by 460 Squadron at Molesworth on 23rd December 1941. On 4th January 1942 it moved to Breighton with 460 Squadron but because of bad weather this aircraft's ferry flight was delayed until the following day and en-route a landing had to be made at Finningley because of a snow storm. As a result of the mishap there on 14th May 1942 minor Cat.A/FA damage was the assessment. It was repaired on site by a team from Fairfields and was returned to 460 Squadron. It was then lost on 3rd June 1942 on Ops to Essen with the crew of five being killed. Cat.Em damage was recorded on the paperwork.
John Falkiner was born on 6th July 1918 in Caulfield, Victoria and he enlisted in Sydney. He had flown operationally with 460 Squadron in the first half of 1942 on Wellingtons and by September 1942 he was posted to the 460 Squadron Conversion Flight at Holme on Spalding Moor to convert to flying the four-engined aircraft. On 22nd September 1942 he was a member of the crew flying Halifax W1272 on a training flight when it crashed near Catterton, Tadcaster, Yorkshire and an incident recorded on this website. Sadly all on board were killed. It was believed that the instructor was demonstrating the rudder stall difficulties encountered with the early Halifax type when the aircraft went out of control and crashed. John Falkiner is buried at Wooton Churchyard, Hampshire, he was twenty four years old.
Ralph Goodwin was born on 27th September 1917 in Sandgate, Queensland and enlisted in Brisbane. He was awarded the DFM for service with 460 Squadron, Gazetted on 22nd September 1942. He later received a commission and served with 635 Squadron being awarded the DSO, Gazetted on 24th October 1944. He was presented with his DFM on 18th May 1945 at Buckingham Palace.
Geoffrey Carter was born on 25th May 1918 in Balranald, New South Wales and enlisted in Melbourne. Nothing more is known about his service other than he survived the War and was discharged in September 1945.
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