Wellington Z1724 damaged by flak, possibly further damaged on landing at Skipton on Swale airfield.
On the night of 6th / 7th October 1942 420 Squadron supplied seven Wellingtons for an operational order to bomb Osnabruck.
One aircraft sustained flak damage to the hydraulic system and on landing at Skipton on Swale it resulted in the aircraft overshooting. The squadron records do not identify the aircraft involved. Wellington Z1724 was used operationally on this date and it's AM Form 78 states that it sustained Cat.Ac/FB damage on this date. I would strongly link both incidents to being one and the same. Wellington Z1724 took off at 19.00hrs and landed at 01.25hrs.
Pilot - P/O J B Burt.
Navigator - P/O John Pennington (J/8600).
? - Sgt A C Bradley.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt James Brendan Harrington RCAF.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt R Dorland (later to 432 Sqn on 24-9-43)
Wellington Z1724 was built to contract B.97887/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd, at Hawarden and was awaiting collection in April 1942. On 10th May 1942 it was received by 48 MU at Hawarden and was then taken on charge by 420 Squadron at Skipton on Swale on 19th August 1942. It sustained minor Cat.Ac/FB damage during an operational flight on 6th October 1942 which was repaired on site by a team from Vickers at Weybridge. The incident is not fully recorded in the unit records but it does state that one aircraft sustained flak damage to the hydraulics that caused the aircraft to overshoot on landing. 420 Squadron moved to Middleton St.George on 15th October 1942 and the aircraft rejoined them on 28th November 1942. As a result of a crash near Danby Wiske on 1st March 1943 the aircraft was destroyed and Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage was the damage assessment. It was struck off charge on 11th March 1943.