Wellington Z8493 at Pocklington airfield.
During the morning of 28th February 1942 this 405 Squadron aircraft was flown on a non-operational flight. At 11.20hrs it landed heavily at Pocklington airfield
in poor visibility and burst a tyre. The aircraft came to rest with a slightly bent starboard undercarriage leg. One member of the crew was injured.
Pilot - F/Sgt Lloyd George Higginson RCAF (R/56384).
Second Pilot - F/Sgt B Blizzard RCAF (R/77129).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt George Edmund Sankey RAFVR (1168609). Slightly injured.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt Edmund Thomas McGill RCAF (R/58817).
Air Gunner - P/O J F Clark RAF.
Wellington Z8493 appears to have sustained very minor damage, possibly only Cat.A because the incident is not recorded on it's AM Form 78. It did sustain
Cat.Ac/FA damage in a flying accident on 27th March 1942 or just before that date when the damage assessment was made.
George Sankey received a commission in March 1942. He was posted missing in 405 Squadron Halifax W7707 on 31st May 1942 when the aircraft exploded in mid-air over Belgium. He and his then crew have no known grave and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.