Hudson AM859 at Thornaby airfield.

On the night of 11th / 12th May 1943 the crew of this No.1 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit aircraft had undertaken a night navigational training flight. At 02.29hrs the aircraft was approaching to land at Thornaby in a cross wind in which the crew were struggling to fly the aircraft straight and level. Due to an error in flap selection the airraft stalled and a heavy landing was made resulting in the undercarriage collapsing. The crew escaped serious injury but the aircraft was badly damaged.

Through contact with one of the crew's sons, Mr Gary Heighington has kindly supplied this account with details from his father's log book. The aircraft left Thornaby at 22.50hrs and the flight lasted four hours with the remark "OFT7 - C.Landed", the meaning of OFT7 is not known (possibly his 7th Operational Flight Training) but "C.Landed" probably means "crash landed". Sgt Heighington next flew on 14th May 1943 air testing Hudson N7379 so he cannot have been seriously injured. This flight on 14th May 1943 turned out to be his last with No.1 (C.)O.T.U..

Pilot - F/O Percy Hallowes Wray Johnston RCAF (J/11986). Slightly injured.

Navigator - F/O Robert Henry Stanwell RAFVR (132149). Slightly injured.

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Albert Andrew Heighington RCAF (R/102747). Slightly injured.

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt F Walsh RCAF (R/108494). Slightly injured.

Stanwell, Johnston, Heighington and Walsh were posted to 200 Squadron after completing this training course. 200 Squadron was based in Africa and the airmen were posted overseas. Heighington flew with Johnston at 200 Squadron upto 17th August 1943, on 27th August 1943 F/O Johnston and F/O Stanwell were both listed as missing while on a convoy patrol. They are commemorated on the Malta Memorial. Stanwell was twenty nine years old, Johnston was thirty one. Heighington and Walsh were not with them on this date and subsequently they both survived the War having flown with 200 Squadron for much of that time. Before the end of the War Albert Heighington received a commission.

Percy Johnston was born on 24th October 1911 in Rossburn, Manitoba, Canada to Cpt. Henry William Wray Johnston and Flora Hamilton (nee Hallow) Johnston. The family later moved to Shoal Lake, Manitoba. He married Hilda Mary Winnifred Ellis in Shoal Lake in August 1940. He enlisted for RCAF service on 7th April 1941 in Winnipeg and had worked as a bank clerk for the Royal Bank of Canada from 1929 until enlisting. After basic training he was awarded his Pilot's Badge and also received a commission on 5th June 1942. On arrival in the UK he trained at 1 (C)OTU beginning 6th April 1943 and was posted to 200 Squadron on 18th June 1943.

Robert Stanwell received a commission 5th September 1942 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) rising to F/O on probation (war subs) on 5th March 1943.

Hudson AM859 was built to British Purchasing Corporation contract A-1749 by Lockheed Vega at Burbank, California, USA and in July 1941 was flown to the UK. It was accepted by 20 MU at Aston Down and appears to have been delivered to Thornaby on 11th September 1941 when it was damaged on landing. Cat.M/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site at Thornaby. Once servicable on 29th December 1941 it was taken on charge by 608 Squadron at Thornaby. On 27th August 1942 it was transferred to No.6 (C.)O.T.U. at Thornaby. On 22nd March 1943 it was transferred to No.1 (C).O.T.U at Thornaby. On 12th May 1943 it made a heavy landing at Thornaby at night due to incorrect flap setting which saw the undercarriage collapse. Cat.B/FA damage was the initial damage assessment but this was later upgraded to Re-Cat.E and it was struck off charge. The AM Form 78 states it was then passed to Lancashire Freight Services, Hyde, Cheshire.

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