While taxying at Finningley airfield at 15.00hrs on 21st May 1943 the port engine of this 18 Operational Training Unit aircraft caught fire. The fire was put out but minor damage had resulted.
Crew - Names unknown.
Wellington BK463 was built to contract B.124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Hawarden and was delivered to 48 M.U. at Hawarden on 29th October 1942. On 4th May 1943 the aircraft was taken on charge by 18 O.T.U. at Finningley. As a result of the mishap on 21st May 1943 Cat.Ac/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired by a team from Vickers at Weybridge. On 3rd July 1943 the aircraft was returned to 18 O.T.U. charge. The aircraft was then transferred to 83 O.T.U. on 17th September 1943. It failed to return from Ops over Northern France on 19th May 1944 and crashed near St-Pol-sur-Ternoise with the crew of seven being killed. Cat.E(m) damage was recorded on the paperwork and it was struck off charge having flown a total of 455 flying hours from new.
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