At 17.35hrs on 17th May 1943 this 18 Operational Training Unit aircraft broke the tail wheel assembly at Finningley airfield.
Crew - Names unknown.
Wellington BK471 was built to contract B.124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Hawarden and was awaiting collection in November 1942. The aircraft was allotted to 466 Squadron at Driffield and, on paper, was taken on charge by them on 8th November 1942. By late-November 1942 they had already begun to exchange their few existing Wellington MkIII's in favour of Wellington Mk.X. It was taken on charge by 426 Squadron at Dishforth on 7th December 1942. 426 Squadron first flew the aircraft operationally on 3rd February 1943 and it was damaged on landing at Coltishall when it collided with a lorry. The aircraft's AM Form 78 states that it received minor Cat.Ac/FB battle damage on this date. It was repaired on site by a team from Vickers at Weybridge and was returned to 426 Squadron on 5th March 1943. The aircraft was involved in a ground accident on 24th March 1943 when it's then second pilot walked into a rotating propeller and sustained serious injuries. On 4th May 1943 the aircraft passed to 18 OTU at Finningley. On 17th May 1943 Cat.Ac/FA damage resulted when the tail wheel assembly at Finningley airfield. It was repaired on site by a team from Vickers at Weybrodge and retrned to 18 OTU on 2nd October 1943. On 21st October 1943 it crashed at Rossington Hall while making an approach to land at Bircotes airfield, sadly five airmen died. Cat.E2/FA damage was the damage assessment of the wreckage and it was written off.
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