Wellington DF619 damaged during operations, landed at Dishforth airfield.
On the night of 3rd / 4th March 1943 the crew of this 426 Squadron aircraft took off from Dishforth at 18.07hrs to undertake an operational flight to bomb Hamburg. They released their bomb load over the target at 21.44hrs from 16,300 feet and returned to base, landing at Dishforth at 01.08hrs. No damage was reported at the time but an inspection discovered minor damage.
Pilot - P/O Cyril Randolph Trask RCAF (J/16651).
Navigator - P/O Chelmsford Edward Chapman RAFVR (128617).
Bomb Aimer - F/Sgt William John Rose Davies RCAF (R/104057).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt Norman Fraser Paterson RCAF (R/111185).
Air Gunner - F/Sgt Robert Earl Williams RCAF (R/137111).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Ivan Norman Peterson RCAF (R/103812).
On 5th March 1943 the first five named were killed when Wellington BK401 failed to return from an operational flight to Essen. They were lost without trace and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Ivan Peterson later converted to fly Lancasters at 1679 Conversion Flight and returned to 426 Squadron to complete his Tour having received a commision. He was awarded the DFC for service with 426 Squadron, Gazetted on 2nd June 1944.
Wellington DF619 was built to contract B.92439/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Squires Gate and was flown to 44 MU at Edzell on 12th July 1942. It was taken on charge by 426 Squadron at Dishforth on 23rd October 1942. As a result of some form of damage sustained operationally on 3rd/4th March 1943 minor Cat.A(c)/FB damage was the damage assessment which was repaired by a team from Vickers Aircraft Ltd. from Weybridge. It was returned to 426 Squadron on 13th March 1943. It was next used operationally on 26th March 1943 and then on 28th March 1943. On 15th April 1943 it sustained slight damage in another minor non-operational mishap at Dishforth. Cat.A(c)/FA damage was the damage assessment and the aircraft was repaired on site by a team from Vickers Aircraft Ltd. from Weybridge again. The repair was complete by 8th May 1943 when it was returned to 426 Squadron at Dishforth. On 25th May 1943 it was transferred to 20 O.T.U. at Lossiemouth. On 27th April 1944 it received a repair on site by a team from Vickers from Weybridge but this probably was not due to damage sustained in a flying accident isn't logged on the AM Form 78. On 3rd June 1944 it was returned to 20 O.T.U. at Lossiemouth. On 31st July 1944 the aircraft became Instructional Air Frame 4853M but was kept serviceable and flown to 19 O.T.U at Kinloss where it was possibly then converted into 4853M. On 12th September 1945 the aicrraft was struck off charge.