Wellington HE178 at Leconfield airfield.
On the evening of 4th February 1943 this 196 Squadron aircraft was to have been used on an operational flight to bomb Lorient. The crew began their take off run from Leconfield airfield at 18.26hrs but as
the aircraft picked up speed it began to swing to starboard off the runway, the pilot managed to get the aircraft into the air but not before it ran through dummy hedges and then a small tree which removed
a propeller blade from the starboard propeller. The aircraft remained in the air but the engine vibrated badly. At around 500 feet above the ground part of the damaged propeller then broke off and was flung
through the fuselage sliding window near to where the bomb aimer was positioned. This struck and broke his collarbone. Because other 196 Squadron crews were waiting behind this Wellington to take off, this damaged aircraft had to circle the area to allow
the others to get into the air. Wellington HE178 was landed at Leconfield at 18.58hrs without further incident. After inspection it was found that the aircraft had been considerably damaged due to the excessive
vibration of the damaged propeller and engine.
Pilot - W/O David James Reoch Ritchie RAFVR (741572).
Navigator - W/O Andrew Glen McClelland RAFVR (742187).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Walter Herbert Gage RAFVR (1391284). Injured.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt Stanley Arthur Hurrell RAF (642824).
Air Gunner - F/Sgt John Edward Buxton RAF (529409).
Wellington HE178 was built by Vickers and was taken on charge by 196 Squadron on 6th December 1942. As a result of the damage sustained on 4th February 1943 Cat.Ac/FB damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site by a team from Cickers at Weybridge. It was returned to 196 Squadron on 20th March 1943. The aircraft passed to 27 OTU on 22nd July 1943 but was destroyed in a crash on 11th August 1943 that saw Cat.E/FA damage write off the aircraft.
Walter Gage was born on 22nd December 1921 in London and enlisted for RAF service on 31st May 1941.