Wellington HE367 at Topcliffe airfield.
On 2nd April 1943 the crew of this 424 Squadron aircraft were undertaking a training flight but on landing at Topcliffe at 15.00hrs the aircraft overshot and came to rest in a field bordering the airfield. The incident is mentioned in passing in the 424 Squadron ORB and this states that the aircraft came to rest near No.5 Hanger.
Pilot - Sgt R C White RCAF (R/128793).
Crew - Names unknown.
Wellington HE367 was built to contract B.124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Hawarden. It was received by 48 MU at Hawarden on 1st September 1942 and remained in store until being initially taken on charge by 427 Squadron at Croft on 2nd March 1943. For some reason it was then transferred to 424 Squadron at Topcliffe the following day on 3rd March 1943. The aircraft was first used operationally and also received minor flak damage on the night of 12th / 13th March 1943 which saw the damage assessment being graded as Cat.A(c)/FB and a repair on site at Topcliffe being made. It was used operationally the following night. On 2nd April 1943 it overshot landing at Topcliffe and came to rest in a field. The damage sustained was initially assessed as being Cat.B/FA but once repairs were underway on 10th April 1943 a second assessment of the damage saw it deemed too badly damage for a repair to be made. The aircraft was Re-Cat.E/FA that saw it written off. It was struck off charge on 10th April 1943.