Wellington HE526 near Finningley.

On 2nd August 1943 the crew of this No.18 Operational Training Unit aircraft were one of five detailed to undertake a night-time leaflet dropping "nickel" operational flight and had just taken off from Finningley airfield, when, at 23.55hrs an engine cut out. The pilot force landed the aircraft in a field near Partridge Hill Farm, Finningley and all on board survived. Through correspondance with the wireless operator's son, his father made some notes about this incident in which he stated that the Canadian bomb aimer lost a leg and was repatriated, both the pilot and rear gunner received serious injuries and were later discharged from the RAF.

Wellington HE526 was built to contract 124862/40 by Vickers Aircraft at Chester and was initially received by 23 MU on 28th January 1943. It was taken on charge by 18 OTU on 31st May 1943 and was written off after the crash near Finningley on 2nd August 1943. Cat.E2/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge on 16th August 1943.

Pilot - Sgt Norman Walker RAF. Injured.

Navigator - F/O Leslie Truefit Bowers RAFVR (135874).

Bomb Aimer - P/O Harold C Atkinson RCAF. Injured.

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt John Robert Taylor. Injured. Later to 100 Squadron.

Air Gunner - Sgt Sidney Edwards. Injured.

Passenger - F/Lt H C Hill.

Leslie Bowers received a commission in the RAF as P/O on probation on 4th December 1942 and rose to F/O on 4th June 1943. He transferred to the Admin and Special Duties Branch of the RAF on 4th November 1943. He remained in the RAF until relinquishing his commission on 13th February 1959. After the war he probably spent a considerable time in the police force rising to Assistant Chief Constable of the Derbyshire force. He was awarded The Queen's Police Medal on 14th June 1975 for Distinguished Service.

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