Wellington HE588 at Catfoss airfield.
During the early hours of 5th September 1943 the crew of this No.82 Operational Training Unit aircraft was flown on a training flight. While the unit was based at Ossington it also used Bircotes airfield and on this occasion the flight began from there. During the flight the starboard engine failed so the pilot made an emergency landing at Catfoss airfield at 01.40hrs as the pilot could not maintain height on one engine. On landing the undercarriage collapsed when it ran onto rough ground at the side of the runway. None of the crew were injured.
Pilot - Sgt John Backhouse Topham RAFVR (1476474).
Crew - Names unknown.
An excellent article on "www.newmp.org.uk" details the pilot's life.
Wellington HE588 was built to contract B.124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd at Hawarden and was awaiting collection in February 1943. It was received by 28 MU on 9th February 1943 and was taken on charge by 426 Squadron at Dishforth on 1st March 1943. As a result of damage sustained on 23rd March 1943 the aircraft's AM Form 78 states that it only sustained Cat.Ac/FA damage but as it doesn't appear to have ever returned to 426 Squadron use it seems more likely that Cat.B/FB damage resulted, possibly after a further damage assessment which would have seen it taken away for a repair in a works factory. The aircraft next appears being taken on charge by 82 O.T.U. at Ossington on 19th August 1943. It was slightly damaged at Catfoss on 5th September 1943 that saw Cat.Ac damage being the assessment. A repair was again carried out and it was later transferred to 86 O.T.U. at Gamston just after the unit formed in June 1944. On 15th October 1944 it was taken on charge by 11 A.G.S. at Andreas but was converted to Ground Instructional Airframe 4898M on 21st October 1944, possibly at Andreas for use by 11 A.G.S.. The aircraft was eventually struck off charge on 13th February 1947.