Wellington HE687 at Dalton airfield.
On 19th April 1943 this 424 Squadron aircraft was damaged on landing following a non-operational flight from Topcliffe to Dalton airfield. The only reference to this incident that has been located is in the No.61 Base orb. Looking at what the aircraft had been doing it is fair to submit my guess at what was happening. The aircraft had previously been on charge with 424 Squadron at Topcliffe but they completed their move to Leeming on 19th April 1943 (prior to a move overseas). This aircraft was one of either two or three that were not taken by 424 Squadron so it was transferred to 428 Squadron at nearby Dalton. The 428 Squadron orb states that they took on charge two former 424 Squadron aircraft on 20th April 1943 but they did not accept the damaged HE687. Cat.Ac/FA damage was the initial damage assessment but this was upgraded to Re-Cat.B/FA damage and it was transported away to be repaired in a works factory. Once repaired it never returned to an operational unit.
Crew - Names unknown.
Wellington HE687 was built to contract B.124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Hawarden and was taken on charge by 424 Squadron at Topcliffe on 6th March 1943. On 23rd March 1943 it sustained Cat.Ac/FA as a result of a minor mishap but how this occurred is not known. A repair on site was carried out by a team from Vickers at Weybridge. It was returned to 424 Squadron on 9th April 1943. As a result of the mishap on 19th April 1943 Cat.Ac/FA damage was again the initial damage assessment but on 6th May 1943 it was re-assessed as the more serious Re.Cat.B so was transported to Brooklands Aviation Ltd. at Sywell for a repair in works. The aircraft was awaiting collection on 15th September 1943. On 1st October 1943 it was flown to 48 MU at Hawarden. On 5th November 1943 it was taken on charge by 15 OTU at Harwell and was then transferred to 28 OTU at Ossington on 6th March 1944. On 15th October 1944 it was transferred to 18 OTU at Finningley but on 27th January 1945 it suffered engine failure off the Isle of Man so was ditched. All on board survived. Cat.E2/FA damage was recorded on the aircraft's paperwork and it was struck off charge.