Wellington LN402 at Topcliffe airfield.
On 4th April 1943 this 424 Squadron aircraft landed at Topcliffe airfield and the crew were waiting to taxi it to a dispersal point when it bumped into another Wellington which was stationary. Wellington LN402 received damage to the nose of the aircraft. The identity of the second Wellington is not yet known. The only mention of this incident I have found to date is within the No.61 Base orb. 424 Squadron moved to Leeming later in April 1943 and then went overseas. This date appears to have been the last reference to Wellington LN402 being used by 424 Squadron but I have not yet traced where it went.
Crew - Names unknown.
Wellington LN402 was built to contract B.124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd, at Hawarden and was flown to 23 M.U. at Aldergrove on 9th November 1942. The aircraft was taken on charge by 192 Squadron at Gransden Lodge on 29th January 1943 but was transferred to 424 Squadron at Topcliffe on 21st February 1943. As a result of the crash at Topcliffe on 4th April 1943 Cat.Ac/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site by Vickers Armstrong Ltd. from Weybridge. On 18th May 1943 it was returned to 424 Squadron who had moved to Leeming by this date. On 25th June 1943 it was transferred to 20 O.T.U. at Lossiemouth. On 19th February 1944 it received a repair on site by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. from Weybridge and was returned to 20 OTU once complete. On 22nd March 1944 it was flown to 18 M.U. at Dumfries. On 8th August 1944 it was declared Cat.B damaged during an inspection. It was taken away and repaired in works by Brooklands Aviation Ltd. at Sywell. On 30th November 1944 it was flown to 8 M.U. at Little Rissington for long term storage. It was eventually struck off charge on 11th March 1948.