Wellington LN404 near Beswick, Lockington.
On the evening of the 11th March 1943 seven 466 Squadron aircraft and crews were instructed to undertake a night defence exercise over the cities of Hull, Derby, Leeds and Sheffield. Wellington LN404 was one of the aircraft used on this exercise and it suffered the port engine fail during the exercise. While the pilot was attempting a single engined landing at Leconfield at 21.17hrs he misjudged his approach and crashed into a field near the airfield. The aircraft was badly damaged but the crew escaped injury. The crash site is believed to have been near Beswick; the exact crash location is not yet known when this webpage was created. In a paddock near Lockington Carr Farm and also near Bryan Mills Farm have been suggested.
Pilot - Sgt R A Illingworth RNZAF (NZ.413550).
Navigator Sgt Murray Stephen Roberts RNZAF (NZ.41940).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Thomas Hamilton Sproule RAFVR (1381059).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt R M Jackson RAFVR (975076).
Air Gunner - Sgt Stanley Robbins RAFVR (1116539).
Sgt Roberts survived the crash of Wellington HE393 at Leconfield on 6th February 1943. He was later awarded the DFC for service with 640 Squadron in 1944.
Sgt Robbins survived Wellington HE150 being shot up by enemy aircraft on 17th April 1943, he and his then crew were commended for their actions on this night.
Thomas Sproule was also awarded the DFC for service with 640 Squadron in 1944.
Wellington LN404 was built to contract B.124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Hawarden. The aircraft was taken on charge by 466 Squadron at Leconfield directly on 2nd December 1942. It's AM Form 78 records it sustained Cat.Ac/FB damage on 15th January 1943. The 466 Squadron orb does not list LN404 as having flown operationally on this date to sustained flying battle damage. Wellington HE404 is listed as having flown Ops that night so there may be in error for LN404 but no damage is listed to that aircraft in the squadron records. LN404 was repaired on site by a team from Vickers and returned to 466 Squadron on 12th February 1943. As a result of the damage sustained on 11th March 1943 Cat.B damage was the provisional damage assessment but this was upgraded to Re-Cat.E and it was written off.
Sgt Illingworth was posted into 466 Squadron in November 1942 and was posted out of the squadron in April 1943, nothing more about his service is known.