Wellington X3460 at Dishforth airfield.
On 7th February 1943 this 426 Squadron aircraft was being prepared for take off for an operational flight to attack Lorient when a W/T van was backed into the front turret of the aircraft. The aircraft sustained was enough damage for it not to be used operationally on this night.
No crew.
Wellington X3460 was built to contract B.92439/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Squires Gate. It was received by 51 MU on 7th December 1941 and was then taken on charge by 57 Squadron at Methwold on 24th December 1941. On 16th February 1942 it received Cat.Ac/FA damage in a flying accident which was repaired on site and returned to 57 Squadron on 7th March 1942. On 29th March 1942 it was passed to 9 MU and received some form of damage with them on the same date. It was repaired and returned to 9 MU on 16th May 1942 before passing to 48 MU on 10th October 1942. It was taken on charge by 424 Squadron at Topcliffe on 31st October 1942 soon after the unit formed. It was transferred to 426 Squadron at Dishforth on 27th January 1943 they first flew it operationally on 4th February 1943. As a result of the minor damage sustained on 7th February 1943 at Dishforth Cat.A/GA damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site but this incident does not feature on it's AM Form 78. On 13th March 1943 it sustained damage when it crash landed near Dishforth that saw the aircraft receive a Cat.A/FB damage assessment and this required only a repair on site. It was returned to 426 Squadron on 15th May 1843 but was soon passed to 17 O.T.U. at Silverstone on 17th June 1943. On 8th October 1943 it passed to 16 OTU and sustained Cat.B damage on 29th March 1944 that saw it taken away and repaired in works at Sywell. On completion of repair it passed to 8 MU on 8th November 1944 and then to 48 MU on 9th April 1945 where it remained until being struck off charge on 31st July 1947.