Wellington MF696 near Finningley airfield.
On 23rd July 1944 this 18 Operational Training Unit aircraft was to have been flown on a night cross country training flight. At 23.15hrs the aircraft took off from Finningley airfield but was unable to maintain height after leaving the ground. The pilot managed to clear the boundary but made a forced landing close to the airfield. The aircraft received repairable Cat.B damage.
Pilot - Sgt Bastick.
Wellington MF696 was built by Vickers at Blackpool and was taken on charge as new by 18 O.T.U. on 5th June 1944 at Finningley. As a result of the crash near Finningley on 23rd July 1944 Cat.B/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was taken to Sywell for a repair in works. Once servicable it was flown to 8 MU where it was stored. It was eventually struck off charge in March 1948 and was scrapped.