Hampden L4136 near Sunk Island.
On Thursday, 20th April 1939 this 144 Squadron aircraft took off from Hemswell with the pilot detailed to fly a solo practice flight. Approaching from the direction of the mouth of The Humber the pilot was attempting to force land the aircraft in fields at Sunk Island but stalled, the aircraft spun and then dived into a dyke near South Farm. The pilot was sadly killed. While a witness believed the aircraft's engines to have been working normally it was thought that one had infact failed prior to the crash. A wing flap or bomb door was found some three miles from the crash site.
Hampden L4136 was allotted to 144 Squadron on 3rd March 1939 and taken on charge by them on 30th March 1939. It was destroyed in the crash on 20th April 1939.
Pilot - P/O Charles Edward Jones RAF (S.No.?), aged 26. Canadian. Buried St.Chad Churchyard, Harpswell, Lincolnshire.
Charles Jones was from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. He was granted a short service commission in the RAF as Acting P/O on probation on 5th September 1937 and was later graded as P/O on 12th July 1938. I thank Mr Roy Bell for kindly sending me a photograph of his grave.
