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| Date: | Friday 26 July 1940 |
| Time: | 23:00 LT |
| Type: | Handley Page Hampden Mk I |
| Owner/operator: | 50 Sqn RAF |
| Registration: | L4139 |
| MSN: | VN-M |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Location: | RAF Finningley, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RAF Lindholme, North Yorkshire |
| RAF Finningley, South Yorkshire |
On 26th July 1940 while landing at Finningley at 23.00 hours following a solo training flight this aircraft's undercarriage collapsed. Pilot - Pilot Officer Kenneth Richard Killey Smettem RAF (Service Number 41877) of Barrow in Furness, Lancashire, was apparently unhurt.
Hampden L4139 was built to contract 549267/36 by Handley Page Ltd at Cricklewood/Radlett and was awaiting collection in February 1939. It was delivered to 76 Squadron at Finningley in March 1939 when the unit converted from Wellesleys. On 6th October 1939 it transferred to 106 Squadron also based at Finningley.
In early 1940 it transferred to 7 Squadron at Upper Heyford but this unit disbanded on 4th April 1940, however, the aircraft remained at Upper Heyford and on 8th April 1940 it was absorbed into the newly formed 16 OTU. On 10th July 1940 it transferred to 50 Squadron at Lindholme and sustained Cat.W/FA damage in the incident detailed above later that month but after inspection it was considered suitable for use as a ground instructional airframe and given the serial 2170M.
Sources:
1. Air-Britain: Royal Air Force Aircraft L1000-N9999
2. http://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/aircraft/yorkshire/york40/l4139.html
3. https://www.flickr.com/photos/ww2images/6902120223/
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 10-Aug-2008 01:36 | Anon. | Added |
| 03-Feb-2013 05:13 | Nepa | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Departure airport, Destination airport, Narrative, ] |
| 01-Sep-2013 19:24 | JINX | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Location, Departure airport, Narrative, ] |
| 29-Jun-2018 21:59 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Cn, Operator, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, ] |
| 12-Nov-2018 18:54 | Nepa | Updated [Operator, Destination airport, Operator, ] |
| 15-May-2024 21:33 | Nepa | Updated [Location, Destination airport, Operator, ] |
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