Hampden L4069
 

Hi guys

What is the story behind the loss of the above?

Cheers
Brian

Re: Hampden L4069
 

Hi
Via google search
jerry


direct quote from web link posted at bottom


'' Further infomation has come to light about the premature demise of my Great Uncle John which may be of interest to family members (or genealogists) who read my blog:

The loss of L4069 of 83 Squadron on 14/15 May 1940 came about in most mysterious circumstances. The aircraft had taken off from Scampton at 2229 hours and was back over Lincolnshire at 0210, less than four hours later, so it appears to have been returning with some sort of problem, possibly engine trouble. "At 0210 L4069 was challenged by an anti-aircraft battery. The correct answer was given [a single letter in morse] after which the aircraft suddenly changed course, made a sharp circle, gained speed and dived into the ground and blew up near Louth, Lincs." The crew of L4069 were all killed.

- from "The Hampden Files"
[The crew included FO N Johnson; PO E.A. Vagg; AC1 S.G. Pickard; and Sgt D Wolstenholme.]
The Hampden certainly seems to have earned its nickname of 'The Flying Coffin' - with a large percentage of sorties coming to their untimely end even once they had reached the supposed safety of the British mainland. It was notoriously difficult to control on only one engine, and had a habit of banking sharply to one side - a deadly trait that became known as 'The Hampden Yaw'.

http://209.85.173.132/search?q=cache...&ct=clnk&gl=ca

Re: Hampden L4069
 

Many thanks Jerry

Much appreciated.
Cheers
Brian

Re: Hampden L4069
 

IIRC the reason behind "The Hampden Yaw" was rudder overbalancing. Again IIRC early Halifaxes with small, triangular tailplates suffered from the same problem. It could have been very deadly in engine out situation or when doing "corkscrew", the standard evasing manoeuvre of BC.

Juha