Dennis Hayley-Bell - Wellington Ditching

[Larry]

The attached photo of a Wellington, ditched just off shore at Southbourne, is said to have been on a flight from Farnborough circa 1941, with Dennis Hayley-Bell as the pilot. Apparently it ditched due to the wing fuel tank cocks being turned off and so both engines stopped due to fuel starvation and by the time the crew discovered the reason for engine failure they were too low to do anything about it.

Dennis Hayley-Bell (actor John Mills brother in law) was connected to 420 /1420 Flight and 93 Sqn formed to drop Long Aerial Mines (Mutton) but I have no idea who the aircraft was with or indeed the aircraft serial number?

Does anyone know more details?

[Sean Welch]

Wellington Ic T2908 from FEE (Fighter Experimental Establishment) The 4 crew were injured in the ditching.
The incident occurred at 11:40 on 5th May 1941.
The aircraft made a wheels-up landing on the beach and was swamped with the tide.

Source 1180

[Larry]

Great Thanks

[Martin Gleeson]

Larry,

there is an AIR 81/6256 Personnel casualty file for this incident at TNA. Just type in the file number on their website for the crew names.

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.