Wellington Crash - Sussex 1941

[Andy Saunders]

Can anyone throw any light on the history of a Wellington that was crash-landed at Hampden Park, near Eastbourne, on 15 October 1941? All I know is that the aircraft had allegedly been airborne for eight hours. The crew were all safe and taken to RAF Friston from where they were returned to their home base. Unless I have missed it I cannot find anything in Chorley.

Another Wellington down at an unknown date was "Gold Coast II" LN171 of 83 or 30 OTU. This landed between "Langney Point and Pevensey" and had a NZ crew.

Anyone any ideas on both??

Neither appear in local records or reports.

[Stephen Smith]

Andy,

Vickers Wellington Mk.Ic R1025 HA-J of No.218 (B) Squadron based at RAF Marham. Crew forced landed (wheels-up) due to fuel failure at 06.15hrs Hampden near Willingdon, Eastbourne on return from Nurnburg. Crew had taken off at 22.58hrs. It was the crews 10th operation. *

Crew;

Pilot Sgt Vezina RCAF
2nd pilot Sgt Gregg
Observer Pilot officer Brown
Wireless Operator Sergeant Willett
Front Gunner Sergeant Toynbee-Clarke
Rear Gunner Sergeant Crump

Same crew crashed again on December 16th 1941 on route to Brest. Sergeant Vezina posted off squadron December 1941 having completed 19 operations.

* via ORB and Form AM 1180

Regards

Steve

[Andy Saunders]

Steve

Thank you very much indeed for this information.

The detail of this incident had eluded me over many years of researching wartime aircraft incidents in Sussex. I knew it happened - but had no other information despite years of searching!

Just one detail - it is Hampden Park, not Hampden. Hampden Park is a district of Eastbourne.

A good illustration of the value of this site. There is seemingly a specialist in just about every area covering units, campaigns or aircraft types such that whatever the question posed someone out there will have the answer.

Thank you again.

[Stephen Smith]

Andy,

Glad to have been able to have helped.

All the very best,

Smudger