The crew of this Wellington took off from Marham in Norfolk at 18.25hrs on 30th April 1940 with the aim of bombing Stavanger airfield. In all 50 aircraft were sent to attack three airfields, the other two being at Fornebu and Aalburg. Thirty five of these aircraft managed to bomb with three aircraft being lost over the target. With regard this specific aircraft, all appears to have gone well on the out-bound leg and whilst over the target. On the return leg this aircraft and another (piloted by F/Lt Pringle) kept together until near the Englist coast. The other aircraft then successfully homed in to their airfield and made a good landing. This aircraft however drifted off course northwards due to the wireless failing. The crew eventually became lost in the darkness, in poor visabilty and low cloud navigation became a problem. On flying north their situation was compounded due to a number of other things; the failure of RAF Driffield's beacon to answer signals; having a shortage of recognition cartridges on board the aircraft and setting a course at too low a height. The Wellington continued on and eventually flew into the ground at 03.15hrs north of Lastingham towards the southern edge of the North Yorkshire Moors. Sadly two on board were killed, these were probably those in the very front of the aircraft. Another was seriously injured, his name is not known. It is known from local investigations that some of the crew were able to walk down into Rosedale Abbey village to summon help.

After the incident the pilot, who already had 250 hours flying to his name, said that he thought he was over flat East Anglia when the height at which he was flying would have been adequate. 1000 feet in this area would have been more than ample to avoid striking high ground - none exists. Because of the failure of the wireless and the poor visabilty they became hopelessly lost. Squadron records are very sparse into fully naming those injured.

The aircraft was built to contract B3913/39 by Vickers at Weybridge and delivered to 115 Sqdn at Marham in April 1940 when the unit began to re-equip with Wellington 1c's. It was written off with Cat W/FB damage in the above incident at Thorgill on 1st May 1940.

I would like to express my thanks to Mr Mike Gibbes, son of the pilot Rod Gibbes for all the information, photographs and time he has been willing to share with me, without this the account of this incident would not be as full.

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