On the 8th of November 1939 the crew of this aircraft were undertaking a training exercise and were on their approach to Thornaby airfield, when at 16.55hrs whilst flying at 600 feet an engine stalled. Still a relatively new aircraft to these crews at Thornaby, there was no time to try and recover the aircraft. The aircraft crashed into houses onto No. 65 Cambridge Road, Linthorpe and caused a large fire to the properties. The four airmen on the Hudson were killed in the crash, somehow no-one on the ground was killed, a fireman sustained injuries. Although perhaps stating the obvious, Cat W/FA (burnt) damage was sustained to the aircraft.

The aircraft was built to contract 791587/38 by Lockheed at Burbank, California and after arrival in the UK and MU acceptance delivered to 220 Sqdn in September 1939.

Pilot - P/O Augustine H J Ryan RAF, aged 21, of Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand. Buried Hartshill Cemetery, Stoke on Trent.

Pilot - P/O Douglas H Robertson RAF, aged 21, of Westport, Nelson, New Zealand, Buried Thornaby Cemetery, Yorkshire

Pilot - Sgt Rex Mitchell RAF, aged 24, of Newcastle on Tyne. Buried Byker and Heaton Cemetery, Newcastle.

W Op - AC1 Albert Wade RAF, aged 26, of Burley in Wharfedale, Yorkshire. Buried Burley in Wharfedale, Yorkshire.

Albert Wade.

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P/O Robertson's gravestone in Thornaby Cemetery.

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The accident scene. Photo Jim Rutland.