On the
1st of August 1940 this aircraft took off from Thornaby at 18.02 hrs for a convoy patrol Convoy SA3
On its return whilst flying in foggy conditions the aircraft hit HT cables near Maltby
and crash-landed at 23.48hrs near Maltby (one source states at Thornton Grange Farm, Stainton). The bomb load may then have exploded on
impact.
The crew had been had diverted to Catterick due to the conditions but when they arrived there they were re-diverted back to Thornaby. The pilot was apparently trying to force-land the aircraft when they hit the cabling near Maltby.
The electricity supply to Maltby
was cut off for at least a day following this crash.
The
gunner escaped before the aircrafts bomb load exploded.
His three crew mates were not so lucky, they were all killed. The aircraft sustained Cat W/FA damage.
The aircraft was built to contract 791587 by Lockheed at Burbank, California and after delivery to the UK and acceptance, it
was delivered to 220 Squadron in September 1939.
Pilot - F/Lt Harold W A Sheahan DFC RAF, aged 28, of Johannesburg, South Africa. Buried Thornaby on Tees Cemetery, Yorkshire. Husband of Doreen Sheahan, of Middlesbrough.
Pilot - P/O Charles J Allsup RAF, aged 26, of Vancouver, Canada, buried Sanderstead, Surrey. His parents lived in Kensington, London.
W Op / AG - Sgt Sydney Smith RAF, aged 26, of Deneside, Seaham. Co. Durham. Buried Thornaby on Tees Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Air Gunner - Sgt Eric B Butler RAF, injured.
F/Lt Sheahan DFC and his headstone at Thornaby cemetery.
Sgt Smith's gravestone at Thornaby cemetery.