Hampden on Haley's Terrace, Rowntrees factory, York.
This Hampden took off from Skellingthorpe at 18.40hrs on the 21st of February 1942 and attacked a railway junction to the west of
Koblenz, Germany. For an unknown reason the navigator lost consciousness on the flight but it is thought that he was able to
return to his post. On the return trip the aircraft ran low on fuel due to a navigational error and after
crossing the Yorkshire Coast on one engine the aircraft began to ice up. Flying on one engine and with a lack of control of the aircraft
and whilst over York the pilot ordered the crew to bale out when the second engine cut out. The pilot saw one of his crew get clear,
assumed that all three crew had all made good their
escape and got clear of the aircraft himself. Sadly the lower escape hatches were jammed shut probably due to the ice formations on the aircraft
and the other two airmen were unable to get out of the aircraft before it crashed at 02.18 hrs near to the centre of York
on a road named Haleys Terrace.
The other airman who the pilot saw get clear of the aircraft was also killed when his parachute failed to deploy properly.
The two buried in the same grave are probably the two killed when they were unable to get clear of the aircraft.
The aircraft was built to contract B67577/40 by English Electric at Salmesbury to 29 M.U. on 29th January 1941 at High Ercall.
It then issued to 50 Sqdn on 30th September 1941 at Swinderby and moved with unit to Skellingthorpe on 26th November 1941.
It was returned to English Electric on 9th January 1942 and re-issued to 50 Sqdn on 21st January 1942, possibly after minor damage. It was
struck off charge on 27th February 1942 following this incident at York.
Pilot - W/O I P Mapp RAF, ok.
Nav - Sgt Hector F Thompson RAFVR, aged 22, of Croyden, Surrey, buried Thurlby (St.Germain) Churchyard, Lincs (in a joint grave).
W Op / Air Gunner - Sgt Francis R Law RAFVR, aged 30, of Rock, Worc, buried Thurlby (St Germain) Churchyard, Lincs (in a joint grave).
W Op / Air Gunner- Sgt Philip S Ballard RAFVR, aged 24, of Chartham, buried Chartham, Kent.
A work-mate of mine, Mr Derek Cooper, lived close to Haley's Terrace, although he was not born at the time of the crash
he was able to locate a living witness to this incident. Cissie Bateson, now Mrs Cissie Hood, was able to recount her
memories to Mr Cooper. She recalls visiting the site in the mid-morning of the same day as crash and that the aircraft crashed
on the road itself. It appeared to remain more or less intact following the crash. Other written sources suggest the aircraft crashed actually in the
grounds of Rountree's Theatre, I now learn this was not the case, but the road on where the aircraft came down was towards the rear of this theatre
but actually not on their land. The photographs show where the aircraft came down on the road, as it was in October 2007,
my thanks to Messers D & A Cooper for these photographs.
Sgt I P Mapp was involved in a number of Hampden mishaps, he force-landed a Hampden on 16th December 1940 at Finningley
whilst on attachment to 106 Sqdn from 61 Sqdn. He was unhurt is this incident. His long term fate is not yet known but he was serving with 57 Sqdn in 1944 when he was made a F/O.
My thanks to Mr Cooper and Mrs Hood for their input and memories of this incident.