Lancaster DS649 at East Moor airfield.
On 4th October 1943 this Lancaster overshot on landing and ran over the Strensall Road
at East Moor airfield. The crew were not injured, the aircraft was only very slightly damaged,
suffering damage to two propellers and one undercarriage. It was soon repaired and afew days
later it would crash at Wiganthorpe with another crew on board who sadly were all killed.
Pilot - F/Lt William W Strachan DFC RCAF (J/9863), aged 28, of Trail, British Columbia, Canada.
F Eng - P/O Joseph Gilliard RAF (54452), aged 22, of Killester, Dublin, Irish Republic.
Nav - P/O Maurice A Martin RCAF (J/18871), aged 23, of Delisle, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Bomb Aimer - F/O Nick J Baron RCAF (J/21045), aged 29, of Spedden, Alberta, Canada.
W Op - F/O Robert C Stuart RCAF (J/18402), aged 24, of Simcoe, Ontario, Canada.
Mid Upper Gunner - 1Lt Albert L Rorke USAAF ()-886242), of Canada but serving with US Forces.
Rear Gunner - P/O Howard M Stewart RCAF (J/19066), aged 21, of Walburg, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Sadly this crew would all be killed afew months later when their 432 Squadron Halifax crashed near Stillington in February 1944
(also detailed on this website). All except 1st Lt Rorke USAAF are buried at Stonefall Cemetery, Harrogate.
Lancaster DS649 was built to contract ACFT/239 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd at Baginton and delivered into MU store in November 1942. It
remained there until being issued to 426 Squadron at Linton on Ouse in June 1942 when the unit re-equipped with Lancaster MkII's, having
operated Wellington's previously from Dishforth. The aircraft saw little service with 426 Squadron who were not operational on Lancaster
MkII's so the aircraft was used by 1679 HCU at East Moor to convert 426 Squadron crews.
It suffered Cat.A/FA damage in the incident detailed above
on 4th October 1943 and was repaired on site only to be Cat.E2/FA on 6th November 1943 when it crashed at Rose Cottage
Farm, Terrington (a loss detailed on this website).