Halifax JD212 at Wombleton airfield.
Halifax JD212 earlier in its service life, probably at Boscombe Down.
On 17th July 1944 the crew of this Halifax was returning from a cross-country training flight in the early hours when it
swung on landing and crashed at 03.55hrs. The pilot complained he found it hard to fly straight and level and when it was checked
it was later found to have a buckled wing. Because of the combined damage from this crash landing and the buckled wing it was
not repaired.
Pilot - F/O J D Wallace RCAF, uninjured.
Crew - Names unknown, uninjured.
Halifax JD212 was built to contract ACFT/1808/C4 by E.E.C. Ltd at Salmesbury this aircraft was delivered to A&AEE at Boscombe Down in June 1943. It later
transferred to 429 Squadron at Leeming in September 1943. 429 Squadron converted to Halifax MkV's in November 1943 so JD212 was
transferred to 419 Squadron at Middleton St.George as "VR-X". On 22nd February 1944 it suffered Cat.A(c)/FB damage on return from Ops, a
minelaying trip off the North German coast. The starboard undercarriage collapsed on landing at Middleton St.George
and the aircraft ground looped. It was repaired on site but before the aircraft could be returned to service the unit had started to convert to Lancaster MkX's so it was
transferred to 1666 HCU at Wombleton in March 1944. In the incident detailed above it sufferd Cat.E2/FA damage, it was not to fly again
and reduce to spares and produce.