Halifax at East Moor airfield.

The scene at East Moor following three overshoots.

On the 7th of August 1944 this aircraft took off at 21.10 hrs for ops to Caen. On arrival over the target area the master bomber 'scrubbed' the Operation and order all aircraft to return to their bases. On return LW686 landed long and fast and with having it's bomb load intact could not stop at the end of the runway at 01.05hrs on the 8th. It crossed Strensall Lane, which resulted in the undercarriage collapsing. The crew evacuated the aircraft safely. This was the first to do this on this night.

The aircraft was built to contract ACFT/1808/C4/C by E.E.C. Ltd at Salmesbury and delivered directly to 432 Sqdn at East Moor on 3rd March 1944. It transferred to 415 Sqdn also based at East Moor on 15th July 1944. It suffered Cat. E/FB damage in the landing accident detailed above and was reduced to spares and produce. LW686 commenced ops with 432 Sqdn on 22nd March 1944 and carried the code "QO-H" and nose art "Hussy". It completed 27 ops before transfer to 415 Sqdn and was coded "6U-H" on 15th July 1944. It was returning from it's third op when the above incident occurred.

Pilot - F/Lt H E Barnes RCAF.

FEng - Sgt J Rome,

Nav - F/O J Moulden,

AB - Sgt W McLeod,

WOp/AG - W/O J Dubois,

AG - Sgt L Ballantyne,

AG - Sgt S Bayerle.

F/Lt Barnes flew 32 Ops with 415 Sqdn between 1st August and 18th November 1944. Two days previously they had escaped serious damage and injury when Halifax LK765 was struck by Flak.

An air bomber, F/O/ William Gordon McLeod (J/39929) RCAF, was lost on 10th April 1945 when Lancaster PB903 of 433 Sq. FTR from Leipzig. He is buried in Berlin War Cemetery. he could well be the same man as Sgt W McLeod.

A wireless operator, P/O Joseph Edward Lawrence Dubois, (J/88326) RCAF, was lost on 17th December 1944 when Halifax MZ538 of 425 Sq. crashed near Alne shortly after take off for ops to Duisburg. He is buried in Stonefall Cemetery, Harrogate. Again, he could well be the same man.