Halifax W1235 at Wombleton airfield.

On 3rd June 1944 this aircraft was landing at Wombleton airfield following a training flight when it bounced twice on landing. The aircraft suffered from having it's undercarriage collapse after passing through the airfield boundary and it came to rest in a field next to the airfield.

Halifax W1235 was built to contract B73328/40 by Handley Page Ltd at Radlett and was delivered to 460 Squadron at Breighton in July 1942. The unit converted to Lancasters in September 1942 and the aircraft passed into MU storagee for a short period before being issued to 419 Squadron at Middleton St.George in November 1942. It served operationally with them until this unit converted to Lancasters in March 1944 when it transferred to 1666 HCU at Wombleton for a training role. It was written off following this incident recorded above with Cat.E2/FA damage being recorded.

Pilot - F/O Frederick W How RCAF (J/17469), of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Uninjured.

Navigator - P/O Victor Zoratti RCAF (J/35036), of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Bomb Aimer - Sgt John A S MacGregor RCAF (R/148448), of Martintown, Ontario, Canada.

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt Cecil D B Hubley RCAF (R/134220), of Manitou, Manitoba, Canada.

Rear Gunner - Sgt Norman R Springstein RCAF (R/196792), of Merid, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Mid Upper Gunner - Sgt C R Tait RCAF (R/207980), of Pembroke, Ontario, Canada.

Flight Engineer - (Possibly) Sgt Joseph Atkinson RAF (613970).

Victor Zoratti was flying as a second navigator on Halifax HZ147 on 11th July 1944 when the aircraft crashed near New Earswick, York with the loss off all on board. P/O Zoratti was thirty years old and is buried at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.
This crew arrived at Wombleton on 22nd May 1944 and were later posted to 419 Squadron after receiving a replacement navigator, almost certainly F/O Russell Nickle RCAF (J/29618).

On 27th/28th December 1944 all of those listed above were flying Lancaster KB738 "Dorothy" on Ops to Opladen when the aircraft crashed in Germany killing all on board. They were buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany. How 22, MacGregor 26, Hubley 20, Tait ?, Springstein 19.