Lancaster R5486 at Finningley airfield.
On 23rd March 1942 97 Squadron were to undertake operational sorties but this order was cancelled at late notice because of poor weather that had been forecast so training flights were authorised with instruction that all aircraft were on the ground by 22.00hrs before the weather front arrived. Lancaster R5486 took off from Woodhall Spa at 19.35hrs with the crew instructed to carry out a short cross-country training exercise which also included a bomb-load test. With the poor weather and visibility expected the crew were instructed to diverted to land at Finningley. After attempting to lower the undercarriage legs on the first approach the lighting in the cockpit showed that the port leg was not locked down so the crew made a second circuit of the airfield and then landed. The port undercarriage collapsed on landing at 23.07hrs and the incendiary bomb load then caught fire, the aircraft sustained enough damage to deem it to be written off.
Pilot - F/Sgt Gordon Herbert Hartley RAFVR (754106).
Second Pilot - Sgt C Smith RAFVR (1123550).
Navigator - F/Sgt John Lorimer Neville Canham RAF (581438).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt George Henry Peter Dean RAF (551023).
Air Gunner - Sgt Clifford Mayland RAFVR (993680).
Air Gunner - Sgt Robert George Watson Gross RAFVR (993302).
Air Gunner - Sgt Martin Thomas Griffiths RAFVR (1158662).
Gordon "Jammy" Hartley later received a commission (122056) on 1st May 1942. He almost certainly completed a Tour with 97 Squadron. On 19th February 1943 he was flying 1661 Conversion Unit Lancaster R5840 on a training flight when it crashed near Winthorpe, Nottinghamshire when it crashed through telephone wires and trees. He was seriously injured. Once recovered from his injuries he was posted to 106 Squadron where he was awarded the DFC in 1943 as Acting F/Lt (Gazetted on 13th August 1943). He survived the War rising to the rank of Squadron Leader. His nick-name "Jammy" must refer to the popular brand of Hartley's jam.
Clifford Mayland was probably born in 1920 in the Holbeck area of Leeds, Yorkshire. He was awarded the DFM for service with 97 Squadron, Gazetted on 11th June 1943, the
citation reads.. "F/Sgt Mayland has completed numerous operational missions against the most heavily defended objectives in Germany and Italy. These have included sorties
against Cologne, Hamburg, Kiel and Essen, and the daylight raids on Le Creusot and Milan."He had already been awarded a commission by the time his DFM was published in
the London Gazette, he was promoted to P/O on probation (emergency) on 12th March 1943. He was promoted to F/O on probation (war subs) on 12th September 1943 and then
to F/Lt (war subs) on 12th March 1945. He died in Leeds in 1996.
Martin Griffiths was awarded the DFM for service with 97 Squadron, Gazetted on 15th June 1943. Nothing else about his wartime service is known. He served in
the RAF in the post-war period and on 11th October 1955 he was Mentioned in Despatches in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in Malaya.
John Canham was born on 24th April 1921, He received a commission to P/O on probation on 14th August 1942 and rose to F/O on probation (war subs) on 14th February
1943. He was awarded the DFC for service with 97 Squadron, Gazetted on 11th June 1943, the citation reads..He.. "has flown on a large number of successful sorties against
some, of the most heavily defended targets in Germany. He also took part in the daylight attack on Danzig." He was promoted to F/Lt (war subs) on 14th August 1944. Post
War he remained in the RAF until transferring to the RAFO on 7th June 1948 retaining his rank of F/Lt. On 25th September 1965 he was flying in Whirlwind XP327 which crashed
into the Malaysia jungle after the rotor mechanism suffered a fault and was killed, he was forty four years old.
Robert Gross received a commission on 12th May 1943 and rose to F/O six months later. He was later awarded the DFC for service with 9 Squadron on 16th January 1945.
Lancaster R5486 was built to contract B.69274/40 by A.V.Roe & Co. Ltd. at Newton Heath, Manchester and was awaiting collection in February 1942. It was taken on charge by 97 Squadron on 24th February 1942 at Coningsby but then moved with the unit to Woodhall Spa on 2nd March 1942. Lancaster R5486 undertook 97 Squadron's first Lancaster operational sortie, a mine-laying trip to the "Willow" area on 20th March 1942. Following the damage sustained at Finningley on 23rd March 1942 Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage was the assessment and it was written off. The aircraft was struck off charge on 7th April 1942.