Lancaster R5868 mid-air collision, probably landed at Linton on Ouse airfield.
On the night of 26th / 27th November 1943 the crew of this 467 Squadron aircraft took off from Waddington at 17.13hrs to undertake an operational flight to bomb Berlin. Immediately after releasing their bomb load this aircraft was coned in searchlights and after taking evasive action they escaped the lights. Unfortunately the pilot's night vision was lost briefly and at 21.26hrs before it was regained Lancaster R5868 collided with the underside of 61 Squadron Lancaster DV311 over the target area. Control of R5868 was immediately lost and the aircraft went into a severe dive to port. Full rudder control and aileron trim were applied and the aircraft was eventually brought under control again. By applying a lost of rudder and control column pressure the pilot was able to maintain height and managed to fly the aircraft back across the North Sea. The weather was poor on their return to the area of their base so many of the Lincolnshire-based aircraft were diverted north to land in Yorkshire. Visibility was still bad over Yorkshire. The 467 Squadron records state that Lancaster R5868 landed at Tholthorpe airfield at 00.59hrs. There is an accident card AM Form 1180 for this collision and that states that Lancaster R5868 landed at Linton on Ouse airfield which agrees with an account later given by the pilot who states that the aircraft also ground looped on landing at Linton on Ouse. An inspection of the aircraft found that five feet of the port wing tip was missing and the part that was now on the end of the wing was bent down at right angles. Repairs were carried and this apparently included a new port outer wing. This operational flight was the aircraft's 96th operational one and it went on fly 139 operational sorties and is preserved at the RAF Museum Hendon.
Pilot - F/O John Alexander Colpus RAAF (415306).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Kenneth Smith RAFVR (1677173).
Bomb Aimer - F/Sgt Sydney Tyndale Bridgewater RAFVR (1575785).
Navigator - F/O David J Stevens RAFVR (132862).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Peter McDonald RAFVR (1340847).
Air Gunner - Sgt Leonard MacCallum Jackson RCAF (R/128258).
Air Gunner - Sgt Frank Arthur Rutt RAFVR (1813006).