On 24th December 1942 this 466 Squadron aircraft was in the process of landing at Leconfield airfield when the dinghy came adrift from it's stowage and caught around the fin and rubber. Despite the obstruction resulting in the tail control being effected the pilot was able to land at Leconfield with only minor damage. 466 Squadron moved to Leconfield from Driffield on 27th December 1942. There is no mention of this incident in the squadron records so whether the aircraft was being flown on a training flight at the time is not known. The only mention of what might have happened is that on the night of 21st / 22nd December 1942 466 Squadron Wellington HE391 failed to return from co-operation flight over Leeds and Sheffield to test ground defences. Around the time it was reported missing a fire was seen some miles out to sea. 466 Squadron provided aircraft for a sea search during the day of the 22nd. Poor weather on 23rd prevemted any air search being carried out. On the 24th December 1942 the squadron records simply state "no trace could be discovered of the aircraft HE391", possibly meaning they sent aircraft out to search and that they found nothing. The damage on landing at Leconfield may have been during one such sea search.

Pilot - Sgt Donald Maxwell Lang McKenzie RNZAF (NZ.414726).

Crew - Names unknown.