Either on the 8th November 1942 this aircraft had landed at Church Fenton airfield but why this was is not yet known. The aircraft was based at Hibaldstow. With the windscreen misted
up the pilot was taxying along a poorly lit perimeter track when it taxied into the telephone exchange. The aircraft was bady damaged and was later written off but the pilot escaped serious injury.
Pilot - Sgt L J Lowndes. Minor injuries.
The only pilot with the surname Lowndes who could fit the bill at being this pilot's correct identity was one Leslie John Lownes RAFVR (656459) who
was killed flying Mosquito HJ658 with 307 Squadron on 25th September 1943 and whose body was never found.
Havoc AH458 was built to B.P.C. Contract F-294 by the Douglas Aircraft Company at Santa Monica, California, USA and was transported by sea to the UK, arriving in Liverpool in July 1941. From the docks it was transported by road to No.1 A.A.U. at Speke for assembly and testing. It was initially taken on charge by 1422 (Night Fighter) Flight at Heston in late 1941 but before the end of 1941 it had been transferred to 1451 (Fighter) Flight at Hunsdon. In early 1942 it was transferred to 1459 (Fighter) Flight at Hibaldstow. The aircraft had a short spell with 51 OTU at Cranfield where Turbinlite crews were trained, it was then taken on chargeby 538 Squadron on 2nd September 1942 when the unit formed. As a result of the crash at Church Fenton on 8th November 1942 the damage was assessed as being Cat.E2/FA and it was written off.
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