On 5th July 1942 the crew of this 1653 Conversion Unit aircraft were taxying at Burn airfield prior to taking off when a fire developed in one of the aircraft's engines. The crew smelled burning and then smoke appeared from behind the flight deck bulkhead, oil was also seen to pour out of an engine nacelle. The crew stopped the engines and discharged a fire extinguisher into the engine which put out the fire. This incident is not recorded in the unit's record book.
Crew - Names unknown.
Liberator AL581 was purchased without contract by the British Purchasing Commission from the Consolidated Aircraft Corporation, of San Diego, California, USA. It was flown to the UK by ATFERO in November 1941. After acceptance it was taken on charge by the ATA on 5th December 1941 but the reason for this is unknown. It was taken on charge by 1653 Conversion Unit at Polebrook on 11th February 1942. It moved to Burn airfield with the unit on 2nd June 1942 and as a result of the mishap on 5th July 1942 minor Cat.A/FA damage was the damage assessment. The incident does not feature on the AM Form 78 but the repair was complete by 11th July 1942 when the unit record book stated it was flown again. 1653 C.U. disbanded on 31st October 1942 but the aircraft was flown out before it closed down on 6th September 1942 and it went to Prestwick airfield to a unit based there (I Cannot read the AM Form 78). The aircraft was transferred to 1445 Flight at Lyneham on 25th October 1942 for preparation and dispatch to the Middle East. On 20th November 1942 it was operated by No.1 OADU from Portreath and undertook the long flight out to Salbani, India where arrived a week later and was taken on charge by 159 Squadron. It was lost on 22nd February 1943 when it failed to return from an operational flight to Mingaladon with whole crew being listed as missing. Cat.E(m) damage was recorded on the paperwork and it was struck off charge on 1st April 1943.
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