Halifax BB217 at Marston Moor airfield.
At 10.05hrs on 9th December 1942 this 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft swung on take off at Marston Moor airfield, the pilot turned into the swing to straighten the aircraft but it then overran into a hedge and the undercarriage collapsed.
Pilot - F/Sgt Anthony Walters RAFVR (1250758).
Halifax BB217 was built to contract B.124357/40 by the London Passenger Transport Board Ltd. at Leavesden. It was taken on charge by 1652 Conversion Unit at Marston Moor on 21st August 1942. Following undercarriage damage sustained at Marston Moor on 9th December 1942 Cat.Ac/FA damage was the initial damage assessment but two days later it was further assessed as being more serious Re-Cat.B damaged so was transported for a repair by Handley Page in a works factory. Once servicable it passed to 45 M.U. on 17th February 1943. Here it was stored until being one of three aircraft that were taken on charge by 1666 Heavy Conversion Unit on 12th July 1943 who had formed at Dalton weeks earlier and at that date these arrivals made their Halifax total to six. The 1666 H.C.U. orb states that it arrived there via 18 M.U. but this is not reflected on the aircraft's AM Form 78. Although 1666 H.C.U. formed at this time they don't appear to have done any flying for some weeks. It had the honour to be the first Halifax to be taken up into the air by 1666 H.C.U. on 16th October 1943 when it was flown on an airtest by F/Lt G H Hartley (Possibly F/Lt Gordon Herbert Hartley DFC RAF (122056)). 1666 H.C.U. moved to Wombleton on 21st October 1943 and it sustained repairable Cat.Ac/FA damage there on 28th June 1944. After a repair on site it was returned to 1666 H.C.U. on 15th August 1944 where it continued to be used to train aircrew. On 3rd October 1944 it was transferred to 1656 H.C.U. at Lindholme. On 24th October 1944 it required a repair on site by a team from 60 M.U. though this may only have been to make it servicable to fly out of the unit. It was returned to 1656 H.C.U. on 18th November 1944 but on 30th December 1944 it was flown to 48 MU for it to be broken up. It was struck off charge on 11th January 1945.