Wellington BJ657 at Dishforth airfield.

During the evening of 1st October 1942 this 425 Squadron aircraft was flown on a night navigation cross country training exercise. At 22.40hrs it made a heavy landing at Dishforth airfield. The main starboard tyre burst and the pilot lost control, the aircraft then ground looped causing the starboard undercarriage leg to collapse and a member of aircrew injured his hand.

The casualty file for the incident has paperwork that identifies the aircraft as being Wellington BJ657 while BJ652 is quoted in other paperwork. The AM Form 78 for both aircraft state that each must have sustained some form of damage around this date as both had repairs on site made. BJ652 appears to have had a Cat.Ac damage assessment made in September 1942 so is probably not the aircraft involved in this incident on 1st October 1942.

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Rupert Scott Mackay RCAF (R/94752). Injured.

Pilot - Sgt Courtney Leroy Spooner RCAF (R/86746).

Navigator - Sgt James E Leigh RCAF (R/97290).

Air Gunner - Sgt Ferdinand Louis LeDressay RCAF (R/85308).