Halifax L7245 probably at Marston Moor airfield.
On either 23rd or 24th February 1942 this 1652 Conversion Unit aircraft was involved in a landing accident at Marston Moor airfield. The 1652 Conversion Unit record book states that on 23rd February 1942 an aircraft sustained damage to the undercarriage on landing at Marston Moor owing to it hitting a pile of snow on the side of the runway. This may relate to Halifax L7245 or L9609.
Crew - Names unknown.
Halifax L7245 was built to Air Ministry Specification 32/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at their Radlett factory and was completed by them on 17th August 1940. The aircraft's AM Form 78 states that it was built to contract 624972/37. The aircraft was the second prototype Halifax built and it remained with them until 11th September 1940 when it was taken on charge by A&AEE at Boscombe Down. On 13th October 1940 the starboard undercarriage failed to retract after taking off, the crew attempted several times to make the undercarriage leg lock up but in doing so the hydraulic system burst, the crew then lowered the leg by the hand pump and a safe landing was made. On 24th October 1941 it was slightly damaged on take off from Boscombe Down when a violent vibration occurred when the engine power was increased. The pilot closed the throttles and applied the brakes but minor damage to the aircraft resulted, assessed as Cat.B. The aircraft was then returned to H.P.Ltd. at Radlett on 5th November 1941 for repair. It was then allotted to 28 Conversion Flight on 17th November 1941 but was not taken on charge by them until 7th December 1941 at Leconfield to convert aircrew to flew the Halifax type. 28 Conversion Flight was the first unit set up to convert crews, mainly from flying the Whitley. As a result of the mishap on 27th December 1941 at Marston Moor Cat.A/FA damage was the assessment but very little is known about the incident. It was must have been repaired on site. 28 Conversion Flight was absorbed by 1652 Conversion Unit at Marston Moor on 2nd January 1942. Exactly when the aircraft was returned to them is not yet known. On 24th February 1942 it crashed at Marston Moor. Cat.B/FA damage appears to have been the damage assessment although it was not repaired. The aircraft was later struck off charge, back dated to 24th February 1942 but was then stored and eventually converted into a ground instructional airframe. On 24th December 1942 it was allocated the serial 3474M. After this nothing more is known about the aircraft.