Halifax L9486 at Marston Moor airfield.
On 3rd March 1942 this 1652 Conversion Unit aircraft was bellylanded at it's base of Marston Moor but no further details surrounding this incident are yet known. It's a diccicult one to explain because the 1652 Conversion Unit record book states that on 3rd March 1942 no flying took place because of poor weather conditions yet the date is given on the aircraft's AM Form 78.
Crew - Name unknown.
Halifax L9486 was built to contract 692649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett. Prior to completion it had initially been allotted to A&AEE at Boscombe Down on 30th August 1940 but then on 17th October 1940 it was re-allotted to 24 MU at Ternhill and then re-allotted to 35 Squadron at Linton on Ouse on 1st November 1940. The aircraft was only the second production Halifax ever built. It was initially taken on charge by Boscombe Down DTD on 13th November 1940 but on 2nd December 1940 it was flown to 24 MU at Ternhill. Eight days later it was taken on charge 35 Squadron at Linton on Ouse where it carried the squadron code "TL-B". The 35 Squadron orb states that this aircraft was flown to join 35 Squadron on 13th November 1940 by F/O Henry and it was their first Halifax to arrive (making it the first ever Halifax to arrive at an operational squadron). It sustained minor damage on 30th March 1941 when the hydaulics failed in the air on a flight to the AFDU and the pilot made a belly landing at Linton on Ouse. Following this damage it was inspected by 43 Group D.A.(Damage Assessment) and a repair order placed with the C.R.O.(Civilian Repair Organization) for the repair on site. On 20th August 1941 the repair was completed by C.R.O. and it was returned to 35 Squadron still at Linton on Ouse the same date but was re-coded "TL-G". On the night of 12th / 13th October 1941 it sustained damage after an engine fire on ops, Cat.A(c) damage was the assessment made on 20th October 1941 which saw it was repaired on site again, being returned to 35 Squadron charge on 12th November 1941. It was immediately transferred to 28 Conversion Flight at Leconfield the same day. On 30th December 1941 it moved with this unit to Marston Moor and on 2nd January 1942 it was transferred to the newly formed 1652 Conversion Unit at Marston Moor. As the result of a landing mishap there on 3rd March 1942 Cat.B/FA damage was the assessment. A major repair was begun on site at Marston Moor on 17th March 1942 but the aircraft was converted to a Ground Instructional Airframe, being completed as 3005M on 11th April 1942 when it was returned to 1652 C.U. charge. It was deemed as surplus to requirements at Marston Moor so the G.I.A. was transferred to No.4 S.of T.T. at St.Athan on 14th April 1942 and was transported there by road. It remained there until being struck off charge on 1st September 1944.