On 1st April 1942 this 1652 Conversion Unit aircraft landed at Sherburn in Elmet airfield but an undercarriage leg was not locked down properly so it collapsed on touching down. The aircraft came to rest slightly damaged.
Pilot - F/Sgt George Racine Herbert RAFVR (1176946).
George Herbert was born in 1922. He had earlier flown with 76 Squadron and on 30th November 1941 had been the pilot of Halifax L9604 that crashed on landing at Linton on Ouse. He was awarded the DFM for service with 76 Squadron, Gazetted on 26th May 1942. He later flew with 77 Sauadron before posting to 35 Squadron PFF. He received a commission on 16th February 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation. On 12th June 1943 he was the pilot of Halifax JB785 flying Ops to Munster when the aircraft was shot down by a night-fighter and crashed in Holland. He is buried at Rotterdam General Cemetery and was twenty one years old. A memorial has been erected at the crash site in May 2015.
If he was flying Halifaxes operationally in November 1941 it seems likely he wasn't undertaking Halifax conversion training again in April 1942. He may have served as an instructor with 1652 C.U. in Spring 1942.
Halifax L9491 was built to contract 692649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett. On 28th October 1940 it was allotted to 24 MU and was received by them on 9th January 1941. The aircraft was taken on charge by 35 Squadron at Linton on Ouse on 23rd February 1941 where it was coded "TL-J". During the Summer of 1941 it appears to have sustained some form of damage, possibly as the result of a flying accident, because it was assessed by No.43 Group D.A. though no date is given on the aircraft's AM Form 78. Once repaired it was returned to 35 Squadron on 13th October 1941. It was transferred to 28 Conversion Flight at Linton on Ouse on 28th October 1941. 28 Conversion Flight moved to Leconfield on 4th November 1941 and to Marston Moor on 30th December 1941. Three days later on 2nd January 1942 28 C.F. was absorbed into 1652 Conversion Unit at Marston Moor. As a result of the minor mishap at Sherburn in Elmet on 1st April 1942 Cat.Ac/FA damage was the damage assessment, it was repaired on site and returned to the unit on 14th August 1942. It later crashed near South Kilvington on 31st October 1942, after assessment Cat.E2/FA damage was recorded and it was struck off charge on 31st October 1942.
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