Halifax L9608 at Marston Moor airfield.
At 10.30hrs on 24th February 1942 this 1652 Conversion Unit aircraft swung on take off from Marston Moor airfield, the pilot over-corrected the swing and the aircraft left the runway resulting in the undercarriage collapsing. The AM Form 1180 stated that there was a tendency for Whitley trained pilots to be violent in the use of the rudder when they were flying the Halifax type. It seems likely that they refer to this because the pilot used too much rudder control to try and correct the swing but applied too much rudder control. The aircraft was later repaired. Halifax L9608 is shown in the photograph above.
Pilot - P/O Dennis Hewitt Pruden RAFVR (101558).
Crew - Names unknown.
The pilot was a 78 Squadron airman who was posted to 1652 Conversion Unit for Halifax conversion training. He appears to have left 78 Squadron not long after returning to them following Halifax conversion training. What he then did for the next two years is not yet known. He later flew a second Tour with 502 Squadron and was killed on 11th April 1945. S/Ldr Pruden has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. His DFC was Gazetted on 23rd January 1945. The citation reads.. "This officer has completed numerous sorties on his second tour of operational duty. He has, within recent months, taken part in several attacks on shipping. In November 1944, Flight Lieutenant Pruden pressed home a most determined attack on one of a force of four enemy ships in enemy waters. In November 1944, this officer piloted an aircraft in an attack on one of two medium sized merchantmen, escorted by two armed vessels. In spite of considerable anti-aircraft fire, Flight Lieutenant Pruden made a good run in to straddle one of the merchant vessels with his bombs. This officer has set a fine example of courage and devotion to duty."
Halifax L9608 was built to contract 692649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was allotted to 24 MU on 2nd September 1941. It was received by 24 MU at Ternhill on 2nd October 1941 for preparation for operational flight and on 17th October 1941 it was taken on charge by 76 Squadron at Middleton St.George. It completed just three operational flights. On 14th February 1942 it was transferred to 1652 Conversion Unit at Marston Moor. On 24th February 1942 it crashed on take off from Marston Moor that damaged the undercarriage. The damage was assessed two days later as being Cat.Ac/FA and it was repaired on site. With the repair complete it was returned to 1652 Conversion Unit on 21st June 1942 who later became 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit. As the result of another crash at Marston Moor on 29th November 1942 Cat.B/FA damage was the initial damage assessment. A month later on 30th December 1942 the repair must have been started in a works factory when it was found more seriously damaged than initially thought. No.43 Group D.A. assessed it as Re-Cat.E and it was struck off charge.