Halifax L9609 at Marston Moor airfield.
At 10.25hrs on 24th February 1942 this 1652 Conversion Unit aircraft swung on landing at Marston Moor at 10.25hrs when the pilot made a violent rudder control movement, one of the undercarriage legs collapsed when it struck a pile of frozen earth.
Pilot - P/O Harold Ernest Bedford RAFVR (100577).
Crew - Names unknown.
Harold Bedford recieved a commission on 17th May 1941 to the rank of P/O on probation rising to F/O exactly a year later. He completed his training at 1652 Conversion Unit and was posted to 78 Squadron. At the time of his 1652 C.U. training he was probably undertaking conversion training from Whitley to Halifax. He was involved in two later accidents in Yorkshire. On 23rd April 1942 he was the pilot of Halifax R9427 that crashed at Pocklington airfield and on 5th June 1942 he was the pilot of Halifax W7669 that crashed near Dalton on Tees when he was sadly killed. He is buried at Upton-cum-Chalvey Churchyard, Slough, Buckinghamshire.
Halifax L9609 was built to contract 692649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was allotted to 37 MU on 2nd September 1941. It was received by 37 MU at Burtonwood on 3rd October 1941 and was then taken on charge by 76 Squadron on 8th November 1941 at Middleton St.George. It completed just two operational flights before being transferred to 1652 Conversion Unit at Marston Moor on 14th February 1942. As a result of the mishap at Marston Moor on 24th February 1942 Cat.A/FA damage was the assessment and it was repaired on site. It continued to be used by 1652 Conversion Unit until 17th August 1942 when it crashed near Thirsk and was destroyed. Cat.E2/FA damage was recorded on the paperwork and it was struck off charge on 3rd August 1942.