Halifax R9423 at Pocklington airfield.
On 31st December 1942 this 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft was being used on a night time circuits and landings exercise using Pocklington airfield. Some two hours and twenty minutes into the exercise at 20.00hrs the aircraft landed at Pocklington but swung slightly. The pilot then overcorrected this initial swing, owing to the close proximity of the airfield watch office, the aircraft then swung uncontrollably in the opposite direction which caused the undercarriage to collapse.
Pilot - WO Alexander Seers Younger RAFVR (996500).
Crew - Names unknown.
Halifax R9423 was built to contract 692649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett. The aircraft was taken on charge by 102 Squadron at Dalton on 17th January 1942. The aircraft was taken on charge by 102 Squadron at Dalton on 17th January 1942. Cat.A/FA damage resulted at Dalton on 13th March 1942 following a heavy landing. It was repaired on site. On 17th April 1942 it was transferred to 102 Conversion Flight (also at Dalton). On 10th June 1942 it moved with the unit to Topcliffe and as a result of a landing accident there on 17th June 1942 Cat.Ac/FA may have been the initial damage assessment but it ended up with Cat.B/FA damage being recorded on the aircraft's AM Form 78. Where the aircraft was repaired is not known though it may have been on site at Topcliffe. On 26th September 1942 it was flown to Armstrong Whitworths. Two days later it was returned to 102 Conversion Flight charge who had moved to Pocklington on 7th August 1942. On 23rd November 1942 102 C.F. was absorbed into 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit at Marston Moor. On 31st December 1942 it again suffered undercarriage damage again at Pocklington, Cat.Ac/FA was again the damage assessment. It was repaired on site and was returned to the unit on 18th February 1943. On 12th July 1943 it again suffered an undercarriage collapse on landing at Marston Moor, this time Cat.B/FA damage was the initial assessment but when repair got underway at work it must have been found more badly damaged than first thought so was Re-Cat.E and struck off charge on 29th September 1943.
Alexander Younger had flown with 83 Squadron in Summer 1941. He crashed Hampden X2972 at Scampton on 9th June 1941. He later flew with 102 Squadron and was awarded the DFC for service with them, Gazetted on 14th May 1943. He died in Taunton in 1998.