Halifax R9423 at Topcliffe airfield.
At 11.00hrs on 17th June 1942 this 102 Conversion Flight aircraft was being flown by a second pilot for his first solo flight when a strong cross wind across the airfield at Topcliffe caused the aircraft to swing. The pilot was a little late in attempting to correct the swing and the aircraft suffered an undercarriage leg collapse.
Pilot - Sgt Frederick Arthur Schaw RNZAF (NZ.404412).
Halifax R9423 was built to contract 692649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was awaiting collection 9th January 1942. 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.