Halifax R9428 at Melbourne airfield.
At 10.00hrs on 11th October 1942 this 10 Conversion Flight Halifax undershot a landing at Melbourne airfield and struck a pile of wire netting left on the edge of the airfield. The aircraft's undercarriage collapsed and it sustained minor damage.
Pilot - Sgt William Vincent Virgo RAAF (416298).
Halifax R9428 was built to contract 692649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett. The aircraft was taken on charge as new 35 Squadron at Linton on Ouse on 24th January 1941 but was almost immediately transferred to 10 Squadron at Leeming on 5th February 1942. On 19th March 1942 the aircraft was transferred to 10 Conversion Flight at Leeming. The aircraft was flown operationally by 10 Squadron on 31st May 1942 during the maximum effort Thousand Bomber raid. On 21st July 1942 the undercarriage collapsed at Leeming when it was stationary. Cat.Ac/FA damage resulted. On 23rd July 1942 it saw a repair on site being started. During August 1942 10 Squadron and 10 Conversion Flight moved to Melbourne. Once the aircraft was servicable again it was flown to Melbourne on 15th September 1942 and rejoined 10 C.F.. As a result of a minor mishap at Melbourne on 11th October 1942 the damage was assessed as being Cat.Ac/FA and it was repaired on site at Melbourne. It was returned to the unit on 16th October 1942. 10 Conversion Flight was absorbed into 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit on 23rd November 1942. On 18th March 1943 this aircraft is reported to have been damaged in a crash at Riccall airfield. Cat.B/FA damage almost certainly resulted because the aircraft was transported to Handley Page for a repair in works. On completion of repair it passed through 12 M.U. before issue to 1661 H.C.U. at Winthorpe on 3rd November 1943. It transferred to 1662 H.C.U. at Blyton on 4th December 1943. The aircraft was converted to Ground Instructional Airframe 4967M on an unknown date and after this date nothing more is known of it.