During the early hours of 24th July 1942 this 102 Squadron aircraft this aircraft was flown on a cross country training flight. On landing at Leeming at 02.30hrs the tail wheel began to shimmy and before the aircraft could be stopped the tail wheel assembly broke off. A number of the earlier Halifaxes had problems with tail wheel assemblies failing and no blame was attached to the pilot.
Pilot - P/O Harold Keith Stinson RCAF (J/8418).
Halifax W1052 was built to contract B.982938/39 by English Electric Co.Ltd. It was taken on charge by 10 Squadron at Leeming on 2nd April 1942. On 29th April 1942 it was slightly damaged on Ops that injured two of the crew though they landed safely at Lossiemouth. Cat.A/FB damage was the damage assessment and it was swiftly repaired. As a result of minor battle damage on 9th May 1942 Cat.A/FB damage was the result that saw it repaired on site. On 28th June 1942 it was transferred to 102 Squadron. On 24th July 1942 it was slightly damaged at Topcliffe when the tail wheel broke off after landing due to a faulty part. Cat.Ac/FA damage may have been the damage assessment though it is not listed on the aircraft's AM Form 78 suggesting it may have been only Cat.A. A repair on site would have been made. In the 102 Squadron record books they were still flying it operationally in November 1942 but they also list it as being lost on Ops on 8th December 1942 (which is an error). It passed to the newly formed 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit at Leeming on 17th November 1942. On 3rd December 1942 it sustained this more serious mishap at Leeming and Cat.B/FA damage was an initial assessment but it was then Re-Cat.E/FA and was struck off charge on 8th December 1942.
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