During the late evening of 11th October 1942 Halifax W7853 landed at Topcliffe airfield, this aircraft had landed but had not yet cleared the runway when 405 Squadron W1240 then landed at 23.12hrs and ran into the back of W7853. W7853 was unlit but the main responsibility was the error of flying control to allow permission for W1240 land, then allowing permission for W7853 to land without cancelling W1240 first. Both aircraft sustained minor damage.
Exactly who was piloting which aircraft is not clear on the AM Form 1180.
Pilot - F/Sgt Nathaniel Denver Daggett RCAF (R/58699).
Pilot - Sgt Borden Carrick Dennison RCAF (R/91838).
Halifax W7853 was built to contract B.73328/40 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett. It was taken on charge by 405 Squadron at Topcliffe on 10th September 1942 and as a result of the damage sustained on 11th October 1942 minor Cat.Ac/FA was the damage assessment. After a repair was made on site at Topcliffe it returned to 405 Squadron on 30th November 1942. 405 Squadron had moved from Topcliffe in Bomber Command to Beaulieu to join Coastal Command on 25th October 1942. Once repaired it was flown south and rejoined them. On 15th January 1943 it was deemed damaged due to what would appear to be a non-operational mishap. Nothing is listed in the squadron records that may relate to any damage incident. Cat.A damage would have resulted though the assessment was not fully recorded on the aircraft's AM Form 78. It was repaired on site by a team from Handley Page and returned to 405 Squadron on 22nd February 1943. In March 405 Squadron returned to Topcliffe and re-joined Bomber Command. The aircraft was transferred to 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit at Topcliffe on 9th May 1943. On 12th September 1943 it was badly damaged when the undercarriage collapsed at Topcliffe, Cat.Ac/FA damage was the initial damage assessment. On 24th September 1943 it was found more seriously damaged than first thought so received a Re-Cat.B damage assessment. Later on that date it was further assessed as beyond repair. A Re-Cat.E1 damage assessment was made and it was struck off charge.
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