166 Squadron Lancasters, 26th / 27th November 1943. All landed in Yorkshire.

On the night of 26th / 27th November 1943 166 Squadron supplied twenty one Lancasters on an operational flight to bomb Berlin. The weather was poor on their return to the area of there base so all but either one or two of the returning squadron aircraft were diverted north to land in Yorkshire. Twelve 166 Squadron landed at Skipton on Swale airfield and others landed at Pocklington and Leconfield. Unfortunately the 166 Squadron records do not state where all of their aircraft landed. Six of the 166 Squadron Lancasters received flak damage during the course of the night. The identities of all the 166 Squadron aircraft that received flak damage are given below but I have not created webpages for each individually because of the lack of landing locations.

The Skipton on Swale station orb gives the number of twelve 166 Squadron aircraft landing there and also one of 626 Squadron. The 626 Squadron aircraft was Lancaster JB646 and that doesn't appear to have received damage as it was used operationally on 2nd December 1942 when 626 Squadron were next flying operationally. The weather on the following days was that poor that all visiting aircraft were unable to return to their home airfields and remained at Skipton on Swale. 166 Squadron's next operational flight was on 2nd December 1943 and I have tried to work out which ones were not used on this date, possibly suggesting that damage was not repaired by that date. At least one (or maybe two) of these six Lancasters was probably involved in the taxying mishap because these aircraft was not used on 166 Squadron's next operational flight on 2nd December 1943 possibly as it / they were still being repaired...

Lancaster JB142 was damaged by flak and also further damaged in a ground collision at Skipton on Swale. This I have created a webpage for. The other five were as follows...

Lancaster LM386, sustained minor flak damage (NOT used on 2/12/43).

Lancaster DV220, sustained minor flak damage (used on 2/12/43 so probably not seriously damaged).

Lancaster W4994, sustained minor flak damage (used on 2/12/43 so probably not seriously damaged)

Lancaster DV386, sustained minor flak damage (used on 2/12/43 so probably not seriously damaged).

Lancaster W4376, sustained minor flak damage (used on 2/12/43 so probably not seriously damaged).