Unidentified Lancaster at East Moor airfield.

On 17th July 1943 this 1679 Heavy Conversion Flight aircraft was being flown on a basic circuits and landings exercise at East Moor airfield, on one of the brief touch-downs just prior to the aircraft making an overshoot the port tyre burst. The trainee pilot managed to take off, fly a circuit of the airfield and land staying off the damaged wheel as much as possible. The aircraft received very minor damage, if anything other than a burst tyre.

1679 H.C.Flt formed on 22nd May 1943 and on that date they received four Lancasters, they were DS601, DS607, DS635 and DS648. Their record book does not list any other aircraft arriving between 22nd May and 17th July 1943. DS601 received minor damage on 3rd July 1943 and took some time to repair so I assume that the damaged Lancaster on 17th July 1943 was one of the remaining three of either DS607, DS635 or DS648.

Pilot - Sgt Joseph Albert Roger Coulombe RCAF (R/96703).

Crew - Names unknown.

Sgt Coulombe was a 426 Squadron pilot training to fly the Lancaster type at 1679 H.C.Flt at the time of this incident. He was posted back to 426 Squadron on 28th July 1943.

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