Halifax BB306 at Marston Moor airfield.
At 00.45hrs on 20th April 1943 this 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft swung on landing at Marston Moor and sustained minor damage, probably related to the undercarriage.
Pilot - F/Sgt Ernest James Clinch RAF (655142).
On 13th August 1943 W/O Clinch was flying 77 Squadron Halifax JD125 when the aircraft failed to return from Ops to Milan. He has no known grave so is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial but believed to have been buried as an unidentified airman at Verneuil-Sur-Avre Communal Cemetery, France.
Halifax BB306 was built to contract B.124357/40 by the London Passenger Transport Board at Leavesden and was taken on charge by 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit at Marston Moor on 3rd February 1943. As a result of a landing accident there on 20th April 1943 Cat.Ac/FA damage was the damage assessment. A repair on site commenced on 22nd April 1943 and it took until 22nd May 1943 for it to be returned to 1652 H.C.U. charge. On 3rd December 1943 it made a heavy landing at Marston Moor that damaged the tail wheel assembly. Cat.Ac/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was returned to 1652 H.C.U. charge on 1st February 1944. On 18th June 1944 it was declared as being Cat.E.1 during major repair, this saw it struck off charge on 21st June 1944 having clocked up a total of 763 flying hours.