On the 20th April 1943 this 1663 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft was being flown on a basic circuits and landings training flight when the pilot's escape hatch blew off in the air. As it fell it struck part of the aircraft and slightly damaged it, a safe landing was made at 17.30hrs.
Pilot - F/O George Such RAFVR (127923).
Pilot - Sgt Brian Hill RAFVR (975703).
Halifax DG400 was built to contract ACFT/637/C4/C by Rootes Securities Ltd, at Speke and was taken on charge by 1663 Heavy Conversion Unit on 16th March 1943. As a result of a mishap in midair on 20th April 1943 Cat.Ac/FA damage was the damage assessment. A repair on site commenced on 25th April 1943 and it was returned to 1663 H.C.U. on 29th May 1943. On 18th September 1943 it made an heavy landing at Holme on Spalding Moor, bounced and stalled falling back onto the runway. Cat.B/FA damage was the initial damage assessment but on 23rd September 1943 it received a further assessment that saw it Re.Cat.E and being struck off charge with a total of 209 flying hours recorded.
George Such received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 7th August 1942 and rose to F/O six months later. He was later posted to 76 Squadron and was killed on 25th July 1943 when Halifax DK187 probably crashed in the North Sea. Some time later his body was recovered and buried locally near the coast in Germany but he is now buried in Hamburg Cemetery, Germany. I thank his great niece, Sophie Kirkwood-Horne, for kindly supplying the photograph of him shown above.