Halifax DT564 possibly at Rufforth airfield.
Halifax DT564 was a MkII variant built by English Electric and was issued to 77 Squadron on 15th October 1942. There appears to have been a problem with the first batch of MkII Halifaxes 77 Squadron received as they were exchanged for MkV's soon after arrival, all the MkV's were then exchanged for modified MkII's. Halifax DT564 appears to have been one of the first Halifax aircraft that 77 Squadron received but was then exchanged for a MkV. It was then issued to 158 Squadron at Rufforth on 25th October 1942 and was used by them on operations twice in late-1942 with the squadron code "-B", firstly on 22nd November 1942 and then on 6th December 1942. This is the last mention of it in the 158 Squadron record books. "-B" was then applied to Halifax DT697 and this aircraft was first flown on operations on 23rd January 1943. Halifax DT564 appears to have received some form of damage or failed an inspection between 6th December 1942 and 16th December 1942. It's AM Form 78 states that on 16th December 1942 a repair on site was begun but no damage assessment for a flying accident is logged that would relate to it being involved in a flying accident. This repair on site entry on the AM Form 78 was cancelled / crossed out on 6th January 1943. On 22nd January 1943 it was taken for a repair in works by Handley Page but on 22nd March 1943 it received an assessment that saw Re-Cat.E recorded against it and it was struck off charge.
This aircraft was a reasonably new aircraft so I make the assumption it had either been damaged or overstressed or had some form of technical issue that saw it withdrawn. I strongly believe a major structural problem with the aircraft was found in mid-December 1942 that saw it being withdrawn from use. Perhaps this is one incident to remove from this website in due course.