At 17.15hrs on 1st May 1943 this 77 Squadron aircraft was slightly damaged at Elvington airfield when the tail wheel broke following a heavy landing during a training flight.
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 DT643 was built to contract B.982938/39 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury and was received by 12 MU on 26th November 1942. It was taken on charge by 77 Squadron at Elvington on 20th December 1942. As a result of battle damage sustained 2nd March 1943 Cat.Ac/FB damage was the damage assessment which saw it repaired on site and returned to 77 Squadron on 26th March 1943. It received Cat.Ac/FA damage on 1st May 1943 when the tail wheel broke on landing. A further repair on site was carried out and it was returned to 77 Squadron on 23rd June 1943. On 10th July 1943 it again received battle damage that saw a Cat.A/FB damage assessment and a repair was made. The aircraft was transferred to 1654 Heavy Conversion Unit at Swinderby on 9th September 1943 but was then quickly transferred to 1661 H.C.U. at Winthorpe on 30th September 1943. In October 1943 1661 H.C.U. ceased operating the type so this aircraft moved to 1662 H.C.U. at Blyton on 2nd December 1943. On 14th January 1944 it was slightly damaged in a flying accident that saw Cat.Ac/FA damage be the assessment. A repair on site was made and it was returned to 1662 H.C.U. on 5th April 1944. On 2nd September 1944 the aircraft crashed near Caenby Corner, Lincolnshire. The damage was assessed as being Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage and the aircraft was written off. It was struck off charge on 11th September 1944.
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