Halifax DT666 at Elvington airfield.
At 18.00hrs on 14th January 1943 this 77 Squadron aircraft was taxying along the perimeter track at Elvington airfield when it struck a parked vehicle that had been left on the side of the track. Minor damage resulted. The runway that aircraft would be using had changed and flying control failed to inform the pilot of this aircraft this fact, had the pilot known then he would not have been taxying where he was.
Pilot - S/Ldr Wilfred Surtees RAF (70876).
Halifax DT666 was built to contract B.982938/39 by English Electric Co. Ltd. at Samlesbury and was delivered to 12 M.U. at Kirkbride on 28th November 1942. The aircraft was taken on charge by 77 Squadron at Elvington on 20th December 1942 and carried the squadron code "KN-F". On 14th January 1943 it collided with a vehicle parked on the side of the perimeter track and sustained minor Cat.A/FA damage. It was then transferred to 51 Squadron at Snaith on 4th March 1943 where it carried the squadron code "MH-T". As a result of battle damage sustained on the night of 12th / 13th March 1943 Cat.A/FB damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site at Snaith. The aircraft then crashed near Drax on 4th April 1943 on return from an operational flight to Essen. Three of the seven man crew were killed. Cat.E2/FB damage was the damage assessment and it was written off having clocked up 102 flying hours.