Lancaster ED320 damaged in the air, (believed) landed at Holme on Spalding Moor airfield.
During the evening of 4th February 1943 this 101 Squadron aircraft sustained damage to the bomb doors while in flight when they were opened following flying in exceptionally low temperature. The aircraft was flown in cloud with the temperature around -41 degrees, ice formed on the bomb doors and when they were opened buckling occurred. This incident appears to have occurred at 21.43hrs on an operational flight to bomb Turin although the 101 Squadron records do not mention the named pilot or this aircraft flying operationally on this night. The time of the incident fits with the time other aircraft who bombed Turin on this night. Because of the lack of mention of this aircraft being in the air on this night proving where it landed has not yet been possible. It may have landed safely at Holme on Spalding Moor airfield or elsewhere. Minor Cat.Ac damage was the damage assessment.
Pilot - S/Ldr William Cowan Ollason DFC RAF (45713).
Crew - Names unknown.
Lancaster ED320 was delivered as new to 57 Squadron on 30th November 1942 but was swiftly transferred to 101 Squadron at Holme on Spalding Moor on 2nd December 1942. As a result of the incident on 4th February 1943 minor Cat.Ac/FB damage was the damage assessment that was then repaired on site. It was returned to 101 Squadron on 20th February 1943. On 13th August 1943 the aircraft crashed into Beaufighter MM857 at Ford airfield. This wrote off the aircraft with Cat.E/FA damage being the damage assessment and it was struck off charge on 10th August 1943. An error on the paperwock / AM Form 78 cancelled this S.O.C. date so the aircraft was again struck off charge in March 1945 but only as a paperwork exercise. The aircraft would have been scrapped eighteen months earlier.