Lancaster ED445 at Leconfield airfield.

On the night of 26th / 27th November 1943 50 Squadron supplied aircraft on an operational order to bomb Berlin. Lancaster ED445 was one of these aircraft and it took off from Skellingthorpe at 17.10hrs. The crew released their bomb load from 21,000 feet at 21.22hrs onto red and green target markers through thick cloud. The weather was poor on their return to the area of their base so many of the Lincolnshire-based aircraft were diverted north to land in Yorkshire. Visibility was still bad over Yorkshire. 166 Squadron Lancaster LM335 successfully landed at Leconfield at 01.09hrs and was parked off the runway but was left with no lighting. Later that night this 50 Squadron Lancaster ED445 landed at Leconfield at 02.02hrs. A minute later as it was clearing the runway, Lancaster ED445 was being taxied around Leconfield airfield when it struck Lancaster EM335 and both aircraft were slightly damaged.

Pilot - F/Lt Robert Petchell Burtt RAF (21249)

Flight Engineer - Sgt Ronald Taylor RAFVR (1699395).

Navigator - F/O Gordon Richard Presland RCAF (J/22224).

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/O Rowland David Betty RAF (51501).

Air Gunner - Sgt Eric Brookes RAFVR (2206928).

Bomb Aimer - F/O Harold Eric Daynes RAFVR (151214)

Air Gunner - Sgt John Alfred Parkman RAFVR (948804).