Lancaster ED987 at Holme on Spalding Moor airfield.
On 20th May 1943 this 101 Squadron aircraft was about to be flown on an airtest or had just landed from such when, at 13.05hrs, the aircraft collided with a contractor's vehicle that was deemed to be not parked correctly at Holme on Spalding Moor airfield. The flight engineer in the aircraft was also deemed partly at fault for not keeping a good look out.
Pilot - Sgt Richard George Claydon RAFVR (1315110).
No trace of Sgt Claydon and his crew were found when they failed to return from Ops to Bochum on 12th / 13th June 1943. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Lancaster ED987 was built to contract B.69274/40 by A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd. at Chadderton and after assembly at Woodford was delivered new to 101 Squadron at Holme on Spalding Moor on 17th May 1943. As a result of the mishap three days later Cat.A/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site. On 13th June 1943 the aircraft failed to return from Ops to Bochum. Cat.E(m) damage was recorded on the paperwork and it was struck off charge on 18th June 1943 having clocked up just 31 hours total flying from new.