Halifax HR780 at Lissett airfield.
On the night of 23rd / 24th September 1943 this 158 Squadron was flown on an operational flight to bomb Mannheim. The crew took off from Lissett airfield at 18.36hrs and released their bomb load over the target from 17,000 feet at 22.04hrs. On landing at Lissett at 02.32hrs the aircraft swung off the runway and after passing over a ditch within the airfield perimeter the undercarriage collapsed.
Pilot - Sgt Edward George Strange RAF (658792).
Navigator - Sgt Thomas Raymond Lister RAFVR (1452168).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Reginald George Hales RAFVR (1321310).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Thomas William Blain RAFVR (1045233).
Air Gunner - Sgt Robert Ralph Morris RAFVR (1813478).
Air Gunner - Sgt J Lovett (Probably Sgt Joseph James Lovett RAF (624950)).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Kenneth Leonard Francis Riddle RAFVR (1638739).
Halifax HR780 was built to contract ACFT/1688/42 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was taken on charge as new by 158 Squadron at Lissett on 29th March 1943. As a result of battle damage sustained on 28h May 1943 Cat.A/FB damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site. On 24th September 1943 it sustained Cat.B/FB after landing from Ops to Mannheim. A repair was made at the Halifax repair depot at Y.A.R.D. but it took until 14th January 1944 for it to be ready for collection. On 21st January 1944 the aircraft was flown to 45 M.U. at Kinloss. On 9th February 1944 it was taken on charge by 419 Squadron at Middleton St.George. On 24th April 1944 the aircraft was transferred to 1666 Heavy Conversion Unit at Wombleton and on 9th August 1944 it was badly damaged in a crash landing at Sadberge, Durham after suffering both starboard engines fail in flight. Cat.E/FA damage was the assessment and the aircraft was struck off charge on 25th August 1944.