In the early hours of 19th August 1943 the crew of this 51 Squadron aircraft were in the process of landing at Snaith airfield following a night cross-country training flight, on touching down at 03.00hrs the aircraft swung off the runway and the undercarriage collapsed. 60 M.U were tasked with repairing the damage but a month after the mishap the aircraft was re-assessed and written off suggesting that more serious damage was found that was hidden by the initial inspection. The pilot's name is confirmed but the crew list is an assumed one; they were posted in to 51 Squadron around the same date as him and flew with him on operations.
Pilot - Sgt Duncan Albert Long RAFVR (1338695).
Possible crew..
Navigator - Sgt Harry Johnson (1432343).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Raymond Eric Priest RAFVR (1399105).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt C Armstrong.
Flight Engineer - Sgt Robert Lawson Alexander RAFVR (989463).
Air Gunner - Sgt Alfred Donald Hooker RAFVR (2216027).
Air Gunner - Sgt F Jones.
Duncan Long was posted to 51 Squadron from 1658 Conversion Unit on 16th August 1943 and appears to have flown his first operational flight on 2nd October 1943. He was awarded the DFM for his actions on the night of 22nd / 23rd October 1943 flying Halifax HR923. Gazetted on 16th November 1943, the citation reads.. "One night in October 1943, this airman was the pilot of an aircraft detailed to attack Kassel. Whilst still some distance from the target, the bomber was hit by anti-aircraft fire. The windscreen was smashed and Sergeant Long was struck on the head by a piece of shrapnel. One of thebomber's engines was put out of action and the aircraft lost some height. In spite of this, Sergeant Long continued to the target and bombed it, afterwards flying his damaged bomber to base. This airman has completed several sorties and has invariably displayed praiseworthy skill and determination." He later received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 24th October 1943.
Harry Johnston received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 11th February 1944.
Of those named above Long, Johnson and Priest were later posted to 578 Squadron and was killed on 24th March 1944 when Halifax LW508 was shot down by a night fighter over Germany. They are buried in Hanover War Cemetery.
Robert Alexander was later posted to 635 Squadron and lost his life on 30th August 1944 when Lancaster NE131 was lost without trace on Ops to Stettin.
He was twenty nine years old and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Sgt Alfred Hooker was also posted to 578 Squadron, he died on 9th April 1944. Nothing fits with a death with 578 Squadron flying accident on this date. He was only nineteen years old and is buried in Killay Baptist Churchyard, Glamorgan.
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