Halifax JB849 at Elvington airfield.
Following a training flight on 18th March 1943 this 77 Squadron aircraft was on an approach to land at Elvington airfield at when the pilot could not get the port undercarraige to lock down despite trying various methods. On landing at Elvington at 14.40hrs the port undercarriage collapsed causing the aircraft to swing off the runway.
Pilot - Acting F/Lt Frederick Kitchener Bainbridge RAFVR (64285).
Halifax JB849 was built to contact ACFT/1808/C4 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury and was taken on charge by 77 Squadron at Elvington on 10th March 1943. As a result of the damage sustained on 18th March 1943 Cat.E/FA damage was the assessment. The aircraft was struck off charge on 31st March 1943 and had flown just over three hours from new.
Frederick Bainbridge received a commission on 24th April 1941 to P/O on probation and was promoted to F/O (war subs) on 24th April 1942 (with seniority back dated to 9th April 1942). He was Mentioned in Despatches on 1st January 1943 and promoted to F/Lt (war subs) on 24th April 1943. He was awarded the DFC for service with 77 Squadron, Gazetted on 14th May 1943, the citation reads.. "F/Lt Bainbridge has taken part in many operational sorties to targets in enemy and enemy occupied territory and also in an anti-submarine patrol". By May 1944 he was instructing with 10 OTU, on 12th May 1944 he was the pilot of Whitley Z9302 when it suffered port engine failure on take off and he force-landed the aircraft at Stanton Harcourt airfield without injury. Post-war he transferred to the Admin and Special Duties Branch and was appointed to a Class CC commission as S/Ldr on 15th December 1945. Post-war he flew with BOAC, piloting the infamous Comet. As a result of landing Constellation G-ANNT on one wheel at London Airport after hydraulic failure on 11th August 1957 he was awarded the Certificate of Commendation.