Halifax L9509 at Marston Moor airfield.
During the afternoon of 3rd April 1943 this aircraft was being used for a basic circuits and landings training exercise with 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit. At 16.30hrs the aircraft landed at Marston Moor but the brakes failed, the aircraft overshot and came to rest in the airfield boundary ditch. This was the third mishap to this aircraft in Yorkshire and after this incident it was not repaired.
Pilot - F/Sgt Alexander McAlister Sargeant RAFVR (937481).
F/Sgt Sargeant was made a PoW on 24th May 1943 when 102 Squadon Halifax JD112 was lost on Ops to Dortmund.
Halifax L9509 was built to contract 692649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was awaiting collection on 10th February 1941. It was taken on charge by 35 Squadron at Linton on Ouse on 6th April 1941 and served with them until being transferred to the newly formed 28 Conversion Flight on 28th October 1941. The records show the aircraft was returned to 35 Squadron at Linton on Ouse on 7th November 1941 but it was transferred back to 28 Conversion Flight on 20th November 1941 but whom had moved to Marston Moor in the time it was away from them. On 2nd January 1942 28 Conversion Flight was absorbed into the newly formed 1652 Conversion Unit. As a result of a mishap there on 11th February 1942 the damage was assessed and Cat.A(c)/FA damage was recorded. It was repaired on site and returned to the unit on 7th April 1942. It was slightly damaged again on 16th April 1942 in a landing accident at Rufforth. Cat.A/FA damage was again the assessment, it was again repaired on site and returned to the unit on 9th September 1942 but who were now called 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit. It continued to serve with 1652 H.C.U. until 3rd April 1943 when it crashed on landing at Marston Moor. The damage was initially assessed as being repairable Cat.B/FA but as the repair was begun on 15th April 1943 it was deemed more seriously damaged than first thought so was Re-Cat.E1. The aircraft was struck off charge on 29th April 1943 and had clocked up a total of 360 hours total flying time when written off.