Halifax L9525 at Marston Moor airfield.
On 14th April 1943 this 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft was taking off for a training flight at 19.00hrs but as it picked up speed at Marston Moor airfield it entered a swing which the pilot was unable to correct. The aircraft ran into a mound of earth where drainage work was in progress and the undercarriage broke. The aircraft was badly damaged but it was considered for conversion to an instructional airframe and given the serial 3642M; this work was not completed and it was later written off.
Pilot - Sgt Desmond Ewart Abel Lander RAFVR (1333728).
Halifax L9525 was built to contract 692649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was awaiting collection on 25th April 1941 and was flown to Linton on Ouse on 27th May 1941 being taken on charge by 35 Squadron the following day. On 15th July 1941 it sustained Cat.M/FA damage following a landing accident at Linton on Ouse and was slightly damaged, it was repaired on site and returned to the unit only to be transferred to 28 Conversion Flight on 29th August 1941 which was also based at Linton on Ouse. On 14th November 1941 it moved with this unit to Leconfield and then on 30th December 1941 again moved with the unit to Marston Moor. On 2nd January 1942 28 C.F. was absorbed into the newly formed 1652 Conversion Unit at Marston Moor. As a result of alanding mishap there on 23rd February 1942 Cat.A/FA damage was the assessment and it was repaired on site and returned to the unit. On 2nd March 1943 it was allocated to the newly formed 1663 HCU at Rufforth but this was a unit that formed to fly with Halifax MkV aircraft and as this was a MkI aircraft it remained at Marston Moor. On 14th April 1943 it was written off following the crash recorded above at Marston Moor and after assessment Cat.E/FA damage was recorded on the paperwork following assessment.