Lancaster R5491 at Lindholme airfield.
On 27th May 1943 those flying in this 1656 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft were undertaking a basic night circuit flying exercise. Ten minutes into the exercise at 23.03hrs during a landing at Lindholme the port main tyre burst and the aircraft swung out of control and it came to rest badly damaged. After assessment it was initially believed repairable and Cat.B/FA damage was the assessment but three days later this assessment was upgraded and it was struck off charge.
Pilot (Instructor) - P/O Sidney George Burton RAFVR (1332829).
Pilot (Pupil) - Sgt Brian Bruce Davidson RAFVR (1321868).
Probable crew..
Flight Engineer - Sgt Leslie English RAFVR (1001372).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Lionel Frederick Comer RAFVR (1395190).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Laurence Geoffrey Earl Gee RAFVR (1212477).
Navigator - Sgt Harry Newman Jones RAF (656183).
Air Gunner - Sgt Jack William Cummings RAFVR (1334212).
Air Gunner - Sgt Cyril Vincent Galavan RCAF (R/150766).
The trainee crew were posted to 1656 HCU on 1st May 1943 from 81 OTU. All were then posted to 103 Squadron on 4th June 1943 but then on to 166 Squadron on 21st September 1943.
Sadly all were then killed on 30th September 1943 flying Lancaster ED904 on Ops to Bochum. They are buried at Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.
Sidney Burton was awarded the DFM for service with 103 Squadron, Gazetted on 15th June 1943. the citation reads. "Sgt Burton has obtained some excellent photographs. This airman has completed numerous operational sorties, including attacks on targets as Milan, Essen, Munish and Spezia". In late April 1943 his Lancaster collided with another over the target which damaged the tail of his aircraft which he nursed back to Elsham Wold, he may well have been put forward for the DFM partly for his actions on this night. By the time the notification was printed in the London Gazette had he received a commisison to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency)(143888) on 7th March 1943. He was instructing at 1656 HCU when this incident at Lindholme occurred having arrived on 19th May 1943. He was promoted to F/O on probation (war subs) on 7th September 1943 and to F/Lt (war subs) on 7th March 1945 but would fly a second tour with 170 Squadron before the war ended. He was awarded the DFC for service with 170 Squadron, Gazetted on 17th July 1945.
Lancaster R5491 was delivered as new to 44 Squadron on 8th March 1942 but passed to 61 Squadron on 23rd March 1942 and then to 61 Squadron Conversion Flight on 19th April 1942. It received Cat.B/FA damage in a flying accident on 6th June 1942 when it made a heavy landing at Syerston that caused the undercarriage to collapse. It received a repair in works by 24 MU. On 17th October 1942 it was taken on charge by 1656 H.C.U. but on 31st January 1943 it received Cat.Ac/FA damage when the undercarriage collapsed on landing at Lindholme. It was repaired on site and was returned to 1656 H.C.U. on 3rd April 1943. On 27th May 1943 it crashed at Lindholme that saw it initially receive a Cat.B damage assessment. Within three days it was assessed again and deemed beyond repair. It was struck off charge on 31st May 1943 and Re-Cat.E damage was recorded across the paperwork.