Lancaster R5491 at Lindholme airfield.
On 31st January 1943 this 1656 Conversion Unit aircraft was flown on a night training flight that lasted for half a hour. On landing at Lindholme at 22.30hrs the undercarriage collapsed resulting in the tyre being stripped off the undercarriage. The undercarriage had been examined after a previous heavy landing and no fault was found. It was assumed that it had been weakened and the damage had gone unnoticed. Minor Cat.Ac damage resulted and it was repaired.
Pilot - Sgt William Bell RAFVR (1134764).
The pilot and his crew were posted to 101 Squadron on 3rd February 1943. They were killed on Ops to Berlin on 27th March 1943 flying Lancaster W4322.
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.