Halifax R9387 at Riccall airfield.
On 25th March 1943 this 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft landed on the tail wheel first at Riccall airfield at 09.55hrs following a training flight, the tail wheel mounting broke and it came to rest with the tail of the aircraft damaged.
Pilot - Sgt Bryan Stanley McCann RAFVR (1386451).
Bryan McCann received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 6th June 1943. After completing his training at 1658 HCU he was posted to 76 Squadron. On 12th August 1943 he was flying Halifax DK240 on Ops to Milan when the aircraft crashed in France killing five of the seven crew. He was twenty one years old and is buried in Bernay Communal Cemetery, France.
Halifax R9387 was built to contract 692649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was initially taken on charge by the A. and A.E.E. at Boscombe Down for test work on 9th December 1942. It was transferred (on paper) for a short period of time to 10 Squadron at Leeming on 8th February 1942. The aircraft was then taken on charge by 76 Squadron on 17th March 1942 at Middleton St.George. I strongly suspect that it was immediately loaned to 76 Conversion Flight, also at Middleton St.George. On 30th May 1942 it was used on the Thousand Bomber raid on Cologne with it being flown by a 76 Squadron crew, although almost certainly a Conversion Flight aircraft. On 25th June 1942 it was used on the Thousand Bomber raid on Bremen but this time a scratch crew, flown by S/Ldr Charles Calder MiD DFC, he was an instructor with 76 Conversion Flight at the time. Unfortunately the crew of a Wellington opened fire on R9387 and put the starboard outer engine out of action. Unable to continue to the target they turned around and made for England but later the Halifax was attacked by a twin engine aircraft. Two members of the crew were injured in the attack. A landing was made at Coltishall. Minor damage, Cat.A/FB, to the aircraft resulted and it appears to have been repaired on site there before being flown back to join 76 Conversion Flight. The transfer to 76 Conversion Flight is then properly reflected on the aircraft's AM Form 78 on 29th July 1942, probably the date when the repair was finished and it was returned to them. On 16th September 1942 76 Conversion Flight moved to Riccall. On 7th October 1942 it was absorbed into 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit at Riccall though the aircraft was not officially transferred until 31st December 1942 (almost certainly because of slow paperwork). As a result of loosing the tail wheel on 25th March 1943 minor Cat.Ac/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site. On 13th August 1943 a tyre burst on landing at Riccall and the undercarriage collapsed. The aircraft was deemed not worth repairing so was written off with Cat.E/FA damage being the damage assessment.