During the evening of 15th May 1943 this 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft was flown on a training flight. On take off from Riccall airfield the pilot reported that he was unable to raise the undercarriage. After ninety minutes a landing was made at Riccall at 23.59hrs and the undercarriage then collapsed. The pilot had probably left the undercarriage lever in the "up" position having attempted various things to make it work properly.
Pilot (instructor) - P/O Henry Denys Coverley RAFVR (138439).
Pilot (pupil) - F/O Thomas Rowe RAFVR (124836).
Halifax R9454 was built to contract 692649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was taken on charge by 76 Squadron at Middleton St.George on 27th February 1942. It was then moved across the airfield and joined 78 Squadron on 24th June 1942. The aircraft was then transferred to 78 Conversion Flight at Middleton St.George on 29th August 1942 who later moved to Riccall on 19th September 1942. On 17th October 1942 78 Conversion Flight was absorbed into 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit but still existed on paper for some time. On 22nd February 1943 it underwent a major inspection that saw it require a Cat.Ac repair. The aircraft was repaired on site and was returned to the unit on 23rd March 1943. On 15th May 1943 it suffered a collapsed undercarriage at Riccall and Cat.Ac/FA was the damage assessment (made on the following day as recorded on the AM Form 78). The aircraft was repaired on site and was returned to the unit on 21st September 1943. On 28th November 1943 it again sustained a damaged undercarriage on landing at Riccall. Cat.Ac/FA damage was again the damage assessment and it was repaired on site. The aircraft was returned to the unit on 22nd March 1944 but on 31st May 1944 it was declared Cat.E1 during a major repair and was struck off charge on 3rd June 1944.
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