Halifax R9454 at Snaith airfield.
During the night of 28th November 1943 the crew of this 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft undertook a training flight. In the course of the flight a landing was made at Snaith at 23.59hrs but the pilot held off landing for too long and when the aircraft did land the aircraft began to swing. The pilot attempted to correct but then overcorrected it, it swung off the runway and the port main wheel was torn off.
Pilot - Sgt Hugh Drummond Melville RAFVR (1339401).
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.