On the 25th May 1943 the crew of this 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft were flying a training flight, the runway that would normally have been used for landing at Riccall was having repairs made so on landing the pilot landed on a cross wind runway at 14.44hrs. On the landing run the aircraft ran over rough ground and the tail wheel broke. The aircraft was repaired and continued to be used until a crash on 18th September 1943 at Melbourne airfield.
Pilot - Sgt Arthur Charles Woodley RAFVR (1335010).
Sgt Arthur Woodley was sadly killed just days after this minor mishap at Riccall, on 13th June 1943 he was flying as second pilot in 102 Squadron Halifax JB868 on Ops to Bochum when the aircraft failed to return. He is buried in Sage War Cemetery and was twenty three years old.
Halifax V9989 was built to contract B.982938/39 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury and was received by 45 MU at Kinloss on 11th December 1941. The aircraft was initially taken on charge by 78 Squadron at Croft on 11th February 1942. On 12th May 1942 the aircraft was transferred to 78 Conversion Flight, also at Croft. 78 Conversion Flight then moved to Dalton on 12th June 1942, Middleton St.George on 30th June 1942 and Riccall on 15th September 1942. On 7th December 1942 78 Conversion Flight was absorbed into 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit at Riccall but the official transfer of the aircraft took place on 31st December 1942. The aircraft was slightly damaged on landing at Riccall on 25th May 1943 that saw a Cat.A/FA damage assessment. A repair on site was commenced by a team from Handley Page Ltd on 30th May 1943 with the aircraft being returned to 1658 H.C.U. charge on 22nd June 1943. On 4th September 1943 the aircraft swung on landing at Melbourne airfield and came to rest badly damaged. Cat.E/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge on 13th September 1943 having clocked up a total of some 455 flying hours from new.
Back to monthly table.