Halifax W1010 at Riccall airfield.
On 2nd April 1943 this aircraft was being used on a dual pilot circuit training exercise with 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit. Probably on take off one of the main tyres burst. While making a practice three engined landing at Riccall airfield at 09.20hrs the aircraft swung off the runway because of the burst tyre and because the pilot was practicing a three engined landing he could not quickly correct the swing. The undercarriage collapsed and the aircraft skidded to a halt. While it was badly damaged those on board escaped injury.
Pilot - P/O Frank Williamson RAFVR (136018).
Pilot - F/O Ronald Hoos RAF (49586).
Halifax W1010 was built to contract B.982938/39 by English Electric Ltd. at Samlesbury. It was taken on charge by 10 Squadron at Leeming on 13th February 1942. The aircraft only appears to have flown operational with 10 Squadron once, on 30th March 1942. It was then transferred to 10 Conversion Flight (also at Leeming) on 14th April 1942 to convert their aircrew to fly the Halifax. As a result of the misham at Leeming on 16th April 1942 Cat.Ac/FB damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site by a team from Handley Page but this took some months. On 22nd August 1942 it was returned to 10 Conversion Flight. On 26th August 1942 the aircraft moved to Melbourne with 10 C.F.. On 10th October 1942 it's AM Form 78 states that it was transferred back to 10 Squadron, also based at Melbourne, though it appears to have continued to be used by 10 Conversion Flight. On 15th November 1942 it sustained minor Cat.Ac/FA damage while in the care of 10 C.F. when it clipped a tree whilst taxying on the edge of Melbourne airfield. The aircraft was repaired on site and returned to 10 Squadron (10 C.F. ?) on 12th December 1942. On 31st December 1942 the aircraft was transferred to 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit at Riccall. On 2nd April 1943 it crashed at Riccall airfield sustaining Cat.B/FA damage but does not appear to have been repaired. The damaged aircraft appears to have been initially deemed repairable with Cat.B/FA damage being the assessment. It then appears to have been taken away and when the repair was started it was found too badly damaged so was struck off charge on 13th April 1943.
Ronald Hoos received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 26th July 1942 and was promoted to F/O on probation (war subs) on 26th January 1943. He was later posted to 35 Squadron and was killed on 29th / 30th May 1943 flying Halifax DT804 on Ops to Wuppertal when his aircraft was shot down over Belgium by a night fighter. He was twenty five years old and is buried in Heverlee War Cemetery, Belgium. He was later Mentioned in Despatches after his death on 2nd June 1943 but the reasons behind this are not yet known when this webpage was created. As 35 Squadron was a Pathfinder unit he was possibly not a novice pilot at the time he was at the Riccall HCU and was probably just converting to the type.
Frank Williamson received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 20th September 1942 and rose to F/O six months later. He flew operationally with 10 Squadron and also 102 Squadron. He received a Mention in Despatches on 14th January 1944 and was then awarded the Air Force Cross, Gazetted on 7th September 1945, while in the rank of Acting S/Ldr.