Lancaster W4332 at Holme on Spalding Moor airfield.
On the night of 17th / 18th January 1943 this aircraft this 460 Squadron aircraft was used on an operational flight to bomb Berlin and took off from Breighton airfield at 16.51hrs. The crew believed that they released their bomb load over the target at 21.18hrs from 18,000 feet. On the return to Yorkshire the aircraft landed at Holme on Spalding Moor airfield in thick fog at 00.46hrs. A later inspection found that the tail wheel mounting beam was cracked and that the tail modification to correct this issue had not been carried out on this aircraft.
Pilot - S/Ldr Eric Frank Knowles Campling DFC MiD RAFVR (42049).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Norman Henry Simpson RAAF (401053).
Navigator - F/Sgt William Mervyn James Matchett RAAF (403396).
Flight Engineer? - Sgt E Dickson RAF.
Wireless Operator? - Sgt Ian George Brodie RAAF (401739).
Air Gunner - Sgt John Albert Kirby RAAF (405246).
Air Gunner - F/Sgt Robert James Rogers RAFVR (1183329).
Lancaster W4332 was built to contract B.69274/40 by A.V.Roe & Co. Ltd. at Chadderton. It was taken on charge by 460 Squadron at Breighton on 24th October 1942. It sustained Cat.A/FA damage on 10th December 1942 that was swiftly repaired on site. On an operational flight on 17th / 18th January 1943 on landing the tail wheel assembly mounting beam was found damaged. A modification had not been made to sort the problem. Work started on a repair on site by A.V.Roe Ltd on 21st January 1943 and was returned to 460 Squadron nine days later. As a result of minor operational damage sustained on 28th February 1943 the AM Form 78 states minor Cat.Ac/FB damage was assessed on 1st March 1943 which required a repair on site. It was returned to 460 Squadron on 13th March 1943. Further damage on 21st April 1943 probably resulted in Cat.A/FB damage would have been repaired on site though the AM Form 78 does not mention this incident. On 14th May 1943 460 Squadron moved to Binbrook. On 17th June 1943 crashed on the island of Beverland, Holland on an operational flight to Cologne. It's then crew of seven were killed and Cat.E(m) damage was recorded on the paperwork.