Lancaster W4833 damaged in the air, landed at Holme on Spalding Moor airfield.
On the night of 26th / 27th April 1943 the crew of this 101 Squadron aircraft undertook an operational flight to bomb Duisburg. They took off from Holme on Spalding Moor airfield at 23.40hrs and released their bombs over the target at 02.23hrs from 17,000 feet. Just after releasing their bomb load the aircraft was struck by falling incendiaries bombs that caused damage to the pilot's cabin and floor, the port fuselage, an engine and other areas of the aircraft. The pilot temporarily lost control and a fire broke out near the flare chute though this was put out by Sgt Scaife. The pilot managed to regain control but in the confusion the flight engineer and the bomb aimer could not be found in the aircraft and had probably left believing the aircraft was out of control. Both survived and would become PoWs. The remaining crew flew the aircraft safely back to base and landed at Holme on Spalding Moor at around 05.40hrs. Cat.Ac damage was the assessment of the damage to the aircraft whilst Cat.B damage was recorded on one engine.
Pilot - Sgt Thomas Craig Cunningham RAFVR (1371018).
? - Sgt W A Ward RAFVR (1061943). PoW.
Navigator - Sgt John Butler Wright RAFVR (1034136).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt J Hartley RAFVR (1098321).
? - Sgt J McNeil RAFVR (1126177). PoW.
Air Gunner - Sgt C Scaife RCAF (R/134888).
Air Gunner - Sgt George Esmond Guy Foster RAF (655134).
The remaining five airmen to return with Lancaster W4833 would all be posted to 625 Squadron in Autumn 1943.
Lancaster W4833 was built to contract B.69275/40 by Metropolitan Vickers Ltd. at Trafford Park. On 4th December 1942 it was passed to A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd. at Woodford for assembly and testing and once complete it was taken on charge by 100 Squadron at Grimsby on 20th December 1942. On 30th January 1943 it was transferred to 101 Squadron at Holme on Spalding Moor. As a result of the damage sustained on 27th April 1943 Cat.Ac/FB damage was the assessment and it was repaired on site. The repair was complete on 5th June 1943 and it was returned to 101 Squadron charge. It moved with 101 Squadron to Binbrook on 15th June 1943. On 15th October 1943 it was transferred to 625 Squadron at Kelstern. On 3rd November 1943 it suffered an engine failure and fire outbound on Ops to Dusseldorf that saw it's crew make an early return to Kelstern on three engines. Cat.A/FB damage was the damage assessment and a repair on site was carried out. On 16th March 1944 the aircraft failed to return from Ops to Stuttgart that saw it's seven man crew killed. Cat.E(m) damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge on 24th June 1944 having clocked up some 463 flying hours from new.