Halifax W7908 at Riccall airfield.
On 6th June 1943 this 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft was being flown on a dual control training flight when it bounced on landing at 17.50hrs at Riccall with the pupil at the controls. The undercarriage was damaged so the instructor took control and successfully overshot. After making a circuit of the airfield he then made a one wheeled landing but the aircraft was badly damaged when the speed dropped and it was settled on the other undercarriage.
Instructor Pilot - Acting S/Ldr Peter Dobson DFC AFC RAFVR (64284).
Trainee Pilot - F/O John Griffith Jenkins RAFVR (124463).
Peter Dobson was granted a commission in the RAFVR as P/O on probation on 24th April 1941 (with seniority of 9th April 1941) and flew a Tour with 102 Squadron. He was awarded the DFC for service with 102 Squadron, Gazetted on 18th July 1941. He was promoted to F/O on 24th April 1942 and then to F/Lt on 10th October 1942. He received Mentions in Despatches on 2nd June 1943 and then again on 14th January 1944 and was then awarded the Air Force Cross in The King's Birthday Honours List of June 1944. He was promoted to S/Ldr on 8th December 1944 and awarded the DSO for service with and being commanding officer of 158 Squadron, Gazetted on 1st May 1945, the citation reads.. "As squadron commander, this officer has consistently displayed leadership, gallantry and determination of a high order. He has completed many sorties against a wide variety of targets. On one occasion, when approaching an enemy target, his aircraft was engaged by heavy and accurate fire from enemy ground defences and he sustained a wound in the left leg. In spite of this, he held the aircraft straight and level on its course and pressed home a good attack. Not until the enemy coast had been crossed en route for home did Wing Commander Dobson draw attention to his injury. Although in great pain and suffering from the loss of blood, he remained at the controls and flew the aircraft back to base. He displayed unbeatable determination and devotion to duty in the face of much physical distress."
He was appointed to a permanent commission in the RAF as S/Ldr on 1st September 1945 and was promoted to W/Co on 1st July 1949 (with seniority of 1st July 1947). He retired from the RAF on 1st March 1970.
John Jenkins received a commission on 19th June 1942 to the rank of P/O on probation and rose to F/O on 19th December 1942. He was involved in a similar incident at Riccall on 4th August 1943 when Halifax W1093 suffered from the undercarriage collapsing following a training flight. He later flew a Tour with 10 Squadron and was promoted to F/Lt on 19th June 1944. He died on 24th April 1945 and is buried at Gwaelodybrithdir Cemetery, Wales and was twenty three years old.