Halifax BB217 at Wombleton airfield.
On 28th June 1944 this 1666 Heavy Conversion Unit Halifax landed at Wombleton airfield at 15.07hrs following a training flight. In taxiing around the perimeter track the aircraft swerved to starboard because of a faulty braking system on the starboard main wheel and ploughed into the empty night-flying control wooden hut that was situated on the airfield. The hut was completely demolished but as this was a daylight training exercise there was no-one in it. The Halifax sustained damage to the starboard mainplane and front fuselage. The unit record book lists the damage as being sustained to aircraft "ND-G" as minor Cat.Ac.
Pilot - Sgt William Hamilton Kennedy MacDonald RCAF (R/175851).
Navigator - Sgt J H Fitzpatrick RCAF (R/192281).
Bomb Aimer - F/O E T I (Edward Thomas?) Cantell RCAF (J/2376).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - WO2 C A Minary RCAF (R/123700). (Possibly Cecil Andrew Minary).
Air Gunner - Sgt W J Sherin RCAF (R/200915).
Air Gunner - Sgt G W Wilkins RCAF (R/200432).
Flight Engineer - Sgt R W Shepherd RAFVR (1561087).
This crew were posted in to 1666 H.C.U. on 11th June 1944 and having completed the course were posted out on 28th July 1944 to 420 Squadron.
William MacDonald was born in 1920 in Vancouver and as a young man studied at the University of British Columbia. He enlisted for RCAF service there in July 1942. He and his crew arrived at 1666 HCU at Wombleton on 11th June 1944 and at that time he is listed as not being commissioned. By the time they left on 28th July 1944 he had received a commission (J/86834). He was awarded the DFC for service with 420 Squadron, Gazetted on 25th May 1945, the citation states.."This officer has completed numerous missions against heavily defended targets in Germany and enemy occupied territory. In October 1944, while returning from a sortie against Cologne, his aircraft was attacked by an enemy fighter. Flying Officer MacDonald displayed outstanding skill in outmanoeuvreing the attacker but was shortly afterwards engaged by another enemy aircraft. Although the guns in both of the turrets were unserviceable, this gallant and resourceful officer took violent evasive action and one more outwitted the hostile aircraft. On another occasion when his bomber had been damaged by anti-aircraft fire and the windshield shattered, despite the intense cold, Flying Officer MacDonald returned safely to base where he executed a masterly landing. At all times during an outstanding tour this officer has displayed exceptional skill and courage."
If Cecil Minary was in this crew then, through Facebook posts and photographs he appears to have served with a Bollingbroke-Squadron earlier in the War.
Halifax BB217 was built to contract B.124357/40 by the London Passenger Transport Board Ltd. at Leavesden and was awaiting collection on 26th July 1942. It was taken on charge the following month by 1652 H.C.U. at Marston Moor. Following undercarriage damage sustained there on 9th December 1942 Cat.B/FA damage was initially the assessment but this was probably downgraded to Cat.A(c) as it was repaired on site at Marston Moor. It was one of three aircraft that were transferred to 1666 H.C.U. on 12th July 1943 who had formed at Dalton weeks earlier and at that date these arrivals made their Halifax total to six. It arrived at 1666 H.C.U. via 18 MU. Although formed at this time 1666 H.C.U. don't appear to have done any flying for some weeks. It had the honour to be the first Halifax to be taken up into the air by 1666 H.C.U. on 16th October 1943 when it was flown on an airtest by F/Lt G H Hartley (Possibly F/Lt Gordon Herbert Hartley DFC RAF (122056)). 1666 H.C.U. moved to Wombleton on 21st October 1943 and it sustained repairable Cat.A/FA damage there on 28th June 1944. After a repair on site it continued to be used by 1666 H.C.U. In late 1944 it was transferred to 1656 H.C.U. at Lindholme but was struck off charge on 11th January 1945.