Halifax DK235 at Topcliffe airfield.
During the early hours of 10th June 1944 this 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft was flown on a basic circuits and landings exercise that saw an instructor give two pupil pilots basic training in taking off and landing the Halifax at Topcliffe airfield. The flight that saw this mishap begun at around 01.19hrs with a circuit of the airfield flown. Five minutes later with one of the pupil pilots at the controls the aircraft landed at Topcliffe but the aircraft then bounced or ground-looped and on touching down again began to swing to port. The pilot attempted to correct this swing but overcorrected it and the aircraft then swung to starboard. This swing was not corrected and eventually the undercarriage collapsed. Once the aircraft had skidded to a halt a fire developed on the port outer engine which badly damaged the aircraft. Three airmen on board sustained injuries.
Pilot (instructor) - F/O Ronald George Goddard RAFVR (157409).
Pilot (pupil) - P/O Douglas Dean McNeill RCAF (J/85609). Injured.
Pilot (pupil) - F/O John Frederick Harris RCAF (J/26803). Injured.
Flight Engineer - Sgt Robert Charles Henry Haill RAFVR (1806542). Injured.