Lancaster DS692 at Marston Moor airfield.
On the night of 23rd / 24th July 1944 the crew of this 408 Squadron aircraft were to undertake an operational flight to bomb Kiel. They took off from Linton on Ouse airfield at 22.41hrs and remained in the general pattern with other squadron aircraft of circling and climbing around the Linton on Ouse area to await all the squadron aircraft getting airborne before the bomber stream set course for Kiel. At 22.47hrs a problem with the aircraft obtaining lift occurred and despite the pilot applying full power with maximum boost to the engines they could not maintain height. They also did not want to risk opening the bomb doors to jettison the bomb load because opening the bomb doors would create drag. At 23.00hrs the aircraft made a hurried landing at Marston Moor airfield but the undercarriage then collapsed. It had attempted to land on an unservicable runway and came to rest around the middle of the aerodrome. It was found that the riviting of the leading edge of the starboard wing inboard of the inner engine had totally failed and the skin had folded up on take off. The crew escaped injury and scrambled clear but the damaged aircraft caught fire. As the fire spread to the fuselage most of the bomb load exploded and destroyed the aircraft. A large crater was left around twenty five yards off the main runway, windows as far away as Tockwith village were broken and a piece of shrapnel passed through a parked Halifax causing minor damage.
Pilot - F/O James Albert Brown RCAF (J/19704).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Alfred James Ruff RAFVR (1622960).
Navigator - P/O Haughton Gimby Thomson RCAF (J/27498).
Bomb Aimer - F/O J F Proven RCAF (J/28263 or J/28262).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - WO1 B P Gibbons RCAF (R/92314). (Later J/88905).
Air Gunner - F/Sgt D H Cooke RCAF (R/193808).
Air Gunner - Sgt A West RCAF (R/189326).
James Brown was awarded the DFC for service with 408 Squadron, Gazetted on 16th February 1945. The recommendation for his award, as located by Hugh Halliday, mentions the incident on 23rd July 1944. It stated "F/Lt Brown has completed an operational tour as pilot on four engined bombers in a most exemplary manner. He has on many occasions attacked successfully such heavily defended targets deep in Germany as Dortmund, Sterkrade, Duisburg and Essen. He has at all times shown a cheerful disregard for any defences the enemy had to offer, pressing home his attacks successfully, and returning to base with excellent photographs of the target attacked. In his capacity as Deputy Flight Commander, F/Lt Brown has proved himself to be a fine leader, and by his fine operational record has been an inspiration to the men under him. On one occasion, just after becoming airborne on an operation, the leading edge of his aircraft blew open. By extreme skill, F/Lt Brown successfully landed his aircraft, saving the lives of his crew. This officer's fine operational record and his long standing services to the squadron are worthy of the highest praise."
Six members of the crew (minus P/O Thomson) were posted to 408 Squadron from No.61 Base (probably from 1666 H.C.U.) on 31st March 1944 and most were posted to "R-Depot" at the end of November 1944.
The navigator P/O Thomson was a regular with F/Lt Rader and had been posted in to 408 Squadron on 22nd April 1944 from 1666 H.C.U.. He was later posted to 432 Squadron and was awarded the DFC on 22nd May 1945.