Lancaster DV364 damaged on operations, landed at Wombleton airfield.

On the night of 2nd / 3rd January 1944 the crew of this 625 Squadron aircraft undertook an operational flight to bomb Berlin. They took off from Kelstern airfield at 23.30hrs in cloudy conditions and on the way to the target the airspeed indicator failed gradually but may have then recovered after half an hour. The crew released their bombs over the target area from 20,000 feet at 02.47hrs. The crew were in the first wave to release their bombs and due to 10/10ths cloud they could not assess where the bombs fell but believed that the pathfinder markers were fair. On the return flight to the UK the aircraft was struck by flak and the port outer engine damaged. The weather over Lincolnshire worsened during the night and by the time all 625 Squadron aircraft returned to England it was too poor to land so all were diverted north to land at airfields in Yorkshire. This aircraft landed at 08.40hrs. The location of where the landing occurred is not listed in the 625 Squadron records, nor is it listed in the Wombleton station records. The No.61 Base orb however does mention the aircraft as being 625 Squadron "-D" and this was Lancaster DV364.

Pilot - P/O George Aytoun Spark DFC RAFVR (155494).

Flight Engineer - Sgt William Henry Lyssington DFM RAFVR (1804046).

Bomb Aimer - P/O Robert Latham MiD RAFVR (54355).

Navigator - P/O Joseph Emmamuel Alves RAFVR (170028).

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt George Bone RAFVR (1131466).

Air Gunner - F/Sgt Lewis Gerard Carson RCAF (R/109991).

Air Gunner - P/O Herbert John Watkins DFC RAFVR (162607).