Halifax HR978 damaged in the air, landed at Leconfield airfield.
On the night of 15th / 16th February 1944 this 102 Squadron aircraft was flown on an operational flight to bomb Berlin and and took off from Pocklington at 17.34hrs. The crew released their bomb load from 20,000 feet but the release time is not given in the squadron records. On their return to the skies over Yorkshire visibility was poor and this crew struggled to locate an airfield. At around 00.43hrs while circling Leconfield airfield this aircraft struck some trees and damaged the starboard inner engine which was then feathered. A normal landing was made at Leconfield at 01.15hrs without further incident. The pilot had possibly mis-read or not set the altimeter correctly. The squadron records state that the aircraft was flying at "2000ft" when it hit the trees but this cannot be correct as it would have meant the crew were over the Pennines; no ground over the eastern side of Yorkshire rises to such a height.
Pilot - F/Sgt K O Harris RAFVR (1334116).
Navigator - Sgt G? Smith.
Air Bomber - Sgt J C Richardson.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt George William Parrett RAFVR (1436810).
Flight Engineer - Sgt E E Fisher.
Air Gunner - Sgt K? B? Grant.
Air Gunner - Sgt K G Thomas.