Halifax HX351 at Lissett airfield.
During the afternoon of 26th January 1944 this 158 Squadron aircraft was flown on a local flying training exercise that was to give the pilot his first flight in a Halifax MkIII type, having had no previous dual instruction or check with a more experienced pilot. At 13.55hrs, following a ninety five minute flight, an approach to land at Lissett but the aircraft stalled ten feet off the surface of the runway. The Hercules powered Halifax MkIII had a different stalling speed to that of a Merlin powered MkII. It dropped to the ground and made a heavy landing, receiving some structural damage.
Pilot - Sgt Clifford Ernest Smith RAFVR (1394220).