Halifax LK760 at Lissett airfield.
During the early hours of 8th June 1944 this 158 Squadron aircraft was to have been flown on an operational flight to bomb a target in the Versailles area in advance of the D-Day landings. On take off from Lissett airfield at 00.30hrs the pilot opened the throttles too quickly and the engines on one side picked up speed sooner than the other, this caused a swing to develop. The pilot attempted to stop the aircraft with the brakes but realised the pressure was low so to avoid loosing complete control he further swung the aircraft to stop using the engines but the strain on the undercarriage caused them to collapse. The aircraft was badly damaged and was not repaired. Unfortunately there is no mention of this incident occurring in the 158 Squadron records despite the AM Form 1180 giving the information, as such I have not yet confirmed the crew with the named pilot.
Pilot - F/Sgt Thomas Harold Sinclair RNZAF (NZ.391424).
Crew - Names unconfirmed.