Halifax LL270 at Lissett airfield.
During the morning of 18th October 1944 this 297 Squadron aircraft was flown on a training flight that involved the crew flying a cross country exercise from Earls Colne and to land at Lissett airfield. The unit had flown Albermarles within No.38 Group and the SOE branch that undertook work at Arnhem and Market Garden. They were beginning to receive Halifaxes and this flight appears to have been a training flight as this pilot and his crew converted to the type. On arrival in the area of Lissett the crew were instructed to fly in the circuit of the airfield as the runway was partially obstructed by a resident 158 Squadron Halifax MZ759 that had swung on landing and was lying damaged near the runway. The pilot of LL270 was finally instructed to land at Lissett but to land short. At 11.10hrs the aircraft was landed at Lissett but it swung on landing and collided with the stationary MZ759. Minor damage resulted to both aircraft. One 297 Squadron Albemarle was later despatched to Lissett to collect P/O Price and his crew but was forced to land at Sandtoft with engine trouble. The following day an Albemarle was despatched to Lissett and another to Sandtoft to collect all the aircrew that were stranded.
Pilot - F/O Leonard Samuel Price RAFVR (136488).
Five un-named crew.