Halifax LL509 at Rufforth airfield.
During the afternoon of 5th August 1944 this 1663 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft was parked on a dispersal point at Rufforth airfield with a member of ground crew was cleaning control rods inside the aircraft. He was using petrol to clean with which was not an approved cleaning liquid. At 16.00hrs as he disconnected an electrical fitting from equipment that had been left turned out and unfortunately a spark was produced that ignited the petrol fumes. A small fire broke out within the aircraft which was extinguished but minor damage to the aircraft had already been sustained.
No crew.