Halifax LL550 at Linton on Ouse airfield.
On 14th June 1944 Halifax LL550 was complete at the Rootes factory and was allocated to 420 Squadron. In the course of the next 48 hours it was flown across the Pennines and for what ever reason was landed at Linton on Ouse airfield. During the morning of 16th June 1944 the aircraft was due to be collected from Linton on Ouse by a 420 Squadron crew and flown to join 420 Squadron at Tholthorpe. At 11.30hrs the pilot attempted to take off from Linton on Ouse but failed to notice that the flaps were still in the down position. With the flaps extended the aircraft would not increase speed so he was left with little option but to raise the undercarriage a attempt to stop the aircraft on what remained of the runway ahead. Unfortunately the aircraft was extensively damaged and the navigator and air gunner were injured. Cat.B damage was the initial damage assessment which would have seen it taken away for a repair in a works factory, on 27th June 1944 however the aircraft was re-assessed and struck off charge. The AM Form 1180 put the incident down to poor cockpit drill that saw a brand new aircraft written off. William Chorley's Bomber Command losses book lists the crew for this incident but I have not yet located a source document that confirms their names so have not included it here.
Pilot - P/O J L Britt RCAF (J/85060).