Halifax LV821 damaged in the air, landed at Leeming airfield.
On the night of 20th / 21st February 1944 this 427 Squadron aircraft was flown on an operational flight to bomb Stuttgart and took off from Leeming at 23.55hrs. The crew released their bomb load onto the target area from 22,000 feet at 04.03hrs. While over the target area the aircraft was hit by falling incendiaries released by a higher flying Lancaster. One caught in the starboard wing and ignited and three holes were made in the port wing. Control was lost and the aircraft went into dive which put out the fire. The aircraft lost three thousand feet in height before control was regained. The crew noticed a Lancaster flying behind them that was also struck by the same falling incendiaries which also caught fire but then exploded. Despite the damage the crew of this Halifax flew it back to base and landed at Leeming at 07.25hrs.
Pilot - P/O Albert Gerard McAuley RCAF (J/18888).
Navigator - F/O Milton Gerard Utas RCAF (J/14240).
Air Bomber - P/O Emery Gruninger RCAF (J/19386).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Joseph Quinn RAFVR (1112600).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Dennis Charles Jennings RAFVR (1604588).
Air Gunner - Sgt N Barlow RCAF (R/165322).
Air Gunner - Sgt G B Squair RCAF (R/139804).