Halifax LW445 at Riccall airfield.
During the evening of 23rd November 1944 this 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft was to have been flown on a dusk circuits and landings training exercise. On take off from Riccall airfield at 18.20hrs the aircraft swung off the runway in a cross-wind, the pilot was unable to correct the swing and the aircraft eventually ran into an air raid shelter before it could be stopped. The collision with the air-raid shelter damaged the undercarriage and it came to rest having collapsed.
Pilot (instructor) - P/O John Alwyn Phillips DFM RAFVR (179698).
Pilot (pupil) - F/O James Frederick Donald Bowman RAFVR (149640).