Halifax LW617 at Lissett airfield.
On the evening of 24th October 1944 this 158 Squadron aircraft was flown on an operational flight to bomb Essen and took off from Lissett airfield at 16.38hrs. The crew released their bomb load onto the target area from 19,000 feet at 19.50hrs. On their return to England this aircraft landed at Tuddenham because of a lack of fuel at 21.49hrs. Here the crew slept the night and the following morning, with the aircraft refuelled for the transit flight the crew flew it back to Lissett airfield. At 12.52hrs the aircraft landed at Lissett but touched down half way along it and while flying too fast. The aircraft ran out of runway, overshot and came to rest with the undercarriage collapsed.
Pilot - Sgt Alan Charles Widdowson RAFVR (1881231).
Navigator - Sgt Leslie John Edward Toogood RAFVR (1603233).
Air Bomber - Sgt Jan Adam Balawajder PAF (P.704064).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt Michael Edward Jordan RAAF (428884).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Dennis Hutchins RAFVR (1587248).
Air Gunner - Sgt Cyril William Sibley RAFVR (1898606).
Air Gunner - Sgt Francis Leslie Charles Mewis RAFVR (2220229).
Halifax LW617 was built to Contract ACFT/1808/C4/C by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury and was delivered directly to 432 Squadron at East Moor on 10th February 1944. On landing at East Moor on 4th March 1944 the undercarriage collapsed. The damage assessment following this is not recorded on the aircraft's AM Form 78 but it must have been Cat.B/FA damage as the aircraft required a repair by Handley Page at their works factory, lesser damage would probably have been repaired on site and far quicker. With the aircraft servicable on 14th July 1944 it was received by 45 MU and was then taken on charge by 158 Squadron at Lissett on 1st August 1944. It was slightly damaged by flak on 14th October 1944 and then further damaged on landing at Carnaby. A damage assessment of Cat.A/FB must have been the assessment as the incident is not recorded on the aircraft's AM Form 78. A swift repair on site followed and it was returned to 158 Squadron. On 24th October 1944 it overshot landing at Lissett following a training flight resulting another undercarriage collapse but more serious damage resulted. Cat.E2/FA damage was the damage assessment and the aircraft was struck off charge on 1st November 1944.