Halifax LW617 damaged in the air, further damaged on landing at Carnaby airfield.
During the morning of 14th October 1944 this 158 Squadron aircraft was flown on an operational flight to bomb Duisburg and took off from Lissett airfield at 06.30hrs. On the run into the target the aircraft was slightly damaged by flak. The crew released their bomb load onto the target from 18,000 feet at 09.09hrs. On their return to Yorkshire the aircraft was diverted to land at Carnaby and landed at 11.49hrs where upon it taxied around to a dispersal point. 158 Squadron Halifax LV917 also landed at Carnaby and by 12.02hrs it had reached the dispersal ahead of LW617. Unfortunately the brakes of LW617 failed and a collision resulted in minor damage to the aircraft.
Pilot - F/Sgt Norman Tilston RCAF (R/165974).
Navigator - F/O Normnan Alan Packer RCAF (J/35908).
Air Bomber - F/Sgt Ralph George Storsater RCAF (R/177806).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt James Peter Emmett McMahon RCAF (R/180664).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Michael John Carroll RAFVR (1864761).
Air Gunner - Sgt Lawrence Smyth RCAF (R/222979).
Air Gunner - Sgt Donald Leonard Robbins RCAF (R/209367).
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.