Halifax MZ580 at Lissett airfield.
On the night of 25th / 26th July 1944 this 158 Squadron aircraft was flown on an operational flight to bomb a target at Wanne Eickel and took off from Lissett airfield at 22.45hrs. The crew released their bomb load onto the target area from 17,000 feet at 01.16hrs and returned to base. On landing at Lissett airfield at 03.04hrs in bad weather the aircraft overshot and came to rest between 50 and 100 yards beyond the runway and close to a hedge. Because of the bad weather Flying Control could not see the aircraft had stopped off the end of the runway as it was too close to the boundary hedge to turn without assistance, Flying Control had assumed it had simply turned and taxied away onto a dispersal point, and because of the poor weather there was an urgent need to get other aircraft onto the ground so, at 03.08hrs, they then permitted 158 Squadron Halifax MZ734 to land. This aircraft also overshot and could not be stopped before a collision with MZ580 occurred at low speed. MZ580 received a Cat.Ac damage assessment and was repaired on site while MZ734 received an even lesser Cat.A damage assessment.
Pilot - WO Ernest Eric Collins RAFVR (1381444).
Navigator - F/Sgt Donald William Edwin May RAFVR (1577156).
Air Bomber - F/Sgt William David Davies RAFVR (1032068).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt Robert Bruce Stirling RAAF (417427).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Donald Richard Metcalfe RAFVR (1590891).
Air Gunner - F/Sgt Alexander Monty RCAF (R/147007).
Air Gunner - F/Sgt Peter James Powell RAFVR (1808763).