Lancaster NF930 at Carnaby airfield.

On 23rd November 1944 the crew of this 50 Squadron aircraft were one of a number that undertook operational flights to bomb Trondheim and this specific aircraft took off from Skellingthorpe airfield at 16.06hrs. While over the target area a problem with another aircraft transmitting at the time the bombing controller was attempting to identify and transmit information to other crews caused the bombing controller to cancel the bombing. The bomb load was not jettisoned and was brought back to England. This aircraft was one of nine that diverted to Carnaby to land due to being short on fuel and this aircraft was the first to make a landing. The crew made an approach to land at Carnaby from the opposite direction to the one that should have been flown so this aircraft subsequently attempted a downwind landing towards another aircraft that was attempting to land from the correct direction. The other aircraft flew an overshoot and did not land but the pilot of Lancaster NF930 feared a collision if he attempted to overshoot and climb away, to avoid a collision he landed the aircraft at 02.16hrs on the wrong landing strip. Unfortunately the area the aircraft landed on was not suitable for a landing and the tailwheel of Lancaster NF930 broke when it ran onto rough ground. Pilot fateague was to blame and no further action was taken. The aircraft had been in the air for over ten hours. The Carnaby airfield records state that all nine aircraft left by midday that day following re-fuelling.

Pilot - F/Lt Billy Arden RAFVR (130611).

Flight Engineer - Sgt F/P Nielson RAFVR (1876745).

Navigator - F/O L F Jones (Possibly F/O L F Jones (132804)?).

Bomb Aimer - F/Sgt G D/P Richards RAFVR (1620812).

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Reginald John Haslam RAFVR (1603470).

Air Gunner - Sgt A Watson RAFVR (1552484).

Air Gunner - Sgt W T Waterland RAFVR (1592751).