Lancaster W4794 at Carnaby airfield.
On 1st May 1944 the crew of this No.5 Lancaster Finishing School aircraft was in the process of taking off from Syerston airfield for a daytime training exercise when the port main tyre burst and disintergrated. The crew diverted to land at the crash airfield at Carnaby but on landing the damaged port undercarriage leg collapsed. The aircraft came to rest badly damaged.
The named pilot of Lancaster W4794 had, on 22nd April 1944, survived a potentially serious crash with 9 Squadron involving Lancaster LL883 at Bardney. The aircraft crashed on take off for Ops and the all on board scrambled clear. Shortly afterwards the bombload exploded and the aircraft was destroyed. His crew for this earlier mishap may have been involved in this at Carnaby one a week later with No.5 Lancaster Finishing School. He (and presumably his crew) were posted back to 9 Squadron shortly after flew operationally with 9 Squadron on 6th May 1944.
Pilot - P/O George Fox Maule RAFVR (172186).
? - Sgt Thomas Samuel Brickley RAFVR (1891117).
? - F/O L B Connery RCAF.
? - F/S G E Ridley RCAF.
? - Sgt J M Smith.
? - Sgt H Harvey.
? - Sgt G Charlesworth.