Lancaster DS730 at Wombleton airfield.
On the night of 18th / 19th January 1945 a gale over Yorkshire was responsible for damaging a number of aircraft that were parked on various airfields across the county. At Wombleton airfield the record book states that nine aircraft sustained damage, mainly to their tails and tail assembly locking devices. An instructional aircraft that had had all the engines removed was blown off its dispersal and being that much lighter than a complete aircraft it only came to a stop when it struck another aircraft, the record book does not identify them although the scribe commented "it finally came to rest cuddled up with another aircraft on the next dispersal, and in that intimate embrace they were found the next morning!"
Other damage to buildings was also caused around the airfield and snow began drifting inside some of the damaged buildings. The record book only identifies six of Lancasters that were damaged and one other 1666 HCU Lancaster JB484 that had been forced to land at Carnaby earlier in the month was also damaged by the same winds. At Wombleton Lancasters HK745, LM391, LM460, HK736, HK742 and PB578 were damaged and I have created webpages for these six individually as they sustained damage in Ryedale although nothing to do with a flying accident. The other two I have not yet identified, I would guess that the one with no engines was a Halifax.
The aircraft with no engines was Lancaster DS730 and was the instructional aircraft, it had had all it's engines removed at Wombleton in late December 1944 and was therefore much lighter than a regular Lancaster. It was not adequately picketed and ran into Lancaster HK742. The AM1180 confirms this. The damage to DS730 was not serious as it remained in use at Wombleton until 1666 H.C.U. disbanded and it was struck off charge on 20th September 1945.