Halifax LL556 at Elvington airfield.
The events surrounding the demise of Halifax LL556 on 18th April 1945 are slightly confusing. The aircraft had earlier been flown on an operational flight to bomb a military site at Heligoland, taking off at 11.28hrs and landing back at Elvington at 15.45hrs without apparent incident, or at least the 347 Squadron records do not mention any damage resulting. The pilot for this operational flight had been S/Lt J Person FFAF (658) and there being no mishap. I believe that the squadron records have incorrectly given Person as flying LL556.
The AM Form 1180 states that the aircraft swung on take off for Ops on 18th April 1945 which led to the undercarriage collapsing and names Robert FFAF as the pilot. He had been posted to 347 Squadron from 1663 Heavy Conversion Unit on 7th April 1945 and was yet to fly an operational flight.
Pilot - Ltn A Robert FFAF (37114).