Lancaster LL940 at Full Sutton airfield.
On the night of 14th / 15th January 1945 the crew of this 57 Squadron aircraft undertook an operational flight to bomb Merseburge and this aircraft took off from East Kirkby airfield in Lincolnshire at 16.10hrs. The crew released their bomb load and made the return flight towards Lincolnshire. On their return the weather was deemed too bad for any of the East Kirkby aircraft to land there. 57 Squadron crews were diverted to Full Sutton while fellow East Kirkby residents 630 Squadron were diverted to Tholthorpe. All the returning 57 Squadron aircraft landed safely at Full Sutton with Lancaster LL940 landing at 02.09hrs. At 02.20hrs, while following marshalling orders on the ground Lancaster LL940 taxied into Lancaster PB784 which had stopped suddenly ahead of it on the perimeter track under the guidance of a marshalling airman. The rear landing light of PB784 was not switched on. Both aircraft were slightly damaged. Of the fifteen 57 Squadron aircraft that were diverted and landed at Full Sutton, thirteen plus one of the slightly damaged ones returned to East Kirkby the following day, the other damaged one must have been repaired on site at Full Sutton and was flown back on 19th January 1945.
Pilot - F/O Jerrold Harcourt Jackson RAAF (428390).
Flight Engineer - Sgt J Dack.
Navigator - F/Sgt J wilson.
Bomb Aimer - WO G McClure.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt L Hibbard.
Air Gunner - Sgt G Burrows.
Air Gunner - Sgt H Crighton.
Lancaster LL940 was built by Armstrong Whitworth and was taken on charge as new by 57 Squadron on 23rd April 1944. The aircraft received Cat.Ac/FA damage as a result of the mishap on 15th January 1944 at Full Sutton. It was then repaired on site by a team from A.V.Roe and was returned to 57 Squadron on 10th February 1945. In early 1946 the aircraft was transferred to Lindholme airfield. On 28th February 1944 the aircraft was then flown to Tollerton and was struck off charge on 5th March 1946.