Lancaster LM391 at Wombleton airfield.
At 02.50hrs on 23rd April 1945 this 1666 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft was in the process of taking off from Wombleton airfield for the crew to undertake a training flight when three flash bombs in the bomb bay exploded. The aircraft did not catch fire but slight damage was caused to the underside of the fuselage. The crew managed to make a safe landing at Wombleton. Lancaster LM391 had earlier been slightly damaged in a gale on the night of 18th / 19th January 1945 at Wombleton.
Pilot - F/O C J Dalgleish RCAF (J/27055).
Navigator - Sgt J M Scott RCAF (R/164808).
Air Bomber - Sgt G T Jackman RCAF (R/264753).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt L D Hill RCAF (R/133741).
Air Gunner - Sgt A J Martin RCAF (R/288523).
Air Gunner - Sgt J G O Blais RCAF (R/184274).
Flight Engineer - P/O W J Makinson RCAF (J/47836).
This was the last known 1666 Heavy Conversion Unit flying damage mishap. The Wombleton station ORB mentions three incidents on the night of 6th May 1945 but none appear to have sustained damage. The unit still continued in the training of aircrew until Summer 1945 but began to wind down not long after V.E.Day and finally got the order to disband on 3rd August 1945. RCAF Station Wombleton ceased to exist on 20th September 1945 when it was handed over to an RAF Care and Maintenance party.
This crew were posted to 1666 H.C.U. on 6th April 1945 and out on 20th April 1945. I would love to be able to fully identify them and learn where they were posted.