Halifax MZ739 at Full Sutton airfield.
On the night of 14th / 15th January 1945 the crew of this 77 Squadron aircraft were tasked with flying an operational flight to bomb a fuel dump at Dulmen. They took off from Full Sutton at 19.00 hrs and released their bombs at 23.21hrs from 18,500 feet. At 01.30hrs the aircraft landed at Full Sutton but, without warning, the tail wheel sheared off. The aircraft skidded to a halt with minor damage. The aircraft was fitted with a dorsal turret. The tail wheel assembly braking was a common problem throughout the life of the Halifax, a known weakness in castings and mountings saw modifications carried out to all aircraft but when this incident occurred the modification had not yet been made.
Pilot - F/O Donald Earle Tarling RCAF (J/86964).
Flight Engineer - Sgt R D Smith.
Navigator - WO W R Brownell RCAF (R/160469).
Bomb Aimer - F/O William Michael Anglin RCAF (J/28695).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt L Currie.
Air Gunner - F/Sgt H A Hill RCAF (R/220912).
Air Gunner - F/Sgt A W Hopley RCAF (R/263043).
Mid Under Gunner - WO J B Field RAF.