Lancaster ND808 at Finningley airfield.
On 30th March 1945 the crew of this B.C.I.S. aircraft took off from Finningley airfield at 21.10hrs to undertake a night circuit flying exercise and to practice flying with one engine shut down. At 21.35hrs the aircraft made an approach to land on three engines and landed, but the aircraft swung off the runway and crashed off the runway area. It came to rest near the airfield's fuel dump and caught fire. The fire was far enough away from the fuel dump as not to ignite it. Earlier in the war a Wellington crashed in a similar area.
Pilot - F/O George Anthony Cooper RAFVR (160771). Injured.
Second Pilot - F/Lt Ronald William Mathers DFC RAF (55201).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt D W Cole. Injured.
One further crew - Name unknown.
Ronald Mathers was awarded the DFC for service with 9 Squadron in September 1944. He had then trained as a flying instructor and served at BCIS from 12th March 1945 until 17th April 1945. He served with 35 Squadron post-war.