Halifax NR186 at Pocklington airfield.
On the evening of 2nd January 1945 the crew of this 102 Squadron aircraft flew an operational flight to bomb Ludwigshaven. They took off from Pocklington airfield at 15.06hrs and released their bomb load on target indicators from 18,000 feet at 18.51hrs. On their return to Pocklington at 22.10hrs and possibly in poor visibility the aircraft approached the landing incorrectly and touched down too far along the runway. Having run out of available concrete the aircraft overshot the runway. The pilot attempted to swing the aircraft to avoid over-running into a ditch at the Canal Lane end of the airfield but it crashed through it. The undercarriage legs collapsed and it skidded to a halt badly damaged. The crew escaped injury.
Pilot - F/Lt James Robert Marvin RCAF DFC (J/18724).
Navigator - F/O Albert Yeomans RAFVR (153206).
Bomb Aimer - F/O Thomas Herbert Gooder RAFVR (153653).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt H E Watson.
Air Gunner - W/O W G Banham.
Air Gunner - Sgt R A Challans (probably P/O Rowland Austin Challans RAFVR (189482)).
Flight Engineer - Sgt C Bester (probably P/O Charles Henry Thomas Bester RAFVR (189561)).
Albert Yeomans and Thomas Gooder were both awarded the DFC for service with 102 Squadron, Gazetted in May 1945.
James Martin had already flown a Tour with 77 Squadron where he received the DFC, Gazetted on 23rd May 1944.