Lancaster NX586 at Carnaby airfield.
Around this date 420 Squadron were undertaking local conversion to re-train their Halifax crews to fly Lancasters. On 7th April 1945 Lancaster NX586 was their first Lancaster to arrive at Tholthorpe for this purpose and was given the squadron code "PT-W". On 20th April 1945 this 420 Squadron aircraft was to be flown on a training flight. On take off from Tholthorpe airfield at 19.40hrs the starboard tyre burst. After nearly a two hour flight the aircraft landed at Carnaby airfield at 21.34hrs as a precaution but before the aircraft could be brought to a halt the starboard undercarriage collapsed. The Carnaby station ORB mentions the incident as being the only one of the day, a Lancaster with a burst tyre that made a one wheeled landing that then saw the aircraft catch fire.
Unfortunately the aircraft's AM Form 78 is unavailable. The aircraft is mentioned in the No.62 Base ORB and also in the 420 Squadron ORB as being modified by the No.62 Base Major Servicing Section at Linton on Ouse in the days prior to it's delivery to 420 Squadron at Tholthorpe on 7th April 1945. The 420 Squadron ORB states that this pilot passed out on Lancaster conversion on 20th April 1945, which was probably following an earlier flight on the date. At this stage the squadron were still working up to being operational on Lancasters. They began to received Lancaster Mk.X's soon after.
Pilot - F/O A J McKenzie RCAR (J/92777).
Six further crew - Names unknown.