Halifax RG438 at Melbourne airfield.

I need to somehow obtain more detailed accident documentation for this incident. The available information contradicts itself. The AM Form 1180 states that at 10.13hrs on 24th March 1945 the starboard outer engine of this 10 Squadron aircraft cut on take off causing the aircraft to swing off the runway at Melbourne airfield, run over the FIDO installation piping that was fitted at Melbourne airfield and the aircraft received damage. Initially assessed as Cat.B.FA though later upgraded to Re-Cat.E a few weeks later (as the AM Form 78 states). An additional account in a damage return submitted by No.4 Group stating that it sustained a burst tyre on running over the FIDO system and then struck a concrete block which then caused the starboard undercarriage to collapse. The date agrees as being 24th March 1945.

The 10 Squadron orb contradicts the other records and is almost certainly wrong. The orb states that Halifax RG438 was flown operationally during the morning of 24th March 1945 by 10 Squadron from 09.15hrs to 15.05hrs with a different crew flying it bombing railway sidings at Sterkrade. It landed without incident on this flight but at 15.05hrs at Melbourne so cannot have been damaged at 10.13hrs at Melbourne.

Pilot - W/O D C Rogers RCAF (R/137795).

Probable crew..

Navigator - F/Sgt W J Devonshire RCAF (R/169248).

Bomb Aimer - F/Sgt M Yaworsky RCAF (R/185371).

Wireless Operator - W/O Frederick Bruce Roy Miller RAAF (425184).

Air Gunner - Sgt H R West RCAF (R/275357).

Flight Engineer - Sgt R J Holt.

Air Gunner - Sgt C A C Hunter RCAF (R/102717).