Halifax GT.VII NA398 at Leconfield.
Halifax NA398 was an aircraft operated by No.21 Heavy Glider Conversion Unit in July 1946 and was based at Elsham Wold, Lincolnshire. On 12th July 1946 the aircraft was being flown over the East Riding of Yorkshire with three of the four engines deliberately shut down to demonstrate that the aircraft could be flown on just one engine. While this was achievable with a Halifax it had to be done at much greater height than that which it was done on this date. Height was unable to be maintained and the crew were unable to unfeather the three engines so a forced landing had to be made in the region of Leconfield airfield. The incident is recorded in the Air Gunnery School record book and states it occurred "in Leconfield village". Initially Cat.B/FA damage was the damage assessment but it was later re-assessed and upgraded to Re-Cat.E on 15th August 1946 that saw it struck off charge.
Pilot - F/O James Gordon Calvert DFC RAFVR (187781).
Five further crew - Names unknown.
James Calvert was awarded the DFC for service with 640 Squadron, Gazetted in May 1945.
It's maybe worth noting that the Hull Daily Mail recorded on the day before this incident that Bridlington fishermen were reporting that they had seen single seater fighters using towed gliders for target practice and were then released by the towing aircraft to crash into the sea. Normally this would have been Central Gunnery School aeroplanes being used off Bridlington. Whether this has any connection to this Halifax or the unit, or whether it was using Leconfield airfield or working with the Central Gunnery School based there is not known.