Lancaster I PA308 at Carnaby airfield.

On 4th September 1945 this 166 Squadron aircraft was flown on "Operation Dodge" that saw a repatriation of Allied troops from the Mediterranean to the UK. The aircraft had a total of twenty six people on board when it took off but as it picked up speed on the rough runway at Pomigliano, Naples, Italy the main port tyre burst. The pilot managed to get the aircraft into the air and continued with the repatriation flight. Where the aircraft was meant to land is not known but on their return to the UK this aircraft's undercarriage would not lower. The crew were then diverted to land at Carnaby airfield owing to the length and width of the runway and it being geared up for emergency landings. Nearly eight hours after taking off a belly landing was made at Carnaby airfield at 16.32hrs. Six other aircraft on this date were diverted to Tibenham to land owing to bad weather. 166 Squadron were based at Coningsby but I find it highly unlikely that hundreds of ex-PoWs and injured men would arrive back from Italy in Lincolnshire, somewhere nearer London would seem a better fit. I would be interested to see any additional information around this flight and who was in this Lancaster.

Pilot - F/Lt Ronald Arthur Walter Finch RAFVR (133676).

Five more crew.

Twenty passengers.