6 Group Unavailable
405 Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus) RAF Topcliffe. Halifax BII aircraft BB 212 LQ-P was damaged by flak over Dusseldorf, Germany, resulting in the pilot, Sergeant Webb, losing control and altitude. He ordered his crew to bail, then regained control and continued to fly. Rear Air Gunner Sergeant Scotten (RCAF) and Mid-Upper Air-Gunner Sergeant French (RAFVR) had already bailed out over enemy territory before Webb regained control and were killed due to parachute malfunction. The aircraft returned to England but the flaps were not lowered fully during the landing at RAF Topcliffe, Yorkshire and the aircraft swung off the runway, colliding with a parked 419 Squadron Wellington III BJ887 VR-H (which was written off) killing Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner, Sergeant AT Drennan (RCAF) and injuring Sergeant WM Webb (RCAF), Sergeant EE Gervais (RCAF), Sergeant JM Rankin (RCAF) and Sergeant GE Mitchell (RAFVR)
The aircraft was later repaired and returned to operations, only to be shot down by a night fighter March 11-12, 1943, on an operation against targets in Stuttgart, Germany
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Aircraft accidents in Yorkshire
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