Date:	Sunday 7 January 1945
Time:	17:59 LT
Type:	Avro Lancaster Mk I
Owner/operator:	630 Squadron, RAF
Registration:	PD317
MSN:	LE-G
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 7
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	RAF East Kirkby, Lincolnshire -   United Kingdom
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	RAF East Kirkby, Lincolnshire
Destination airport:	RAF East Kirkby, Lincolnshire

Narrative:
Avro Lancaster B. Mk. I PD317/LE-G of 630 Squadron RAF: Engine failed on combat operations, aircraft bounced on landing at RAF East Kirkby, Lincolnshire, swung on overshoot and crash landed. Two of the crew of seven were killed, and one sustained severe injuries (lost arm).

Mission to Munchen. Took off from RAF East Kirby at 16:45 hrs but the port inner engine failed soon after becoming airborne. Bombs were jettisoned and the crew returned to base but on touch down at 17:59 hrs the Lancaster bounced and the pilot opened the throttles in an attempt to go round again. However, the port wing dropped and the Lancaster cartwheeled across the airfield. Flying Officer Billings sustaining injuries that necessitated the amputation of an arm. The two airmen who died are buried in their home towns. The remainder of the crew, it was subsequently reported, made a good recovery.

Crew:
Pilot: Flying Officer George E Billings RAF [Seriously injured - loss of arm]
Flight Engineer: Sergeant S Harris RAF [Injured]
Navigator: Flight Sergeant Arthur Hobson RAFVR 1510732 [Killed]: Commemorated at Barnsley Cemetery, Bernsley, Soluth Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Bomb Aimer: Flying Officer Les Knowles RAF [Injured]
Wireless Operator: Sergeant J Duncan RAF [Injured]
Mid-Upper Gunner: Sergeant Denis Albert Holloway RAFVR 942590 [Killed]: Commemorated Coventry (Canley) Crematorium, Coventry, Warwickshire, United Kingdom
Rear Gunner: Flight Sergeant D Todd RAAF [Injured]

1. Air-Britain Royal Air Force Aircraft PA100-RZ999
2. The Lancaster File (James J Halley, Air Britain, 1985
3. Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War 1945 Page 40.
4. Rob Davis Bomber Command Losses Database
5. The Barnsley Chronicle 13th January 1945
6. 630 Squadron Operational Record Book (Recrod of Events for the Period 1 to 31 January 1945): National Archives (PRO Kew) File AIR 27/2152/30 at https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8417552
7. Aircraft Movement Card (Air Ministry Form AM.78): https://lancasterbombersinfo.ipage.com/Data/Form-78s/Lancaster/PD265-PD337/mobile/index.html
8. Aircraft Accident Record Card (Air Ministry Form AM.1180): https://lancasterbombersinfo.ipage.com/Data/Form-1180/Lancaster/1945/January/prt1/1.html
9. CWGC: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2406436/arthur-hobson/
10. CWGC: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2714226/denis-albert-holloway/
11. https://www.bcar.org.uk/new1945-incident-logs#feb
12. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/59085163/arthur-hobson
13. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/59667609/denis-albert-holloway
14. https://stedwardsremembers.blogspot.com/2015/11/arthur-hobson-1921-1945-age-23.html
15. https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/111053
16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._630_Squadron_RAF#History
17. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_East_Kirkby#History

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
29-Aug-2013 16:49	JINX	Added
18-May-2016 12:52	Red Dragon	Updated [Time, Cn, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Departure airport, Source, Narrative, ]
09-Oct-2018 05:07	Nepa	Updated [Operator, Operator, ]
29-May-2023 10:25	Nepa	Updated
07-Jan-2024 08:02	Rob Davis	Updated [Source, Narrative, ]
29-Jan-2025 23:59	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Time, Operator, Location, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Category, ]