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In the spring of 1945, F/L Lindsay stood on a Halifax nose and took this photo of LL575 [Archie the Archer], recorded as roll #2, print #2. In the background are five other wingless Halifax aircraft waiting to be scrapped. The next in line is NR252 [Bang On], fourth, in the background is NR271 [Nuts for Nazis]. |
Halifax Mk. III, serial LL575 was a hard luck aircraft, but she survived to end up in the scrap heap at Rawcliffe. The Halifax arrived with No. 420 [Snow Owl] squadron on 14 July 1944, but did not carry out any operations. On 15 July she was transferred to No. 415 [Swordfish] squadron and completed 33 operations with no trouble. On 6 October 1944 F/O W. H. Regimbal and crew took her to Dortmund, on return to base she blew a tire landing and received minor damage. On 15 October 1944, F/O C.A. Chartier and crew flew her to Wilhelmshaven, where flak damaged the port elevator. On her next operation, Essen, 23/24 October 1944, F/O W. F. Brown, the Halifax was attacked by a FW190 fighter. The mid-upper returned fire and standard corkscrew evasive action lost the German fighter. On 2 November 1944, F/O J. W. Time and crew flew to Dusseldorf, then the port engine began to smoke and the starboard engine overheated. The bomb load was jettisoned and the operation was abandoned returning to base early. That became her 42nd and last operation in World War Two. The aircraft was transferred to No. 1666 HCU on 5 November 1944, and again transferred to No. 1664 HCU on 10 December 1944.
The Halifax carried out two training flights both with accidents.
On 7 December 1944 she received code letters DH-N and caught fire on engine run up, port engine and the wing was damaged and repaired.
On 20 Feb 1945, the aircraft taxied into Halifax LL589 from behind while approaching take off, causing considerable damage to the nose and starboard engine.Halifax Mk. III, serial LL575 was designated for disposal on 15 April 1945 and flown to Handley Page at Rawcliffe, where she arrived on 15 May 1945. Struck off charge by the RAF on 24 May 1945.
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The impressive bomb tally for "Archie the Archer" was also cut and saved with the nose art painting. The outer white circle was for day Ops., the orange outer circle for night Ops. |