Shown here is Halifax B.Mk.III, (HR868) of No.51 Sqd, based at Snaith after returning to base although badly damaged by a nightfighter attack in a raid on Frankfurt, 20th December, 1943. The port elevator was completely shattered, trim tab controls sheared, the rudder controls and rear fuselage riddled with bullet holes. Two cannon shells burst in the port engine nacelle and extensive structural damage was sustained to the main spar. A cannon shell had also burst in the nose, another had passed through the bomb doors, firing the incendiary load, the bomb door hydraulic pipeline was severed and the aircraft's petrol supply was also affected. After all of this, the pilot still managed to land the Halifax safely at Snaith, despite a burst port mainwheel tyre.
