Date:	Monday 28 September 1953
Time:	day
Type:	Avro Lancaster B Mk III GR
Owner/operator:	37 Sqn RAF
Registration:	RF308
MSN:
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 5
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	RAF Luqa -   Malta
Phase:	Take off
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	RAF Luqa, Malta
Destination airport:
Confidence Rating:	Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources

Narrative:
Avro Lancaster B.Mk.III(GR) RF306, 37 Squadron, RAF: Built by Armstrong Whitworth at Baginton, Coventry to Contract 239/SAS/C4 (c). Part of an order for 105 Lancasters, serials RF198 to RF326. Written off (damaged beyond repair) 28-09-1953 in a take off accident at RAF Luqa, Malta

According to the Aircraft Movement Record Card (Air Ministry Form AM.78), the history of Lancaster RF308 was as follows...

07-05-45: Delivered to the RAF at 32 MU RAF St. Athan, Glamorgan (the next day - 08-05-45 - was VE Day (Victory in Europe, the end of WWII in Europe)
07-06-45: Transferred to 10 MU RAF Hullavington, Wiltshire
14-03-46: Delivered to Cunliffe Owen at Southampton for modifications
09-05-46: Returned to RAF charge at 39 MU RAF Colerne, Wiltshire
03-12-48: Transferred to Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft, Baginton, Coventry for conversion to Lancaster B.Mk.III(GR)
28-01-49: Work completed, notified as awaiting collection at Baginton
01-02-49: Delivered to 15 MU RAF Wroughton and taken back on RAF charge
06-04-50: Allocation to the RAF MEAF (Middle East Air Force) and delivered Wroughton-Lyneham-Luqa
12-04-50: Taken on RAF MEAF charge at 137 MU RAF Luqa, Malta
18-05-51: Issued to 37 Squadron, RAF Luqa, Malta
11-11-52: Returned to 137 MU RAF Luqa, Malta for servicing
01-04-53: Issued to 37 Squadron, RAF Luqa, Malta
28-09-53: Flying accident at RAF luqa, Malta. Swung on take-off, undercarriage collapsed.
06-10-53: To 137 MU RAF Luqa, Malta for damaged assessment. Although the damage was repairable, the imminent replacement of the Lancaster with the Shackleton meant that the decision was taken not to repair RF308
15-12-53: Struck Off Charge as Cat.5(c) at 137 MU RAF Luqa, Malta, and authorised to be broken up for scpares and scrap.

1. http://www.aviationinmalta.com/MilitaryAviation/AccidentsMilitary/19501959/tabid/651/language/en-GB/Default.aspx
2. https://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?88416-Lancaster-history-wanted-crash-info
3. Aircraft Movement Record Card (Air Ministry Form AM/F.78): http://lancasterbombersinfo.ipage.com/Data/Form-78s/Lancaster/RF295-RF326/mobile/index.html
4. Photo of accident: http://myaviationandgeneralpictures.blogspot.com/2016/10/avro-lancaster-gr3-sw336-38-sqdn.html
5. 37 Sqaudron ORB (Operations Record Book)(Air Ministry Form AM/F.540) for the period 1-1-1952 to 31-5-56: National Archives (PRO Kew) File AIR 27/2695/1 at https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8427310

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
29-Sep-2012 11:42	Dr. John Smith	Added
12-Jan-2013 05:15	Nepa	Updated [Operator, Location]
21-Aug-2013 21:22	JINX	Updated [Operator, Location, Departure airport]
02-Nov-2018 19:43	Nepa	Updated [Operator, Departure airport, Operator]
18-Jun-2021 19:44	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Time, Source, Narrative]
22-Jun-2021 18:43	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Narrative]