An Avro Lancaster Mk I bomber aircraft crashed on land to the east of RAF East Kirkby on the 12th of February 1944. The aircraft was designated W4119 of 50 Squadron, and was based at RAF Skellingthorpe. It was taking part in a fighter affiliation training exercise and was carrying extra airgunner crew for practice firing. During the sortie, a fire broke out in the port outer engine and the order to bail out was given. Before all the crew could comply, part of the outer section of the port main-plane broke off, sending the aircraft into a spin. It crashed at 15:55, near to the incendiary fusing hangar at RAF East Kirkby. Four of the crew did not escape in time, and died in the crash. {1}{2}{3}