Arc,the missing information is the date that the mid-air collision took place,which WB627 seems unable to get...and also which wing was damaged..
Losing 10 ft of a 56ft wingspan,and landing safely in difficult weather at night I would have thought worthy of a Unit Inquiry of one sort or another,and possible praise or `carpet shuffling` depending on the outcome...!
I agree entirely with your comments on repairing./splicing on a new piece ,etc.
WB627..AS REGARDS TO YOUR FiL,..Your wife is entitled to apply for her Father`s Service Records,if they have not already been obtained by others.
Go to Gov.UK, Search for `Military Service Records`,read the instructions,etc fill out forms,you may have to pay,but as your wife is NOK,worth checking first,send off,and hopefully in a few weeks,or so,you may have some answers.....Best of luck.....