Halifax near East Moor airfield.

On the 28th of July 1944 the crew of this aircraft were first of 415 Squadron's aircraft to take off this night at 22.18hrs. Not only were the first to take off on this night but hey were the first 415 Sqdn aircraft to take off since tasked with Bomber Command duties. Literally as it became airborne an engine caught fire. The aircraft veered off the runway on its take off due to the problem with the starboard outer, the aircraft then belly landed, crashed through the northern perimeter fence, broke in two and caught fire. Fortunately the crew escaped. 60 MU recovered the wreckage by the 4th of August 1944.

The aircraft was built to contract ACFT/2553 by E.E.C. Ltd at Salmesbury and delivered to 432 Sqdn at East Moor in mid-May 1944. It was transferred to 415 Sqfn also at East Moor on 3rd July 1944 but was written off in the incident detailed above with Cat E2/Burnt damage. MZ686 completed 16 Ops with 432 Sqdn between 27th May 1944 and 2nd July 1944 as "QO-U". It crashed on take-off for it's first Op. with 415 Sqdn.

Pilot - P/O D R Andrews RCAF, ok.

Nav - F/O J G Willis RCAF, ok.

AG - Sgt Victor L Valde RCAF, of Transcona, Manitoba, Canada. Ok.

BA - WO2 J R Pelletier RCAF, ok.

W Op - WO2 R A Evans RCAF, ok.

Rear Gunner - Sgt J E MacDonald RCAF, ok.

F Eng - Sgt G B Grant RAF, ok.

Mid Upper Gunner - F/Sgt J J Conroy RCAF, inj.