Halifax MZ603 at East Moor airfield.
On 22nd May 1944 this aircraft was taxiing from dispersal at 21.40hrs for a non-operational flight when the starboard main wheel came too close
to the edge of the perimeter track. This caused the perimeter track concrete to break up and the aircraft sink resulting in minor damage to the
aircraft's starboard wing. Cat.A/FA damage was recorded and repair carried out very quickly as it sustained further damage a week later.
Crew - Names unknown, uninjured.
Halifax MZ603 was built to contract ACFT/2553 by E.E.C. Ltd at Salmesbury and delivered directly to 432 Squadron at East Moor on 25th
April 1944. It suffered Cat.A/FA damage in the incident detailed above but was repaired on site with repair completed by 27th May
1944. It was damaged again (detailed on this website), Cat.A/FB damage being recorded on 28th May 1944, again
repaired on site in two days. It transferred to 415 Squadron at East Moor in July 1944 and was recorded as Cat.E(m) on 2nd November 1944
when it failed to return from Dusseldorf with six being killed and two being made PoW. MZ603 had completed three operational flights
with 432 Squadron when this incident detailed above occurred. It was again damaged on it's fourth operational flight
but went on to complete twenty seven with 432 Squadron before transfer to 415 Squadron and suffered Cat.A/FA damage on 5th September
1944 when its tail wheel broke off on landing at East Moor. It was lost and
it's twenty fifth with 415 Squadron when it was lost (a real veteran.)