Halifax MZ686 near East Moor airfield.
On 28th July 1944 the crew of this aircraft were the 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 Squadron 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 run due to this problem with the starboard outer engine, the aircrafts undercarriage then gave way and it
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.
Pilot - P/O Donald R Andrews RCAF (J/87068), of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Uninjured.
Navigator - F/O J G Willis RCAF,
Bomb Aimer - WO2 J R Pelletier RCAF,
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - WO2 R A Evans RCAF,
Rear Gunner - Sgt J E MacDonald RCAF,
Flight Engineer - Sgt G B Grant RAF,
Mid Upper Gunner - F/Sgt J J Conroy RCAF, slightly injured.
Air Gunner - Sgt Victor L Valde RCAF, of Transcona, Manitoba, Canada.
"Pilot Officer Andrews has participated in very many attacks on targets important to the enemy's war effort. He has displayed great determination and
his skilful efforts have contributed materially to the successes obtained. On several occasions the aircraft in which he was flying has been damaged by
enemy action, but his keenness for operations remains unabated. Pilot Officer Andrews has set a good example of courage and devotion to duty.."
Donald Andrews was born in Toronto in 1921 and enlisted there in April 1942. He flew his first operational flight on 24th April 1944 with 415 Squadron when
the squadron were part of Coastal Command. By the time he had flown his thirty third on 15th September 1944 415 Squadron had transferred to Bomber Command. He
was recommended for the DFC in October 1944 and this was approved and notification appeared in the London Gazette on 19th January 1945. There was no
citation as such but the recommendation added much more detail, it reads..
Sgt Valde was killed on 2nd November 1944, he was still with 415 Squadron, he was involved in a number of flak incidents while with 415 Squadron at East Moor.
Halifax MZ686 was built to contract ACFT/2553 by E.E.C. Ltd at Salmesbury and delivered to 432 Squadron at East Moor in mid-May 1944. It was
transferred to 415 Squadron also at East Moor on 3rd July 1944 but was written off in the incident detailed above with Cat.E2/Burnt damage being recorded.
MZ686 completed sixteen operational flights with 432 Squadron between 27th May 1944 and 2nd July 1944 coded "QO-U". It crashed on take-off for it's first
with 415 Squadron.