On the night of 21st / 22nd November 1944 the crew of this 640 Squadron aircraft were tasked with flying an operational flight to bomb Sterkrade. A total of sixteen 640 Squadron aircraft took part in the raid and this particular aircraft took off from Leconfield airfield at 17.25hrs. This crew attacked the target area from 20,000 feet at 21.04 hours and made for home. It is not yet known why NP953 landed at Carnaby and not at nearby Leconfield but a safe landing was made at 00.15hrs. I guess that a lack of fuel may have been a problem. Shortly after this aircraft landed at Carnaby a diverted 51 Squadron Halifax NA493 also landed. At 00.30hrs whilst taxying Halifax NA493 swung to the left. Unfortunately before the swing could be corrected the starboard outer propeller of Halifax NA493 struck the rear turret of Halifax NP953 and the occupant was killed instantly. A technical problem with a leak Schrader valve had caused a problem with the brakes on NA493.
Pilot - P/O Graham Cooke RAF (56207).
Bomb Aimer - F/Sgt I D Roberts.
Navigator - F/Sgt T Peters.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt L H Moore.
Mid Upper Gunner - Sgt J W Coleman RAFVR.
Rear Gunner - Sgt Jesse Ernest Cotton RAFVR (1898325), aged 31. Buried Swadlincote (Newhall and Stanton) Burial Ground, Derbyshire.
Flight Engineer - Sgt S C Clements.