On 1st August 1943 this 10 Squadron aircraft was being used for a night flying training exercise when, at 22.06hrs, it swung on landing at Melbourne airfield and the undercarriage collapsed. The 10 Squadron ORB does not list any damage but the aircraft was written off on this date so it must have been damaged. The crew listed below were the pilot's regular one with 10 Squadron having been posted in to the unit in late July 1943. They were working up to becoming operational in early August 1943 with the pilot undertaking his first operational flight as a second pilot on 9th / 10th August 1943 with another 10 Squadron crew.
Pilot - W/O Richard Jennings Kennedy RAFVR (1007174).
Navigator - F/O Richard Alfred/Arthur Rath RAFVR (126553).
Bomb Aimer - P/O Rowand Gordon Chalmers Skinner RAFVR (139839).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Joseph Edmund Capstick RAFVR (1078639).
Air Gunner - Sgt N Round.
Flight Engineer - Sgt Francis Norman Cecil Payne RAFVR (175300).
Air Gunner - Sgt Kenneth Cyril Beard RAFVR (1061851).
Richard Kennedy received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 22nd August 1943 and rose to F/O on 22nd February 1944 and F/Lt on 24th July 1944. While in the rank of Acting S/Ldr he was awarded the DFC for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 15th September 1944.
Richard Rath received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 31st May 1942 and rose to F/O on 31st November 1942. For service with 10 Squadron he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 13th October 1944 and was later promoted to F/Lt on 31st May 1944.
Richard Skinner received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 2nd March 1943 and was promoted to F/O on 2nd September 1943. He was also awarded the DFC service with 10 Squadron he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 13th October 1944. He was later promoted to F/Lt on 2nd March 1945.
Francis Paynes received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 10th April 1944 and was promoted to F/O on 10th October 1944. He was also awarded the DFC for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 17th October 1944.
Joseph Capstick was awarded the DFM for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 13th October 1944.
Kenneth Cyril Beard received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 22nd May 1945 and was promoted to F/O on 22nd November 1945.
Halifax HR698 was built to contract 1688/42 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett. On 5th February 1943 the new aircraft was taken on charge by 10 Squadron at Melbourne. It received minor battle damage on 1st / 2nd March 1943 and then again on 27th / 28rd March 1943 with Cat.A/FB damage being the damage assessment each time with a repair on site being made each time. The aircraft remained with 10 Squadron and was badly damaged on 1st August 1943 at Melbourne. Cat.E2/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge on 20th August 1943 having clocked up just over 260 flying hours by the time it was written off.
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