On the night of 3rd / 4th February 1943 this 78 Squadron Halifax undertook an operational flight to Hamburg. The aircraft took off from Croft at 18.18hrs. Before they rached the target the aircraft received damage by both flak and enemy fighters so the crew released their bomb load over the general area but not onto marker flares. Flak that hit the bomb compartment caused the crew some difficulty in opening the doors. A 1000 lb bomb hung-up and the bomb doors would not close properly. On their return to Yorkshire they landed at Marston Moor at 01.44hrs. The pilot was awarded the DFC shortly after this incident and his award may have resulted for his actions on this night.
Pilot - F/Lt John Samuel Hitchcox RAFVR (106813).
P/O K Fry
F/Sgt K Trevors
Sgt D Cuthbert
P/O R W keen
P/O E W Barnes
Sgt D Pitman
Sgt D Cromar