Halifax LK696 at Croft airfield.
On the evening of 15th March 1944 this 434 Squadron aircraft was used to flying an operational flight to bomb a target at Amiens and took off from Croft airfield at 18.43hrs. The crew released their bomb load from 12,000 feet at 21.28hrs. The aircraft landed at Croft on the return but the port undercarriage collapsed and minor damage to the aircraft resulted. It was never understood why the collapse occurred. The landing time given in the 434 Squadron orb is 22.31hrs but this seems far too early compared to other returning 434 Squadron aircraft that night. The AM Form 1180 for the incident gives the landing time as being 23.40hrs and this time is more in keeping with the other aircraft's landing times.
Pilot - WO2 Narcisse Alban Goulet RCAF (R/138521).
Navigator - F/O John Stuart Wallace RCAF (J/14790).
Air Bomber - F/Sgt R Dew RCAF (R/161230).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Dennis Clive Gillott RAFVR (1576449).
Flight Engineer - Sgt James Topp RAFVR (1582255).
Air Gunner - Sgt R Silver RAFVR (1875232).
Air Gunner - Sgt Edward Charles Grimwood RAFVR (1873903).