Halifax LL173 damaged in the air, landed at Croft airfield.

On the night of 21st / 22nd January 1944 this 431 Squadron aircraft was to have flown an operational flight to bomb Magdeburg. The crew took off from Croft at 20.07hrs and were well on their way towards the target when, at 21.20hrs a Halifax flew directly across the bomber stream in which LL173 part. The fin of the port rudder of the aircraft struck the nose of LL173 and made a large hole in the perspex nose and in the fuselage behind the nose. The crew of LL173 jettisoned their bomb load from 14,000 feet and abandoned the trip. The landed at Croft at 23.33hrs without further incident. The other aircraft is given on the AM Form 1180 for LL173 as "probably did not return", looking at losses on this date one aircraft that fits as being involved was 10 Squadron JD470 that was lost without trace.

Pilot - P/O William Russell Hewetson RCAF (J/19423).

Navigator - F/O Roy MacLean RCAF (J/21623).

Air Bomber - Sgt Arthur Cameron Thompson RCAF (R/63728).

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt George Thomas Moody RAFVR (637036).

Flight Engineer - Sgt George Frederick Carter RAFVR (1489168).

Air Gunner - Sgt Norman Andrew Bell RCAF (R/190751).

Air Gunner - Sgt James McIver RAFVR (1562336).