Halifax LW385 at Croft airfield.
At 12.20hrs on 11th May 1944 this 431 Squadron aircraft was being flown to give all three pilots experience of flying the Halifax MkIII type that was new to the squadron. At 11.39hrs on take off from Croft the port main tyre burst which damaged the hydraulics. The pilot at the controls managed to get the aircraft into the air but found that after the flaps were lowered they would not then rise again. The undercarriage legs may have been in the down position throughout the flight while the crew flew in the local area and then circuits of the airfield. Eventually the aircraft made an attempted landing at Croft at 12.20hrs, the first two named pilots managed to then keep the port wing up to avoid weight being forced down the port undercarriage but eventually the aircraft settled onto the port leg and ground looped. Minor damage resulted when the undercarriage leg collapsed which then saw the port wing and the port propellers also damaged. Considering what could have gone wrong the pilots did all they could and no blame was attached to anyone in the aircraft. All three pilots had very little experience piloting a Halifax MkIII, with just five hours flying solo on the type between them. The aircraft was a 431 Squadron aircraft but had 434 Squadron pilots flying it.
Pilot - F/Lt James Walter Hammond RCAF (J/10645).
Pilot - F/Lt Jack McLean Snelgrove RCAF (J/18668).
Pilot - P/O Arne Hilmar Hagseth RCAF (J/85353).