Halifax MZ284 at Skipton on Swale airfield.

On the night of 28th / 29th June 1944 433 Squadron supplied aircraft for an operational raid on Metz. Halifax MZ284 was one of these and it took off from Skipton on Swale airfield at 22.27hrs. The crew released their load from 13,200 feet at 01.32hrs on to target markers and returned to base, landing at Skipton on Swale at 04.57hrs. The crew then taxied the aircraft back to a dispersal, shut down the engines and went to bed. The crew of 433 Squadron Halifax LV967 flew the same sortie and landed at 04.54hrs, taxied back to their dispersal site and also shut it down and went to bed.

Later that morning, at 11.10hrs during inspections, it was noticed that LV967 had a damaged starboard wing tip and rudder while MZ284 had a damaged port wing tip. It was assumed that a minor collision had occurred at around 05.00hrs after both aircraft had landed and were taxying to or were at their dispersal points.

Pilot - F/O Henry William Novick RCAF (J/25973).

Navigator - F/O L Rapkin RCAF (J/27420).

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt H C McMullen RCAF (R/171605).

Bomb Aimer - F/Sgt C C Miles RCAF (R/93804).

Air Gunner - Sgt D L Johnston RCAF (R/123036).

Flight Engineer - Sgt W T Piper RAF (573332)

Air Gunner - Sgt W Soroko RCAF (R/151462).