Halifax MZ716 at Topcliffe airfield.
During the morning of 18th November 1944 this 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft was flown on a circuits and landings training flight at Topcliffe airfield. On take off at 10.00hrs the aircraft had begun to swing to starboard and while the take off was successful it was noticed that the trim of the aircraft did not match the adjuster in the cockpit. Nothing was done to change the aircraft's trim once in the air. At 10.15hrs the aircraft landed but began to swing off the runway when the crew reduced power to the engines. Ahead was another aircraft and fearing a collision the undercarriage was raised to stop the aircraft. The pupil pilot and his crew were posted to 408 Squadron on 11th December 1944.
Pilot (pupil) - F/Lt R H Fleming RCAF (J/21795).
Pilot (instructor) - F/O Edward Bruce Palmer DFC RCAF (J/86263).