Halifax MZ754 damaged in the air, landed at Skipton on Swale airfield.
On the night of 2nd / 3rd December 1944 this 424 Squadron aircraft was to be flown on an operational flight to bomb Hagen and took off from Skipton on Swale airfield at 17.42hrs. At 18.01hrs while this aircraft was circling to gain height and to allow the other 424 Squadron aircraft to get airborne a collision appears to have occurred with 424 Squadron Halifax NA206 at 7,000 feet. The AM Form 1180 for MZ754 states that NT206 was the other aircraft involved although the squadron records do not identify it. The pito head was torn off MZ754 so would have effected the air speed indicator in the cockpit. The nose perspex was also broken. The crew of MZ754 flew out to sea where the bomb load was jettisoned at 19.40hrs and the, despite the damage, flew back to base and landed safely at Skipton on Swale at 20.25hrs.
Pilot - F/O George Ernest Reynolds RCAF (J/35869).
Navigator - F/O Allister J MacDonald RCAF (J/38719).
Air Bomber - F/Sgt Alfred E Byers RCAF (R/203619).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Glen W Haslehurst RCAF (R/251660).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Frederick George Dargonne RAFVR (1897129).
Air Gunner - Sgt Robert William Craig RCAF (R/269243).
Air Gunner - Sgt Alfred James Horne RCAF (R/269129).