Halifax NA499 damaged in the air, landed at Croft airfield.
On the night of 15th / 16th September 1944 this 431 Squadron aircraft was used to fly an operational flight to bomb Kiel and took off from Croft airfield at 21.59hrs. The crew released their bomb load onto the target area at 01.16hrs from 18,000 feet. While over the general area of the target the aircraft was struck by what the crew must have believed was flak, there is an AM Form 1180 for this incident that states it was hit by falling incendiaries released by a higher flying aircraft. Perspex was shattered, and the fuselage and tailplane were damaged. Despite the damage the crew flew the aircraft back to Croft and landed safely at 04.17hrs.
The pilot was recommendation for a DFC was drafted on 5th October 1944 stating the damage was due to flak on 15th September 1944. The recommendation (as sourced by historian Hugh Halliday) states.. "This officer, a captain of aircraft, has successfully led his crew on 26 operational sorties against the enemy, including such heavily defended targets as Kiel (twice), Bremen, Sterkrade and Hamburg. At all times this remarkable pilot, in a calm, quiet manner, pressed home the attack with complete disregard for the hazards encountered. On one occasion, on the 15th September 1944, while raiding Kiel, his aircraft was badly shot up by flak. His inspiring leadership in this instance, was a steadying influence upon his crew, thereby allowing the mission to be carried out and then, by Flying Officer Connor's expert airmanship, he safely piloted his badly damaged aircraft back to its home base. In recognition of such outstanding courage and devotion to duty, I strongly recommend that he be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross."
Pilot - F/O Donald Daubney Connor RCAF (J/86186).
Navigator - Sgt John Bruce Ogg RCAF (R/160288).
Air Bomber - F/Sgt James Taylor Patterson RCAF (R/162269).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt S A Grey RAFVR (1095553).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Raymond Conserdine Joiner RCAF (R/83644).
Air Gunner - Sgt J M Campbell RCAF (R/108160).
Air Gunner - F/Sgt Ray Bruce Page RCAF (R/188830).
On 23rd April 1944 Connor, Ogg, Patterson, Campbell and Page were sitting in 82 O.T.U. Wellington HE866 at Ossington airfield awaiting take off when Wellington HE528 taxied into the back of it. Sgt Campbell sustained injuries. Connor and Joiner were killed on 1st November 1944 flying Lancaster KB817 on Ops, while they died most of those named above were able to bale out and became PoWs.