Halifax NA631 at Tholthorpe airfield.
During the evening of 9th October 1944 this 420 Squadron aircraft was to have been flown on an operational flight to bomb Bochum. At 16.20hrs this aircraft and other aircraft appear to have been taxying around Tholthorpe airfield in preparation to taking off when a fuel bowser was driven onto the perimeter track ahead of Halifax NZ631. Something ahead of the bowser then made it's driver stop suddenly and aircraft behind was unable to stop in the distance between the two. The aircraft's starboard outer propeller and mainplane received damage as a result of the collision. The investigation found that the MT driver of the fuel bowser was wholly to blame for the incident as the vehicle should not have been driven on the perimeter track once the operational aircraft were moving prior to take off. The crew of Halifax NA631 appear to have quickly transferred to the reserve aircraft, Halifax MZ747 and took off at 17.14hrs.
Pilot - F/Lt Victor George Motherwell RCAF (J/7920).
Crew - Names unconfirmed.