Halifax NP689 at East Moor airfield.
During the afternoon of 18th September 1944 this 432 Squadron aircraft was flown on a combined training flight involving air to air firing exercise and a practice bombing exercise. On the return to land at East Moor at 14.14hrs the landing was heavy and tail first and, following a bounce, it broke the tail wheel assembly. The aircraft then swung off the runway and further damage to the tail resulted.
Not connected to this incident but this date also saw a faulty 1,000 lb bomb detonated on the edge of the airfield which was watched by a number of officers who (the station orb records) "at the appropriate moment disposed themselves quite completely under the shelter of pre-selected tree trunks". At the same time as this bomb was being detonated two other bombs fell off a lorry near the main gate causing "a little excitement".
Pilot - Sgt Leslie Brine Stedman RCAF (R/169611).
Halifax NP689's nose art.
Halifax NP689 was built to contract ACFT/1688/C4/C by Handley Page Ltd, at Radlett and was taken on charge by 432 Squadron on 23rd June 1944. It sustained Cat.Ac/FB damage at East Moor on 18th September 1944 which saw it repaired on site. Repair was completed by 9th October 1944 and it was returned to 432 Squadron. The aircraft was eventually lost on it's eighty third operational flight when it failed to return from a trip to Hagan on 15th March 1945. Cat.E(m) damage was recorded on the paperwork and it was struck off charge.