Halifax NP721 at East Moor airfield.
At 14.15hrs on 3rd September 1944 a practice bomb inside this 432 Squadron Halifax exploded while the aircraft was on the ground on a dispersal point on East Moor airfield. Unfortunately a wireless operator lost his hand as a result of the explosion and two others received serious burns. While none of the contempary records state as much it seems likely that the wireless operator picked up a practice bomb and it exploded. The airmen were members of the crew of F/O Robert Keith Card RCAF (J/85061) and he, with those declared as fit, completed their Tour on 15th September 1944. Anderson appears to have only sustained minor injuries. Drake and Todd were still in sick quarters or hospital so did not complete their tours then.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt Pascal Edwin Drake RCAF (R/182385). Lost hand and sustained other injuries.
Bomb Aimer - P/O Frank Gilmour Todd RCAF (J/27271). Minor burns.
Air Gunner - F/Sgt H S Anderson RCAF (R/223631). Burns.
Frank Todd was posted fit and back to 432 Squadron on 28th September 1944 but by that date his pilot Rober Card had finished his tour so he had no crew to rejoin. He was flying either his 34th or 35th operational sortie on 12th October 1944 with a different crew when Halifax NP738 was badly damaged by flak. Unfortunately the flak killed Frank Todd, injured teh flight engineer (nearly severing a hand) and damaged the aircraft. The pilot attempted to land at Woodbridge but flew into trees near the airfield and crashed. Further injuries resulted to other members of the crew. Frank Todd was buried at Brookwood Cemetery. For his actions in bringing the aircraft back to the UK the flight engineer was awarded the CGM and would subsequently loose the damaged hand.
Halifax NP721 was built to contract 1688/C4/C by Handley Page at Radlett and was delivered to 426 Squadron at Linton-on-Ouse on 25th July 1944 but this must have been a mistake as 426 Squadron were only was operating Halifax B.III's at the time. The aircraft was immediately transferred to 432 Squadron at East Moor, arriving on 30th July 1944, although the Form AM78 took some time to catch up as this first mentions 432 Squadron on 22nd August 1944. The aircraft suffered damage recorded as Cat.A(c)/FA on 6th August 1944. It was repaired on site and the repair was completed on 22nd August 1944. This being the date the AM78 states it was taken on charge by 432 Squadron. It was again damaged, this time suffering flak damage on 14th October 1944 during a day-light attack on Duisburg, it sustained flak damage to the port wing, holing two fuel tanks and an oil tank. It returned safely to East Moor and was repaired on site with repair being completed by 31st October 1944. It was destroyed not long after with Cat.E/Burnt damage recorded on 5th December 1944 when swung out of control on take off for Ops to Soest and crashed, caught fire and later exploded. It was struck off charge on 17th December 1944 once the paperwork was completed.