Halifax NP736 at Croft airfield.
During the evening of 18th November 1944 this 432 Squadron aircraft was flown on an operational flight to bomb Munster and took off from East Moor airfield at 12.38hrs. The crew released their bomb load onto the target area from 17,500 feet at 15.04hrs, onto target marking flares owing to thick cloud over the target that prevented the crew from seeing the target. Owing to poor weather at East Moor returning 432 Squadron aircraft were diverted north to land with a number landing at Croft and this aircraft landed without incident at 18.24hrs. At 18.29hrs NP736 was taxying around Croft airfield when the crew decided it would be a good idea to cross the active runway. Halifax NP755 was landing at the same time as the aircraft progressed down the runway Halifax NP736 was taxied across it with various flying control staff signalling and ground marshalling staff attempting to get the crew of NP736 to stop. This was unsuccessful and a collision occurred. The crew of Halifax NP736 was deemed to blame.
Pilot - F/O Douglas Patterson Frost RCAF (J/86102).
Navigator - F/O Robert Henry Shearer RCAF (J/29530).
Air Bomber - P/O E J Harman RCAF (J/90226).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt D A Williams RCAF (R/182251).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Edward Tarleton RAFVR (2203500).
Air Gunner - F/Sgt Leonard Farrell RCAF (R/213417).
Air Gunner - F/Sgt Richard Edward Young RCAF (R/146488).
Halifax NP736 was built to contract ACFT/1688/C4/C by Handley Page Ltd at Radlett and was taken on charge by 432 Squadron at East Moor on 1st August 1944. As a result of battle damage on 28th August 1944 Cat.A/FB damage would have been the damage assessment. A repair on site was made at East Moor with repair complete by 6th September 1944. It was damaged by flak on 12th September 1944 with a Cat.A/FB damage assessment made. It was again repaired on site. On 18th November 1944 it collided with Halifax NP755 at Croft and sustained Cat.Ac/FB damage. It was again repaired on site at Croft and returned to 432 Squadron on 13th December 1944. 432 Squadron disbanded on 15th May 1945 and the aircraft was flown to 29 MU on 1st June 1945. It was later struck off charge and sold for scrap on 30th December 1949.