On 3 August 1944 42-96168 took off from Rivenhall to bomb railway installation at Courtalain, near Chateaudun in France.



The pilot, Captain Garretson was in flying in the lead position of the second box (group of four aircraft) of the formation. The formation encountered bad weather and while trying to avoid clouds Marauder 42-96169 struck the tail of 42-96168 sending the aircraft into a spin from which it could not recover.



The aircraft crashed on the railway tracks south east of Tuffe, killing all on board. The crash was so devastating it was impossible to identify the fallen individually, so they received a group burial.