Canadian-built Lancaster KB832 was one of fourteen 434 Squadron aircraft ordered to take off from RCAF Croft to attack the railyards in the town of Hildesheim on the morning of March 22 1945.

'F for Freddie' was to be the eighth airplane of the squadron to take off. As it rolled down the runway, a slight crosswind caught the bomber and it veered to port. Pilot F/O Horace Payne compensated but the aircraft then veered violently to starboard. After leaving the runway at a 90 degree angle, the undercarriage collapsed and the aircraft stopped abruptly.

Fire broke out between the port engines and below the port wing. The crew scrambled out of the bomber and were picked up by the Croft fire section. The remaining aircraft were unable to take off and taxied away from the area. Given the load of high explosives onboard the Lancaster, the base was immediately evacuated of all personnel except for the firefighters.

37 minutes later, the 4000 pound 'Cookie' blockbuster, high-explosive bomb detonated. 'F for Freddie' was completely destroyed, aircraft parts were scattered across the airfield and surrounding fields, and a very large crater was created.

Following the explosion, air-gunner Sgt. William Archie McLean and most other station personnel were ordered to pick up all the debris from the airfield. Sgt. McLean kept a small piece of KB832 as a souvenir and his family donated it to the museum where it is on display.