On 28 June 1944, W/O H. G. McVeigh was piloting Halifax "C for Charlie" which was attacked four times by German fighters. He managed to evade the first three attacks by utilizing an evasive tactic known as a "corkscrew", the standard manouever flown by pilots when their bomber was being attacked by a night fighter. However the aircraft was finally hit while corkscrewing for a fourth time. At 13,000 feet the bomber went into a tight spin and the crew was ordered to bail out. Two of the aircrew left the spinning aircraft before the pilot managed to regain control and level off at 6,000 feet. When McVeigh and crew received a new Halifax, the flight engineer, Rob Hood, painted its nose with the most appropriate name "Corkscrew Charlie" and a cartoon of pilot McVeigh having a few drinks at the local pub.