Whitley N1460 at Linton on Ouse airfield.
On the 17th April 1940 this aircraft ran off the end of the runway at Linton on Ouse at 21.00hrs
and one wheel sank into a deep rut causing the undercarriage to sustain damage, the aircraft was later repaired.
Pilot - Temp S/Ldr Kenneth B F Smith RAF (36042), of Brockenhurst, Hampshire. Uninjured.
Crew - Names unknown, uninjured.
The pilot was a graduate of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. The date of when he joined the RAF is not known or his early promotions but
he rose to F/Lt on 23rd July 1939 (seniority back dated to 1st July 1937), then
took a number of temporary promotions before being confirmed as S/Ldr in November 1942 but with the rank
again back-dated to 1st June 1940. He rose to Temporary W/C on 1st December 1941.
As Acting W/Co with 58 Squadron he was awarded the DSO on 23rd May 1941, the citation reads..
"This officer has been engaged in active
operations against the enemy over a long period. He participated in the first raid of
the war and, since then, he has taken part in numerous bombing missions over Germany
in addition to many convoy escorts. Throughout the whole period he has displayed
exceptional powers of leadership, courage and determination and has undoubtedly
contributed in a large measure to the operational efficiency of his squadron."
As W/C he was killed in action on 11th April 1943 as the pilot of Lancaster ED501 with 9 Squadron. The
aircraft crashed in Germany with the loss of the eight crew. He was the Commanding Officer of 9 Squadron at the time and
had been awarded the DSO on and was MiD twice (on 24th September 1941 and 11th June 1942).
Whitley N1460 was built to contract 75147/38 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 7th December 1939. It was
delivered to MU storage but the location not specified and was then issued to 58 Squadron at Linton on Ouse in March 1940. Cat.M/FA damage
was recorded after this incident detailed above, the aircraft was repaired on site and it was
returned to unit. It was lost on Ops to Castrop-Rauxel on 19th May 1940 when it crashed in Germany with the loss of the whole crew.