Whitley P4958 at Linton on Ouse airfield.
On the 2nd of December 1940 the crew of this aircraft were attempting to take off for Ops to Lorient when at 16.14rs it did not get airborne
and crashed at the end of the runway due to a lack of power
in the engines. The aircraft is believed to have ran across the Aldwark road and caught fire. The crew escaped before the bomb load exploded.
There are unconfirmed reports that five members of RAF ground crew were killed trying to remove the bomb load when it exploded.
Pilot - Sgt Charles A Smith RAFVR (742847), injured.
Rest of crew - Unknown
Possible 2nd Pilot - Sgt T A Brown RAF, injured.
The pilot, Sgt Smith, soon recovered from his injuries, he was sadly killed on 9th January 1941 flying Whitley T4203. The aircraft was shot down and crashed
in Holland sadly killing him and the other four on board.