Halifax at Linton on Ouse (enemy action)
The night of 11th/12th of May 1941 was a clear moon-lit night, and the North-East of England suffered a large attack by enemy aircraft. At least twelve civilians were
killed in Middlesbrough and County Hall in Northallerton was damaged. Linton on Ouse airfield was attacked by possibly only three enemy
aircraft at 01.45hrs, the hangers were bombed which damaged one 35 Squadron Halifax but its identity is not yet known. Other aircraft were disoersed around the airfield. This aircraft sustained
damage to its mainplane while parked in the hanger. Also connected to this bombing and resulting fire was the sad loss of some thirteen
RAF personnel at Linton on Ouse as a reuslt of the attack. While some must have been killed in the initial attack others are known to be died
while trying to put the fire out. Although I have not found any extra details there must have been other who where injured, but not fatally.
Every available person on the airfield was called to assist in putting the fires out, there must have been bravery awards issued but no detail have been found either. Commended in Station records were Sgt Saunders and LAC McLeod for "exceptional courage and initive whilst under fire".
Those killed were:
Station Commander, Linton on Ouse - G/C Fredderick M F Garraway RAF OBE (04016). Commanding fire fighting operations.
58 Sqn - Sgt George Balmforth RAF (544600), aged 29, of Westport, Co. Mayo, Irish Republic. Buried Newton on Ouse churchyard, Yorkshire.
58 Sqn - F/Sgt Victor S Dodd RAFVR (940286), aged 20, of Coventry. Buried Stoke (St Michael) Churchyard, Warks.
58 Sqn - AC1 Gordon I Eggleton RAFVR (914938), aged 21, of Ryde. Buried Ryde Borough Cemetery, Isle of Wight.
58 Sqn - Sgt John Kay RAF (647782), aged 19, of West Cornforth. Buried Cornforth Churchyard, Durham.
58 Sqn - Sgt Edwin H W Kemp RAFVR (755825), aged 28, of ? Buried Newton on Ouse churchyard, Yorkshire.
Obs (58 Sqn) - Sgt Reginald D Kirby RAFVR (759233), aged 32, of Gorleston, Great Yarmouth. Buried Gorleston Cemetery, Great Garmouth, Norfolk.
58 Sqn - AC2 Harold Lackey RAF (1155594), aged 25, of ? Buried Shirley churchyard, Solihull, Warks.
35 Sqn - Cpl Kenneth H Marloth RAF (620923), aged 21, of Tooting, Surrey. Buried Newton on Ouse churchyard, Yorkshire. Died of injuries.
58 Sqn - AC1 Kenneth H Moody RAFVR (923174), aged 28, of Landford, Wiltshire. Buried Newton on Ouse churchyard, Yorkshire.
58 Sqn - Sgt William D Weir RAFVR (967309), aged 21, of Swansea. Buried Oystermouth Cemetery, Swansea, Wales.
35 Sqn - AC2 Hector Meeson RAFVR (1258724), aged 19, of Bush Hill Park, Enfield. Buried Edmonton Cemetery, Middlesex. Died York Hospital of injuries.
35 Sqn - AC2 Arthur Dale RAFVR (1206638), aged ? of Saltley, Birmingham. Buried Witton Cemetery, Birmingham. Died of injuries on 15th May 1941.
The graves of five of those killed as a result of the raid on Linton on Ouse and buried at Newton on Ouse churchyard.
Garraway was awarded the OBE in June 1935. He was MiD (Gazetted on 20th November 1925) for distinguished service
in the RAF in Waziristan in March 1925. Garraway was made G/C on 1st December 1940 and was Linton on Ouse
station commander at the time of his death and had only been in the post for five days. A hospitality room
at the base is now named in his honour. His son P/O Derek Garraway was killed with 78 Squadron on 27th
April 1944 flying as air bomber in Halifax LV873. He was 21 years old.
Sgt Kirby had survived the crash landing of Whitley T4207 at the dummy airfield at Sutton Bank on 3rd December 1940 detailed on this website in the North Yorkshire Moors section.