Halifax at Linton on Ouse airfield.

On the night of 8/9th July 1941 the crew of this aircraft were tasked with bombing the I G Farben Leuna synthetic oil plant at Merseberg. Over the target the aircraft was caught in search lights, the pilot was able to evade the flak bursts but the aircraft was later attacked by an enemy night-fighter which damaged the aircraft and injured the pilot and the flight engineer. Dispite being wounded the pilot was able to make a safe landing at Linton on Ouse airfield without further damage and the more seriously injured flight engineer received medical attention.

Pilot S/Ldr Richard "Bob" Bickford DFC RAF (37462), slightly injured.

FEng - Sgt K R F Kenworthy RAF (569378), injured.

Rest of crew - Names unknown.

C-Flight of 35 Squadron formed part of the new 76 Squadron and both men were posted to 76 Squadron soon after this incident. S/Ldr Bickford was to be killed flying Halifax L9518 with 76 Squadron on 29th August 1941. His aircraft ran out of fuel over Pocklington and after abandoning the aircraft his parachute fouled the tailed of the aircraft and he was dragged down with the aircraft. This loss is detailed in full on this website.

Sgt Kenworthy was flying in Halifax L9531 on 12/13th August 1941, the aircraft was shot down over Germany and he saw out the war as a PoW.