Halifax W1241 at Leeming airfield.

On 19th November 1942 this 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft flown on a weather recce flight around the general area of Leeming airfield. Ten minutes after taking off the crew made an approach to land and lowered the undercarriage. The second pilot checked that the starboard undercarriage was lowered but the pilot and flight engineer did not check that the port one was down. The aircraft then landed at Leeming with the port undercarriage retracted and it sustained damage to the port wing.

Pilot - F/O Robert Thomas Langton DFM RAF (45973).

Second Pilot - Sgt B F Heintz RCAF (R/94987).

Flight Engineer - Name unknown.

Halifax W1241 was built to contract V.982938/39 by English Electric Ltd. at Samlesbury. It was taken on charge by 102 Squadron at Topcliffe on 3rd August 1942 and then moved to Pocklington with them a few days later. The aircraft last flew operationally with 102 Squadron on 7th November 1942. It was transferred to 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit at Leeming on 16th November 1942. As a result of the mishap on 19th November 1942 at Leeming minor Cat.Ac/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site. The aircraft was returned to 1659 H.C.U. on 14th January 1943. It continued to be used by them until 10th March 1943 when it crashed at Leeming. The damage was deemed unrepairable, Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage was the damage assessment that saw it struck off charge on 21st March 1943.
Robert Langton was probably born in Hull, Yorkshire in 1914. He received training in the RAF at Halton and qualified as a pilot. In the early days of the war before receiving a commission he flew Whitleys with 102 Squadron. On the night of 25th / 26th March 1940 the 102 Squadron Whitley he was flying was hit by flak but he was able to make a safe return and land at Driffield airfield. As a F/Sgt he was awarded the DFM for service with 102 Squadron, (Gazetted on 13th September 1940), no citation for the DFM has been located. He received a commission on 10th June 1941 being granted the rank of P/O on probation and received promotions to F/O on probation (war subs) on 1st April 1942 and F/Lt (war subs) on 1st April 1943 (though he could well have been in the rank of Acting F/Lt for some months prior to it being being confirmed). He was also promoted to S/Ldr (temporary) on 10th February 1943, S/Ldr (war subs) on 7th December 1943 and to Acting W/Co on an unknown date. He served as a flying instructor at a number of Units after his Tour with 102 Squadron. On 18th June 1943 the then Commanding Officer of 1659 CU had recommended him for an AFC after he had completed 1,090 hours instruction work in the CU's and HCU's at that date, but for whatever reason this initial recommendation did not come through into an award at that time. His work as Chief Flying Instructor at 1666 HCU at Wombleton was his longest posting. For this he was recommended for the DFC, AFC and OBE on 14th October 1944, the initial recommendation, as located by historian Hugh Halliday, written by his then Commanding Officer stated that..

"(Acting?) Wing Commander Langton has, by his initiative, drive and perseverance, shown himself to be an outstanding leader in the advancement of heavy conversion training within Bomber Command. He has so perfected the training on the ground and in the air at the unit on which he has been Chief Instructor since its inception, that it is now recognized as the model of that type of unit throughout the command. He has personally developed many exercises and training aids, the application of which have in no small way contributed to the marked degree in operational losses. He has personally demonstrated and incorprated into instructional training, the feasibility of flying with two engines on one side, including turns to port and starboard, and he has also demonstrated the simplicity of coping with engine cut outs on take off, all of which is demonstrated and practiced as part of conversion training. He has at all times given unsparingly of his time and boundless energy in the producing of such efficiency in crews, that he has greatly aided the operational units in the successful completion of their difficult tasks. It is strongly recommended that this officer's outstanding performance and ability be rewarded by the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross."

The Commanding Officer of No.61 Base added on 20th October 1944: "As Chief Instructor of 1666 HCU from the very beginning, Wing Commander Langton carried out his duties under difficult condition with unbounded energy and marked ability. His faculty for inspiring his staff with his own hard driving enthusiasm has raised the morale and efficiency of his unit to the standard in the group. Wing Commander Langton has 2,400 flying hours to his cred, many of them logged on instructional duties. This recommendation for the recognition of Wing Commander Langton's work by the award of the Air Force Cross has my strongest support." His award of the Air Force Cross was Gazetted on 1st January 1945, but after his death.

On 28th October 1944 he was flying Halifax MZ599 on Ops to Walcheren with 76 Squadron. The aircraft was hit by flak and crashed into water, sadly the whole crew were killed and their bodies not recovered. He is commemorated on the walls of the Runnymede Memorial. He was thirty years old. Technically he was a S/Ldr at the time of his death but an entry in the London Gazette after his death refers to him as being Acting W/C. He was also Mentioned in Despatches twice, once on 8th June 1944 and again after his death on 1st January 1945. He was also awarded the AFC after his death on 1st January 1945.

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