On the night of 24th / 25th May 1940 the crew of this 58 Squadron aircraft were tasked with attacking road and rail communications at La Capelle. This aircraft was hit by flak in one of the propellers but the pilot was able to return safely to Linton on Ouse and land without further incident at 04.45hrs.
Pilot - Acting S/Ldr John Stuart Bartlett RAF (34037), of South Kensington, London.
Second Pilot - Sgt Denis Beach Hopes RAFVR (741881), of Bristol.
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Leonard Isherwood RAF (550470), of Stockton Heath, Cheshire.
? - Cpl Urwin.
? - Cpl Wood.
John Bartlett was probably born in Hackney, London in 1911. He received a commission around 1933 and as Acting P/O he flew with 101 Squadron in 1934. He
rose to F/O on 24th September 1935 and flew with 607 Squadron in 1936. He rose to F/Lt on 24th September 1937 but he transferred to the Reserve on 24th March
1939 after completing a period of service in the RAF as stated in the terms of his Short Service Commission. He later transferred back to the RAF on an unknown
date, probably after War was declared. On the night of 12th / 13th June 1940 he was again flying Whitley N1427 on Ops and the aircraft was hit by flak, he was able
to effect a safe landing at Upper Heyford on the return to England. Part of his crew on this night were P/O Buist as second pilot and Tommy Wood as his rear
gunner. Acting S/Ldr Bartlett was awarded the DFC for service with 58 Squadron on 22nd November 1940 but no citation for his award has been found. He rose
to S/Ldr (temporary) on 1st December 1940 and it seems likely he rose to an Acting or Temporary rank of Wing Commander in 1941. W/C Bartlett died of wounds
sustained on 22nd August 1941 and his death is registered in North Walsham, Norfolk. He is buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery and was twenty nine years
old. At the time of his death he was serving with 255 Squadron. 255 Squadron were based at Hibaldstow, Lincolshire at the time.
Sgt Hopes and Sgt Isherwood were flying in Whitley N1424 together on 11th July 1940 when the aircraft crashed in Belgium. They are buried in Schoonselhof
Cemetery, Belgium. Denis Hopes was 25 years old which Len Isherwood was five years younger.
Whitley N1427 was built to contract 75147/38 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 14th November 1939. It was flown to MU
storage and was later issued to 58 Squadron in March 1940 who were based at Boscombe Down who were converting to Whitley MkV's at the time. It then moved with
this unit to Linton on Ouse on 14th February 1940. Cat.M/FB damage was recorded following the flak damage as detailed above and it was repaired on site and
returned to the unit. On 13th June 1940 it was again hit by flak on Ops to Amiens and Cat.M/FB damage was again recorded with the same pilot being involved,
the aircraft landed at Upper Heyford so the incident is not featured on its own webpage here. Again it was repaired at Linton on Ouse but was lost (with
Cat.W/FB damage recorded) on 3rd September 1940 on ops to Genoa. The aircraft ran out of fuel on the return and was ditched in the English Channel, off
Margate, at 06.20hrs. S/Ldr Bartlett and his crew rowed ashore in the dinghy.
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