Whitley N1438 damaged by flak, returned to Linton on Ouse airfield.
On the night 20th / 21st July 1940 the crew of this 58 Squadron aircraft were tasked with bombing Dusseldorf, the aircraft sustained flak damage but the pilot
was able to return to Linton on Ouse and land safely at 05.15hrs.
Pilot - P/O Leslie Crooks RAF (44054), of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire.
? - P/O O'Duffy.
? - Sgt Parkes (possibly Sgt Frank Harold Parks RAF (581158)).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt William Charles Browne Jesse RAF (633777).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Graham Royston Briggs RAF (641864)
Leslie Crooks trained at Halton and would be granted a commission on 20th June 1940, but back dated to 25th April 1940, as P/O on probation. He rose to F/O on 20th June 1941,
F/Lt on 13th February 1941 and S/Ldr on 15th May 1943. P/O Crooks had a lucky escape on the night of 10th / 11th August 1940 when he crashed Whitley N1436 on landing at Hemswell
when the aircraft ran short of fuel on return from ops to Frankfurt. For service in completing a Tour with 58 Squadron he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 11th February 1941 with his rank
as Acting F/Lt at the time, no citation for the DFC has been found. For his efforts in bringing Wellington HE867 back to the UK in April 1943 the pilot, Wing Commander Crooks, was awarded the DSO, Gazetted on 28th May 1943. The citation for this reads.. "This officer is an ideal leader, whose ability and untiring efforts have been reflected in the high standard of efficiency of his squadron. His
courage and skill were admirably demonstrated during a recent attack on Duisburg. When
approaching the target his aircraft was raked by cannon fire from an enemy fighter. Wing Commander
Crooks skilfully evaded the attacker but his aircraft had sustained much damage.
Although one aileron and half the port tail plane had been shot away, while the hydraulic and
electrical systems were rendered inoperative, Wing Commander Crooks flew the bomber back to this
country. Unfortunately, it was impossible to effect a safe landing but, when the crew were
forced to abandon aircraft, all descended safely. In the face of heavy odds, Wing Commander
Crooks set an example worthy of high praise." Part of the citation reads "an ideal leader whose ability and untiring efforts
were reflected in the high standard of efficiency of his squadron".
Only months after the above incident at Stonegrave W/Co Crooks was to be killed on 18th August 1943 when Lancaster DS681
crashed near Greifswald in Germany after a secret mission to bomb a experimental science station at Peenemunde in the Baltic. He
is buried in Berlin War Cemetery. At his death W/C Crooks had already completed one tour of operations (with 58 Squadron)
and was on the ninth flight of his second tour.
Whitley N1438 was built to contract 75147/38 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at the Baginton factory and was awaiting collection on 4th December 1939. It was flown to
an MU storage facility where it remained until being issued to 58 Squadron based at Linton on Ouse in March 1940 when the unit began converting from Whitley
MkIII's to MkV's. Cat.M/FB damage was recorded following the flak damage as detailed above and it was repaired on site and returned to the unit. The aircraft was
transferred to 19 OTU at Kinloss in 1941 and later served with 10 OTU at Abingdon before returning to 19 OTU at Kinloss. It was struck off charge as a time-expired
airframe on 31st December 1943 and broken up and returned to produce.
William Jesse was awarded the DFM for service with 58 Squadron, Gazetted on 22nd November 1940. He was killed in the crash of Halifax L9487 at Baldersby St.James on 13th January 1941
with 35 Squadron. He is buried Dishforth Cemetery, Yorkshire. This accident was the first fatal Halifax flying accident in Yorkshire.
Graham Briggs was awarded the DFM for service with 58 Squadron, Gazetted on 9th May 1941.
