Whitley N1470 damaged by flak, returned to Linton on Ouse airfield.

On the night of 15th / 16th May 1940 this 58 Squadron aircraft was undertaking an operational flight to bomb Gelsenkirchen when the aircraft sustained flak damage to the tail just prior to arriving at the target area. The crew were able to return safely to Linton on Ouse and land without further damage being sustained at 03.05hrs.

Pilot - (Acting) S/Ldr Michael Hallam RAFVR (34195).

? - P/O John Richard James Rail RAF (40429).

? - Sgt Harvey. (Possibly Sgt Maxwell Ronald Harvey RAF (564681) awarded DFM 22-11-40).

? - LAC MacIntosh.

? - AC1 Stone (Possibly Harold Walter Stone RAF (631535) awarded DFM 22-11-40).

Michael Hallam was in the RAF as far back as 1934 when he was granted a commission as P/O on probation on 3rd March 1934. He flew with 7 Squadron in 1935 and was confirmed in the rank of P/O in the same year. He rose to F/O on 3rd November 1936 (and a posting to 78 Squadron at Dishforth early in 1937) and then rose to F/Lt on 3rd November 1938. He transferred to the RAF Reserve of Officers on 3rd April 1940. As Acting S/Ldr Hallam was awarded the DFC at the end of July 1940 for service with 58 Squadron. He rose to S/Ldr (temp) on 1st July 1940 (but notified later in September 1940) and to W/C (temp) on 1st March 1942. He survived the War and served in the Reserve until relinquishing his commission on 29th September 1956 retaining the rank of W/C.
Whitley N1470 was built to contract 75147/38 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 29th December 1939. It was first passed into MU storage until being issued to 58 Squadron at Linton on Ouse in March 1940 when the unit converted from Whitley MkIII's to MkV's. Following the damage detailed above on 16th May 1940 Cat.M/FB damage was recorded and the aircraft was repaired on site and soon returned to the unit. On 4th August 1940 it was slightly damaged while taxiing at Linton on Ouse and Cat.M damage was recorded, again it was repaired on site and returned to the unit. Later in the year on 24th September 1940 it crashed near Youlton, about a mile north of Linton on take off for Ops to Berlin with three of its then crew being killed.

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