Whitley N1490 at Linton on Ouse airfield.
During the night of 9th / 10th September 1940 this 78 Squadron crew were tasked with an operational flight to bomb Bremen, the aircraft was damaged by flak over the target but the pilot was able make the return to Yorkshire. Visibility over Yorkshire was poor when the aircraft was returning to base. The pilot appears to have mistaken Dishforth airfield beacon for Linton airfield beacon and made an approach to land at Linton on Ouse. At 02.30hrs the pilot realised that the aircraft was going to undershoot the landing so attempted to apply power to the engines but the starboard engine then failed. The aircraft continued to loose height and it landed 50-100 yards short of the flare path. The undercarriage then collapsed before it could be brought to a halt.
Pilot - F/O Clarence Sydney Robson RAF (41323).
Second Pilot - Acting Sub Lt Peter John Hoad RN.
Observer - Sgt Ronald Macauley Heyworth RAF (580871).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Albert Markland RAFVR (937420).
Air Gunner - Sgt Harold William Hawksley RAF (651570).
Ronnie Heyworth enlisted to train as an Air Observer prior to the out break of the war in April 1939 and on passing his training he initially assisted with the training of other recruits
before being transferred to 51 Squadron in May 1940 successfully taking part in the first raid Italian on Turin 11th / 12th June 1940. He later transferred to 78 Squadron in July 1940 but
was posted away in August 1940 to undertake an Astro navigation course, upon completion of this course he rejoined 78 Squadron in September 1940. I thank Mr Simon Lynton-Jenkins, nephew of
Ronnie Heyworth for contacting me in August 2012 and and kindly supplying additional information and the photograph of his uncle.
On 15th September 1940 F/O Robson and Sgt Heyworth were lost in Whitley N1478 failed to return from Ops, the aircraft probably crashed into the North Sea. Their bodies were never found.
P/O Robson was twenty two years old while Sgt Heyworth was only nineteen years old.
Sgt Albert Markland (pictured above) was awarded the DFM in 1941 (Gazetted 22nd August 1941) for service with 78 Squadron (no citation has been located). He was also awarded the DFC
(again no citation, nor a date located but it was around May 1944). He rose through the ranks and as Acting W/Co commanded 78 Squadron for which he was awarded the DSO (Gazetted 19th
September 1944). It was very rare for a wireless operator to command a squadron. The Citation for his DSO reads.. "Wing Commander Markland has completed many sorties on his second tour
of operations. He has displayed high powers of leadership, skill and determination, qualities which have been reflected in the operational efficiency of the squadron he commands."
Albert Markland received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 26th June 1941 (101028), he rose to F/O (war subs) on 26th June 1942, to F/Lt (war subs) on 1st January 1943
and to S/Ldr (war subs) on 10th July 1944 having been Mentioned in Despatches on 14th January 1944. He remained in the RAFVR until 1955 when, as S/Ldr he relinquished his commission on 31st
July 1955 but was allowed to retain the rank of Wing Commander.
Sub Lt Hoad was on attachment to the RAF from HMS Daedalus at the time of this incident. He was involved in a crash landing near Scarborough in Whitley N1486 towards the end of 1940.
He was sadly killed on 27th March 1941 flying Whitley Z6470 which failed to return from Ops. He and his crew were all killed and he is buried in Jonkerbos War Cemetery, he was twenty
two years old. He was Mentioned in Despatches after his death on 12th August 1941.
Harold Hawksley was later awarded the DFM for service with 156 Squadron, Gazetted on 20th April 1943. He was granted a commission on 29th February 1944 and received a Mention in Despatches on 14th June 1945.
The date of Clarence Robson's commission is not yet known but on 29th August 1939 he was confirmed in the rank of P/O from the rank of Acting P/O on probation. He rose to the rank
of F/O on 3rd September 1940.
Whitley N1490 was built to contract 75147/38 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 5th February 1940. After a short period of MU storage it was taken
on charge by 10 Squadron at Dishforth in March 1940 when the unit began converting from Mk.IV Whitley's to Mk.V's. On 15th July 1940 it transferred to 78 Squadron at Dishforth. It
sustained Cat.M/FB damage in the accident recorded above on 10th September 1940 and was repaired on site and returned to the unit with whom it continued to fly up to 12th February 1941.
On this date it was being flown on Ops to Bremen and on return was diverted north but crash landed at Hill House Farm, Newmilns, near Kilmarnock. Cat.W/FB damage was recorded but its
then crew escaped serious injury.