Halifax L9493 near Linton on Ouse.

In the early hours of 16th April 1941 this 35 Squadron aircraft had limped back to Yorkshire following an operational flight to Kiel, Germany with one engine out of action and it's undercarriage hanging down after being struck by flak. At around 05.00hrs the aircraft was in the circuit at Linton on Ouse awaiting their turn to land when the remaining three engines stopped. The aircraft could not land because an enemy aircraft was reported in the locality and the airfield landing lights were put out. Flying in total darkness the pilot was attempting a glide landing but hit an oak tree, crashed and broke up near Linton Woods, to the east of Linton on Ouse. An investigation found that the fuel cocks were mis-managed and the fuel had been allowed to run dry in the selected tanks. The 35 Squadron ORB gives the location as being near Tollerton.

Pilot - Sgt Wallace Ivor Lashbrook RAF (563198).

Second Pilot - Sgt Alfred Ronald Robbins RAFVR (754051).

Navigator - Sgt Ronald Ernest Hewlett RAFVR (746881). Slightly injured.

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Ronald Leslie Somerville RAFVR (970048).

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Ronald Charles Andrew Muir RAF (643697).

Air Gunner? - Sgt William Broadbent RAFVR (1113924). Slightly injured.

Flight Engineer - Sgt Frank Stewart RAF (566943).

Sgt Stewart was Mentioned in Despatches on 1st January 1941. He was killed with 35 Squadron on 12th June 1943.
Ronald Somerville had earlier served with 10 Squadron and survived a number of bale-outs and Whitley crashes. He was later posted to 159 Squadron but was sadly killed on 19th July 1942. He is buried in Khayat Beach War Cemetery, Israel and was twenty two years old.
Sgt Hewlett was later commissioned and would received the DFC.
Sgt Muir was later posted to 90 Squadron and was killed when Fortress AN534 crashed near Corby on 28th July 1941.
Alfred Robbins had earlier served with 10 Squadron and was later posted to 58 Squadron. As F/Sgt on 10th / 11th October 1941 he was flying Ops to Essen in Whitley Z9154 and failed to return. The aircraft was probably shot down by an emeny night-fighter off Holland. His body was recovered and he is buried in Bergen-Op-Zoom War Cemetery, Holland. He was twenty one years old.
Wallace "Wally" Lashbrook was born on 3rd January 1913 and had joined the RAF way back in 1929 as an aircraft apprentice. He trained at Halton from 1929 to 1931. He was awarded the DFM and was Gazetted two days after the incident detailed above. The DFM was awarded for service with 51 Squadron, probably for completing a Tour. He was commissioned (45895) on 27th May 1941 and after a period with 35 Squadron was posted to 102 Squadron, here he was awarded the DFC on 23rd July 1943. As S/Ldr he was pilot of Halifax HR663 on 17th April 1943 and was returning from Ops to Plzen when his aircraft was attacked by a night fighter, the crew abandoned the aircraft and were able to escape capture via the "Comet" line and return to the UK. He should have been aboard the BOAC aircraft Flight 777, which was a believed to have been a German assassination attempt on Churchill's life but Churchill was not on board when the aircraft crashed into the Bay of Biscay killing a number of people. Wally Lashbrook was turned away at the last moment as the aircraft was full. As S/Ldr he was awarded the AFC on 14th June 1945. He continued his RAF service until he relinquished his commission as W/Co Lashbrook DFC AFC DFM on 1st April 1953. He was also awarded the MBE. As of 2002 he was living in Prestwick, Scotland. He died in June 2017 aged 104.
Halifax L9493 was built to contract 692649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was awaiting collection by 24 MU on 12th November 1940. It was allotted to 24 MU on 24th November 1940 and was received by them on 12th January 1941. The aircraft was taken on charge by 35 Squadron at Linton on Ouse on 1st February 1941. On 10th March 1941 it sustained battle damage assessed as being Cat.A/FB which saw it repaired on site. On 16th April 1941 to crashed near Linton on Ouse on return from an operational flight after sustaining battle damage. Cat.E2/FB damage was the damage assessment that saw it struck off charge on 1st May 1941.

Back to monthly table.