Halifax L9493 damaged by flak, returned to Linton on Ouse.

On the night of 10th / 11th March 1941 the first ever operational flight involving Halifax aircraft was carried out on Le Havre by 35 Squadron. This aircraft took off from Linton on Ouse at 19.12hrs, the target was initially covered in cloud but after a short over the target area the cloud cleared and this aircraft bombed from 11,000 feet though the result of the attack could not be seen. The aircraft was damaged just before releasing the bombs by a close flak burst near the port side of the aircraft. The navigator was injured in the left leg, at this stage there was no bomb aimer in 35 Squadron Halifaxes and the navigator was responsible for aiming and releasing the bomb load, he remained at his post and carried out his duties. The flak burst caused further damage to the aircraft resulting in the starboard inner engine being feathered after overheating because of the radiator was damaged and the hydraulics on the starboard undercarriage also failed and it lowered itself. The pilot was able to effect a safe landing at Linton on Ouse at 00.35hrs but with only one leg properly locked down. The injured airman was taken to York Military Hospital.

35 Squadron lost their first Halifax on this night when Halifax L9489 was shot down by a British fighter over Surrey with the deaths of many of the crew.

Pilot - F/O Richard Vernon Warren DFC RAF (70881).

Second Pilot - Sgt Stanley Desmond Greaves RAFVR (754271). Of Bradford, Yorkshire.

Navigator / Air Bomber - Sgt Clement Watt Wilson RAF (580844). Injured knee.

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Douglas Peter Hogg RAF (631203).

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

Flight Engineer / Air Gunner - Sgt Gordon Herbert Frank Ogden RAF (569526).

Clement Wilson would recover from his injuries and return to active service. He later received a commission and also the DFC for service with 70 Squadron in 1944. He died in 1992.
Richard Warren was possibly born in the Sturminster district of Dorset in 1912. In the mid-1930s he served in the RAF Reserve and received his commission to Acting P/O on probation on an unknown date probably in 1937 or 1938. He relinquished this commission on being granted a short service commission in the RAF as P/O on probation on 30th October 1938, he was later confirmed as P/O on 30th October 1939 and promoted to F/O on 30th July 1940. He was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 22nd October 1940, though no citation for his award has been located. On 30th July 1941 he was promoted to F/Lt (war subs). He transferred to the Admin and Special Duties Branch of the RAFO on 30th October 1942 and was retained on the Active Service list but relinquished his commission on account of ill health on 3rd October 1944, retaining the rank of S/Ldr. He probably served with both 10 Squadron and 78 Squadron in 1940 as someone with the same name was involved in a minor mishap to Whitley P4964 at Dishforth on 19th May 1940. While stationed in Yorkshire he married in 1940. Following this incident on 11th March 1941, Warren, Greaves and Hogg flew together on 35 Squadron's next operational flight on the night of 12th / 13th March 1941 to Hamburg and returned without incident.

F/Sgt Stanley Greaves (pictured above) and Sgt Ogden took part in the daylight attack on the German ship "Scharnhorst" at La Pallice on 24th July 1941 in Halifax L9512 and damaged it, however the aircraft was badly damaged by flak and later damaged by an Me109. The crew abandoned the aircraft over the French coast but survived and saw out the war as PoWs. Stan Greaves was awarded the DFM for his actions on this night after the War, the award Gazetted on 29th December 1947 and the citation records his.. "Marked display of determination and coolness in pressing home a successful attack on the German battleship Scharnhorst on July 24th, 1941, in the face of considerable anti-aircraft and fighter opposition." Two other members of his then crew were Mentioned in Despatches for their actions. Sgt Ogden had been injured in the attack.

Flight Magazine gives more details of the incident. "F/Sgt Greaves served as a pilot with Nos. 58 and 35 Squadrons from October 1940, until July 1941, when he was taken prisoner after being forced to abandon his aircraft near La Pallice. On July 24th, 1941, he was captain of an aircraft which formed part of a force detailed to attack the enemy battleship Scharnhorst at La Pallice. During the run-up to the target, very heavy anti aircraft fire was encountered and F/Sgt Greaves's aircraft was repeatedly attacked by enemy fighters. In spite of this the attack was successfully pressed home and the bomb aimer has stated that the target was very steady in the sight when the bombs were released. During the approach to the target the rear gunner claims to have shot down one enemy aircraft and to have badly damaged another. One direct hit which has been accredited to F/Sgt Greaves was registered on the Scharnhorst during the attack. After the bombs had been dropped, the aircraft was subject to further attacks by enemy fighters and was hit several times. Four members of the crew were wounded and three of the engines were set on fire. Shortly afterwards, F/Sgt Greaves gave orders to abandon the aircraft which exploded."

Forty years later the veterans returned to Linton on Ouse in a Piper Lance aircraft to complete their flight. Stan Greaves died in April 2006 and his ashes were scattered at Linton on Ouse. Gordon Ogden was one of the first Halifax flight engineers, he was a fitter with 35 Squadron who was selected to re-train as a flight engineer in early 1941 qualifying on 7th February 1941. He died in June 1995.

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.
Douglas Hogg was probably born in Norwich in 1918. Sgt Hogg was later awarded the DFM for service with 35 Squadron, the citation Gazetted on 25th July 1941 was a joint one with his then pilot and reads.. "In June, 1941, Flying Officer Owen and Sergeant Hogg were the captain and wireless operator/air gunner respectively of an aircraft which participated in a daylight attack on Kiel. After successfully bombing his objective, Flying Officer Owen's aircraft was attacked by four enemy fighters whilst attempting to regain formation with his leader. The aircraft was repeatedly hit the starboard engine and the wireless were put out of action and the beam gunner killed. Sergeant Hogg coolly returning fire was instrumental in keeping the fighters at long range which enabled his captain to manoeuvre his aircraft and reach cloud cover. Sergeant Hogg thereupon skilfully repaired the wireless set reconnecting twenty-five leads with spare wire. Although one engine had ceased to function Flying Officer Owen flew safely back to base. Throughout, this officer displayed exceptional skill and courage and was ably assisted by the coolness and ability of Sergeant Hogg." He received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 27th August 1942 (49999), he was promoted to F/O on probation (war subs) on 27th February 1943 and later to F/Lt (war subs) on 27th August 1944. He married in York in 1943. After the War he relinquished his commission on the grounds of ill health on 26th June 1946. He remained in York where he died in 1979.
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.

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