Halifax L9495 at Linton on Ouse airfield.
On 17th July 1941 this 35 Squadron aircraft had been used to transport the Commander in Chief of Bomber Command, AVM Charles Peirse, from Linton on Ouse up to Middleton St. George airfield. On the return to Linton on Ouse the undercarriage failed to lower properly, on landing the undercarriage collapsed and damage to the aircraft resulted. The aircraft almost certainly struck Halifax L9490 (which was also damaged on the same date).
Pilot - S/Ldr James Brian Tait DSO, DFC and Bar, RAF (33291).
Crew - Names unknown.
This is another incident where very little is known about the accident but far more is known about the pilot, in this case the pilot
became probably the most decorated gentleman in the whole of the British Commonwealth during the War. He became G/C Tait DSO and 3 Bars, DFC and Bar, ADC.
James Tait was born in December 1916 in Manchester. "Willie" Tait (as he became known) was trained at Cranwell and was commissioned as P/O on 1st August 1936 and was posted to 51 Squadron to fly Whitleys. He rose to F/O on 1st February 1938. He was awarded the DFC with 51 Squadron in late 1939-early 1940 and rose to be 51 Squadron's commanding officer by the end of 1940. On 10th February 1941 he led a paratroop dropping flight to Italy from Malta and was awarded the DSO for his actions on this. He was posted to 35 Squadron in February 1941 and was awarded the Bar to DFC on 30th June 1941 for leading a daylight raid on Kiel, he was later MiD in September 1941. After completing a further Tour he was rested from Ops and posted to an OTU. In mid-1942 he was posted to command 78 Squadron and was MiD again during this period. He was then given a desk job as base operations commander at Waddington in March 1944 but later returned to operational flying as Master Bomber with No.5 Group in May 1944 for which he was awarded the 2nd Bar to the DSO. In July 1944 he took over command of 617 Squadron and was awarded the Bar to the DFC for a raid on the Kembs Dam later that summer. In September 1944 he led 617 Squadron in a series of attacks to sink the Tirpitz ship. Having completed 101 operational flights he was grounded in December 1944 and was recommended for the Victoria Cross for "sustained gallantry" over his five years of operational flying, the VC was turned down but he was awarded the 3rd Bar to the DSO (Gazetted on 5th January 1945), the citation reads.."this officer has displayed conspicuous bravery and extreme devotion to duty in the face of the enemy, constantly exemplified over a long period of operational flying. He has completed a very large number of sorties, many of them against most dangerous
and difficult targets and the successes obtained are a magnificent tribute to his brilliant leadership and unsurpassed skill. On three
occasions Wing Commander Tait has led attacks on the German battleship "Tirpitz". The last occasion was on the 12th November 1944.
The vessel was lying at Tromso. Visibility was good as Wing Commander Tait led his squadron in to the attack. In spite of continuous
fire from 3 ships and from land batteries, the attack was pressed home. The first bomb, dropped by Wing Commander Tait, hit the Tirpitz.
Another hit was obtained almost immediately and another 12,000 lb. bomb fell close alongside. The battleship caught fire and smoke
poured from her. Finally she capsized. By his outstanding skill and leadership Wing Commander Tait played a prominent part in the
success of this operation. This officer has completed 98 sorties and throughout has set an example of a high order."
Only one other airman was awarded 3 Bars to the DSO.
Tait saw post-War servive rising again to G/Cpt in 1953. In 1959 he was appointed ADC to The Queen and he retired from the RAF in 1964. After
a career in civilian life he retired in 1981 and died in August 2007.
Halifax L9495 was built to contract 692649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was allotted to 24 MU on 11th December 1940. On 16th January 1941 it was allotted to Handley Page Ltd. D.G.R.D. but was not received by them until 6th February 1941. It remained with Handley Page for a month and was taken on charge by 35 Squadron at Linton on Ouse on 16th March 1941. As a result of the mishap at Linton on Ouse on 17th July 1941 Cat.E/FA was the damage assessment. It was struck off charge on 23rd July 1941. Between the middle of March 1941 and this incident it had amassed just short of 100 hours total flying time.
