Halifax L9500 damaged by flak, returned to Linton on Ouse airfield.
On the night of 19th / 20th July 1941 this 35 Squadron aircraft was being flown on an operational flight to bomb Hannover and left base of Linton on Ouse at 23.06hrs. The aircraft was damaged in the fuselage by flak over Germany. The crew were able to make a safe landing at base of Linton on Ouse at 04.30hrs.
Pilot - Acting F/O Peter Stanley James RAFVR (83276).
Second Pilot - Sgt John Alexander Barclay Milne RAFVR (1052513).
Observer - Sgt Kenneth Randolph Sewell RAFVR (751350).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt John Johnston Rogers RAFVR (966861).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt John Alfred Arthur Cox RAF (648868).
Air Gunner - Sgt Mark Antony Sachs RAF (519349).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Howard Torrens McQuigg RAF (575079).
On the night of 14th / 15th August Sgts Sewell, Cox and McQuigg and F/Sgt Rogers were flying in Halifax L9500 on Ops to Magdeburg
when the aircraft crashed in Germany with the loss of their then whole crew. They are buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
Peter James received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 4th August 1940. He was awarded the DFC for service with 35 Squadron, Gazetted on 24th October 1941. He survived the War and remained in the RAF until May 1966.
Mark Sachs was awarded the DFM for service with 35 Squadron, Gazetted on 2nd September 1941, for his actions in shooting down enemy aircraft on the attack on German battleship Scharnhorst on 24th July 1941. He received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 7th November 1941. He became 35 Squadron's Gunnery Officer on receiving his commission. He survived the war and remained in the RAF until 1967 when he "reverted to the retired list" on his own request and retaining the rank of S/Ldr.
Sgt Milne was posted from 58 Squadron to 35 Squadron on 8th July 1941 and back to 58 Squadron on 29th July 1941. He later received a commission and survived the War.
Halifax L9500 was built to contract 492649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was awaiting collection on 27th December 1940. It was allotted to 8 MU on 1st January 1941 and was then allotted to 35 Squadron on 17th February 1935. It was taken on charge by 35 Squadron at Linton on Ouse on 12th March 1941. As a result of the battle damage on 19th / 20th July 1941 Cat.A/FB damage was probably the assessment but the incident does not appear on it's AM Form 78. Cat.E(m) damage was recorded when it failed to return from Ops to Magdeburg on 14th / 15th August 1941 with the then crew all being killed. It was struck off charge on 16th August 1941.