Halifax L9504 damaged by fighters, returned to Linton on Ouse airfield.
On the evening of 31st October 1941 the crew of this 35 Squadron aircraft were undertaking an operational flight to bomb Hamburg with a number of aircraft and crews from 35 Squadron. This specific aircraft took off from Linton on Ouse airfield at 17.59hrs. The aircraft was attacked by enemy aircraft and two of the crew sustained injuries. The crew made a safe return to base and landed at Linton on Ouse at 23.05hrs.
Pilot - F/O Basil Vernon Robinson RAFO (34089).
Second Pilot - Sgt Harry R Larson RCAF (R/60432).
Observer - P/O Alfred Abel RAFVR (65517). Wounded in left shoulder.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Norman Henry Hood RAFVR (976069).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt David John Maylott Howard RAFVR (916041).
Air Gunner - Sgt Haakon Rivedal RCAF (R/54388), of Iowa, USA. Wounded in the face.
Flight Engineer - Sgt John Norman Hindle RAF (620185). Injured.
Basil Robinson was awarded the DSO, DFC and Bar, and the AFC while in RAF service. His life and Air Force career is well documented on the internet. G/C Robinson
was killed on 24th August 1943 while serving with 35 Squadron PFF and is buried in Berlin War Cemetery.
Alfred Abels received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 6th April 1941 and was promoted to F/O on 6th April 1942. He was awarded the DFC for service
with 35 Squadron, Gazetted on 29th May 1942. The citation reads.."Flying Officer Abels has participated in many successful sorties including two daylight attacks on the
German battleships which were at Brest. One night in April 1942, as the navigator of an aircraft detailed to attack the German naval base at Trondheim, he navigated the
aircraft safely over the North Sea and mountainous country of Northern Norway, and arrived over the target at the appointed time. The attack was made from a very low
level which necessitated the most accurate map reading. Flying Officer Abels, despite intense opposition, completed this duty most successfully. He has displayed courage
and skill of a high standard." He was later promoted to F/Lt on 3rd November 1942 and to acting S/Ldr on an unknown date. He was serving with 102 Squadron by October
1943 when he was made a PoW on 23rd October 1943 flying in Halifax HR911. He was later Mentioned in Despatches on 14th January 1944.
Halifax L9504 was built to contract 692649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was awaiting collection on 22nd January 1941. On 2nd February 1941 it was allotted to 8 MU at Little Rissington and on 17th February 1941 it was allocated to 35 Squadron at Linton on Ouse. The aircraft was taken on charge by 35 Squadron on 10th March 1941 at Linton on Ouse. As a result of being damaged by enemy action on the ground at Linton on Ouse on 12th May 1941 it was assessed as being Cat.A(c) damaged by 43 Group (D.A.). The aircraft was probably repaired at Linton on Ouse and was returned to 35 Squadron use there by 28th August 1941. On 8th September 1941 it was being flown on an operational flight when the crew took evasive action to avoid enemy activity. The rear gunner baled out believing the aircraft to be out of control but the pilot regained control and landed safely. No damage resulted. On 31st October 1941 minor Cat.A/FB damage resulted from battle damage. The aircraft was repaired on site and returned to 35 Squadron. On 21st February 1942 it was transferred to 102 Squadron Conversion Flight at Dalton and then moved to Topcliffe with them on 10th June 1942. On 7th August 1942 minor Cat.A/GA damage resulted when it taxied into two engine trestles at Topcliffe. It was again repaired on site but 102 Squadron C.F. was scheduled to move to Pocklington on 7th August 1942 so this aircraft followed once repaired later in the day. On 18th September 1942 it was again slightly damaged to Cat.A/GA status when it taxied into the back of Halifax W7807 at Pocklington. It was again repaired on site and returned to the Unit. On 23rd November 1942 102 Squadron Convserion Flight was absorbed into 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit (home station was Marston Moor) but continued to operate under the guise of 102 Sqn C.F. until 14th January 1943 when it was finally was taken on charge by 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit. They operated one of their flights at Pocklington so this aircraft probably remained there for much of this time. On 15th March 1943 it was transferred to 10 School of Technical Training at Kirkham, Lancashire as a Ground Instructional Airframe but the "M" serial number is not yet known. It is not listed on the AM Form 78.
Robinson, Abels and Hood were flying Halifax V9978 on 18th December 1941 when they ditched on return from Ops to Brest, this turned out to be only the second known successful ditching of a Halifax. All were rescued.
Sgt John Hindle and Sgt Norman Hood were killed on 7th May 1942 flying Halifax W1050 on Ops to Stuttgart. They are buried at Neufchateau Communal Cemetery, Belgium.
Norman Hood was awarded the DFM for service with 35 Squadron, Gazetted on 27th July 1942 (with effect from 4th May 1942).
Harry Larson was posted to 35 Squadron from 10 OTU on 27th September 1941.