Halifax L9509 damaged by flak, landed at Linton on Ouse airfield.
On the night of 11th / 12th June 1941 the crew of this 35 Squadron aircraft took off from Linton on Ouse at 23.43hrs to undertake an operational flight to bomb Duisburg. The crew released their bomb load over the target area from 10,400 feet. While over the target the aircraft was fire upon by flak which caused the crew to take evasive action preventing them from viewing where their bomb load struck. Flak caused a leak in the starboard outer engine glycol system but the crew managed to fly the aircraft safely back to Linton on Ouse on three engines where they landed at 04.40hrs.
Pilot - F/Sgt George Walton Holden RAFVR (740266).
Second Pilot - Sgt Lewis Victor Rosser (745193).
Observer - Sgt Alistair William Steven RAFVR (968133).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt J H Smith.
Air Gunner - Sgt Robert Henry Hayes RAFVR (1375002).
Flight Engineer - Sgt W Perriment (Probably Sgt William David Perriment RAFVR (633969)).
Halifax L9509 was built to contract 692649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett. It was allotted to 35 Squadron on 28th February 1941 and was taken on charge by 35 Squadron at Linton on Ouse on 6th April 1941. It sustained Cat.A/FB damage on 11th June 1941 as a result of flak damage. The damage was repaired on site and it remained with 35 Squadron until being transferred to the newly formed 28 Conversion Flight on 28th October 1941. The AM Form 78 shows the aircraft was returned to 35 Squadron at Linton on Ouse on 7th November 1941 but it was transferred back to 28 Conversion Flight on 20th November 1941 but whom had moved to Marston Moor in the time it was away from them. On 2nd January 1942 28 Conversion Flight was absorbed into the newly formed 1652 Conversion Unit. As a result of a mishap at Marston Moor on 11th February 1942 the damage was assessed as being Cat.Ac/FA. It was repaired on site and returned to the unit on 7th April 1942. It was damaged again on 16th April 1942 in a landing accident at Rufforth. Cat.Ac/FA damage was again the assessment, it was again repaired on site by a team from Handley Page but it took some months. It was returned to the unit on 9th September 1942 but who were now called 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit. It continued to serve with 1652 H.C.U. until 3rd April 1943 when it crashed on landing at Marston Moor. The damage was initially assessed as being repairable Cat.B/FA but as the repair was begun on 15th April 1943 it was deemed more serious than first thought so was Re-Cat.E1. The aircraft was struck off charge on 29th April 1943 and had clocked up a total of 360 hours total flying time when written off.