Halifax L9512 (possibly) damaged by enemy aircraft, returned to Linton on Ouse airfield.
On the night of 13th / 14th July 1941 this 35 Squadron aircraft was being flown on an operational flight to bomb Hannover and left base of Linton on Ouse at 22.42hrs. The aircraft was attacked head-on by an single engined enemy fighter near the target. The front gunner returned fire and the attacker was immediately lost to sight. The squadron records state that no damage to the Halifax was sustained. The crew were able to make a safe landing at base of Linton on Ouse at 04.15hrs. I had an old note that this aircraft received slight damage on this date and while I cannot locate the source of the information I have created a webpage.
Pilot - F/Sgt Stanley Desmond Greaves RAFVR (754271).
Second Pilot - Sgt John Noel Gibson RAFVR (914683).
Observer - Sgt Ronald Ernest Hewlett RAF (746881).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Ernest William Constable RAF (654498).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Douglas James Mennie RAFVR (940550).
Air Gunner - Sgt Allan Gillbanks RAFVR (1115193).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Gordon Herbert Frank Ogden RAF (569526).
Sgt Gibson was posted from 58 Squadron to 35 Squadron on 25th June 1941.
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.
On 24th July 1941 Greaves, Gibson, Constable, Gillbanks and Ogden were flying in Halifax L9512 on a day-light operational flight to la Pallice,
the aircraft was damaged by flak and further damaged by an enemy aircraft. The crew baled out and all became PoW's.
Sgt Mennie was killed on 25th / 26th July 1941 when Halifax L9507 failed to return from an operational flight on Berlin. He is buried in Berlin War Cemetery.
Halifax L9512 was built to contract 492649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was awaiting collection on 3rd February 1941. It was allotted to 35 Squadron on 28th February 1941 but the aircraft's AM Form 78 states that it was not taken on charge by 35 Squadron at Linton on Ouse until 2nd June 1941. Had it been damaged on 14th July 1941 then Cat.A/FB damage would have been the assessment. If it was damaged then it must have been swiftly repaired on site and returned to 35 Squadron use. On 24th July 1941 it failed to return from Ops to La Rochelle with Cat.E(m) damage being recorded. The aircraft was struck off charge on 25th July 1941.