Halifax L9525 at Linton on Ouse airfield.
On 15th July 1941 this 35 Squadron aircraft was flown on an airtest. On completion of the flight at 16.45hrs the aircraft landed at Linton on Ouse in rain on a wet surface and the brakes had no effect. The pilot swung the aircraft off the runway to avoid hitting obstructions but it overshot and sustaining minor damage.
Pilot - Sgt Arthur Sidney Woolnough RAFVR (748544).
Crew - Names unknown.
Arthur Woolnough was probably born in Ipswich in 1918. He was granted a commission on 7th October 1941 to the rank of P/O on probation (war subs) and was later promoted to F/O on probation (war subs) on 1st October 1942. As Acting F/Lt he was awarded the DFC for service with 158 Squadron, Gazetted on 15th June 1943. On 7th October 1943 he was promoted to F/Lt (war subs) and he survived the War. He was appointed to a permanent commission in the RAF on 24th November 1952 to the rank of F/Lt before he finally retired from the RAF on 2nd December 1962 as F/Lt but retaining the rank of S/Ldr. He probably died in Sussex in 1993.
Halifax L9525 was built to contract 692649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was allotted to 35 Squadron on 26th April 1941. On 17th May 1941 taken on charge by Handley Page D.G.R.D. and was then transferred to 35 Squadron at Linton on Ouse on 28th May 1941. As a result of damage sustained at Linton on Ouse on 15th July 1941 Cat.Ac/FA damage was recorded and it was repaired on site. The AM Form 78 appears to state that on completion of the repair it was considered for transfer to 28 Conversion Flight at Linton on Ouse but this was cancelled and it remained with 35 Squadron. On 28th October 1941 it was transferred to 28 Conversion Flight at Leconfield. On 30th December 1941 this unit moved to Marston Moor. On 2nd January 1942 28 C.F. was absorbed into the newly formed 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit at Marston Moor. On 23rd February 1942 it sustained minor damage at Marston Moor on landing, Cat.Ac/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site and returned to 1652 H.C.U. on 14th March 1942. On 18th November 1942 the AM Form 78 states that it sustained Cat.Ac/FA damage in an unspecified flying accident. The damage was repaired on site and it was returned to 1652 H.C.U. on 13th December 1942. On 26th March 1943 it was transferred to 1663 H.C.U. at Rufforth. This probably came about when 'D' Flight of 1652 H.C.U. moved to Rufforth to form 1663 HCU earlier in the month but 1663 H.C.U. never operated early Mk.I Halifaxes so before the end of March 1943 it was back at 1652 H.C.U. at Marston Moor. On 14th April 1943 it swung on take off from Marston Moor, collided with a pile of earth which caused the undercarriage to collapse. The damage was assessed as too badly damaged to warrant a repair. Cat.E/FA damage was recorded on the paperwork and it was struck off charge on 26th April 1943.