Halifax L9566 damaged by flak, landed at Linton on Ouse airfield.
On the night of 12th / 13th August 1941 the crew of this 35 Squadron aircraft were undertaking an operational flight to bomb Berlin. The aircraft took off at 21.20hrs, it was slightly damaged by flak over Germany but the crew were able to make a safe return and landed at Linton on Ouse at 04.10hrs.
Pilot - F/O Gerald Standish Williams RAF (43051).
Second Pilot - Sgt Wallace Howard Trewin RCAF (R/69644).
Observer - P/O James Oliver Hedley RAFO (70295).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Charles Frederic Seymour Ryder RAFVR (947433).
Air Gunner - Sgt Ernest Henry Jackson RAFVR (1305759).
Air Gunner - Sgt Alexander Urquhart RAFVR (1118546).
Flight Engineer - Sgt John Edmond Murrell RAF (801497).
Gerald Williams was granted a short service commission in the RAF on 23rd March 1940 to the rank of Acting P/O on probation. He was graded as P/O on probation on 13th
July 1940 and was confirmed in the rank of P/O on 11th September 1940 and was promoted to F/O (war subs) on 13th July 1941. Having been posted to 35 Squadron after his
time with 10 Squadron he was flying Ops to Turin on 10th / 11th September 1941 in Halifax L9566 when they became lost on the return leg. They made a landing in Northern
France, possibly at Theville airfield believing it was initially in England and presumably low on fuel. The aircraft was totally intact and fell into the hands of the
German aircraft test centre. The crew all became PoW's. He was promoted to F/Lt (war subs) on 13th July 1942 and briefly escaped from captivity but was recaptured. On
paper he transferred to the RAFO under the terms of his commission and was called up for immediate service on 11th September 1943 but was still a PoW. On 1st June 1944
he relinquished his commission in the RAFO on appointment to the RNZAF again while a PoW.
Halifax L9566 was built to contract 692649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was taken on charge by 35 Squadron at Linton on Ouse on 22nd June 1941. Minor Cat.A/FB damage would have been the assessment following the flak damage on 13th August 1941 as stated above. It was
repaired on site. It continued to be used by 35 Squadron until the night of 10th / 11th September 1941 when the aircraft was being flown by all of the above (apart from second pilot Sgt Trewin) on Ops to Turin, on return flight the crew made a navigation error and ended up turning back over France. They all became PoWs. Cat.Em damage was recorded on the paperwork and it was struck off charge on 12th September 1941.
Wallace Trewin was a 58 Squadron pilot flying with 35 Squadron for operational experience. He was posted from 58 Squadron to 35 Squadron on 2nd August 1941 and back to 58 Squadron on 30th August 1941. On 4th September 1941 he was flying 58 Squadron Whitley Z6869 on Ops to
Brest, the aircraft crashed near Acklington and he was sadly killed. He was twenty four years old and is buried in Chevington Cemetery, Northumberland.
Charles Ryder became a PoW during his time with 35 Squadron.