Halifax L9604 at Linton on Ouse airfield.
On 30th November 1941 this 76 Squadron aircraft had taken off at 17.18hrs for an operational flight to bomb targets at Hamburg. On the return trip the main brake pressure pipes became detached within the fuselage but the cause of this leak was not investigated. On landing at Linton on Ouse airfield at 23.35hrs the brakes failed to work, the aircraft overshot and crashed.
Pilot - Sgt George Racine Herbert RAFVR (1176946).
Second Pilot - Sgt James Henry Gordon Bingham RAFVR (971062).
Navigator - Sgt Melvin Harry Roberts RCAF (R/58215).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt John Black Fraser Fanning RAFVR (1101236).
Air Gunner? - Sgt Fulton.
Flight Engineer - Sgt Maurice Charles Glover RAF (567204).
Air Gunner - Sgt Street (probably Sgt Malcolm Arthur Street RAAF (408107)).
Bingham, Roberts, Fanning and Glover was still serving with 76 Squadron on 24th June 1942 when their Halifax W7661 collided with Oxford V4140 near Middleton St.George. All on board both aircraft were killed in the resulting crashes. James Bingham is buried at Newark Cemetery and was thirty years old. WO2 Melvin Roberts is buried at Darlington West Cemetery. He was twenty two years old. He was married to a lady from Co.Durham, England. Sgt John Fanning is buried in Vale of Leven Cemetery, Dunbartonshire. He was twenty one years old. Sgt Maurice Glover is buried in Wimborne St.Giles, Dorset. He was twenty three years old.
George Herbert was born in 1922 and was awarded the DFM for service with 76 Squadron, Gazetted on 26th May 1942. He later flew with 77 Sauadron before posting to 35 Squadron PFF.
He received a commission on 16th February 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation. On 12th June 1943 he was the pilot of Halifax JB785 flying Ops to Munster when the aircraft was shot down by a night-fighter and crashed in Holland. He is buried at Rotterdam General Cemetery and was twenty one years old. A memorial was erected at the crash site in May 2015.
Sgt Street was granted a commission in late 1941 or early 1942, he remained with 76 Squadron until being part of the 76 Squadron group that went to North Africa.
Sgt Fulton last flew operationally with 76 Squadron in December 1941.
Halifax L9604 was built to contract 692649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett. It was allotted to 12 MU on 21st August 1941 and was received by them in early September 1941. The aircraft was taken on charge by 76 Squadron at Middleton St.George on 20th October 1941. It is believed to have taken part in three operational flights with 76 Squadron. As a result of the incident on 30th November 1941 Cat.B/FB damage was the assessment and was transported for repair by Handley Page Ltd on 23rd December 1942. A repair must have been well underway by the time a decision was made to convert it into an instructional airframe. On 9th June 1942 it passed to No.4 School of Technical Training and it was converted into an instructional airframe (3161M) on 10th July 1942.