Halifax L9605 damaged by flak, returned to Linton on Ouse airfield.
On the evening of 31st October 1941 the crew of this 35 Squadron aircraft were undertaking an operational flight to bomb Hamburg with a number of aircraft and crews from 35 Squadron. This specific aircraft took off from Linton on Ouse airfield at 17.51hrs. The aircraft was slightly damaged by flak and the crew bombed Kiel. They made a safe return to base and landed at Linton on Ouse at 23.43hrs. The aircraft received damage to the fuselage and gun turret.
Pilot - Sgt Robert Thornton Bradshaw RAFVR (997070).
Second Pilot - P/O Ronald Robert Blackwell RAFVR (102554).
Observer - Sgt Alec Henry Fuce RAFVR (1150776).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt William John Hampton RAFVR (915500).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Bury / Burry. (Possibly Sgt Lloyd George Burry RAFVR (798507)).
Air Gunner - Sgt Tyler.
Flight Engineer - Sgt Higgs.
Robert Bradshaw received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 8th November 1944 (188169).
P/O Blackwell was posted from 19 OTU to 35 Squadron on 9th October 1941.
William Hampton received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 18th March 1943 (144438), he rose to F/O on 18th September 1943 and F/Lt on 18th March 1945.
Sgt Fuce was made a PoW on 7th May 1942 when 35 Squadron Halifax W1050 was shot down over Belgium. He managed to bale out but five members of his then crew were sadly killed.
Halifax L9605 was built to contract 692649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett. It was allotted to 8 MU on 2nd September 1941 and was received by them on 10th October 1941. It was taken on charge by 35 Squadron at Linton on Ouse on 16th October 1941. On 31st October 1941 it was slightly damaged by flak with the damage probably being only a minor Cat.A/FB assessment that was repaired on site. The aircraft was transferred to 1652 Conversion Unit at Marston Moor in January 1942. As a result of a landing accident there on 25th January 1942 Cat.Ac/FA damage was the assessment and it was repaired on site by a team from Handley Page. It was returned to 1652 C.U. on 28th February 1942. On 31st May 1942 it was being flown by a crew of five on the 1000 bomber raid to Cologne when it failed to return. It was found to have crashed in Holland with the loss of one of the crew, four became PoWs. Cat.E/m damage was recorded on the paperwork and it was struck off charge on 1st June 1942.