Halifax R9364 damaged by flak, returned to Linton on Ouse airfield.
On 30th December 1941 the crew of this 35 Squadron aircraft flew an operational flight to attack German battleships at Brest. This aircraft took off from base of Linton on Ouse at 11.24hrs. The aircraft was hit and damaged by flak while over the target area and damage to the starboard outer engine and the fuselage was sustained. The crew managed to make a safe return to Linton on Ouse and landed safely at 17.09hrs.
Pilot - Sgt Harry Aston Williams RAFVR (937280).
Second Pilot - P/O Reginald John Lane RCAF (J/5795).
Observer - Sgt Arthur Sykes RAFVR (1100075).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Leonard Stuart Thorpe RAFVR (1355432).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Francis Edwin Flint RAFVR (1169620).
Air Gunner - Sgt Martin.
Flight Engineer - Sgt Crowther.
Leonard Thorpe was also one of a small band of men who completed over 100 operational flights; he flew one Op with 158 Squadron in June 1942 but
many of his tally were with 35 Squadron, many when it was a PFF unit. He was
commissioned on 9th June 1942 but was awarded the DFM for service with 35 Squadron prior to this although the DFM was not Gazetted until 4th August 1942, the
citation reads.. "This wireless operator/air gunner has participated in many sorties over Germany and German occupied territory, including attacks on targets
at Hamburg, Berlin, Cologne and the Ruhr. On the night of April 27th and 28th 1942, Sergeant Thorpe participated in an attack on the German naval base at Trondheim.
These flights each involved a total flying time of well over 1,360 miles over the North Sea and the mountainous country of northern Norway. He also participated
in the daylight raids on the German battleships Gneisenau ad Scharnhorst at Brest. Regardless of enemy opposition and bad weather, Sergeant Thorpe has never failed
to produce necessary wireless information, which contributed much to the safe return of the aircraft." He was also awarded the DFC (Gazetted on 7th Devember 1943)
with 35 Squadron and later the Bar to the DFC (Gazetted on 16th November 1945) with 35 Squadron.
A F/Sgt Arthur Sykes RAF (1100075) was awarded the DFM with 35 Squadron, Gazetted on 22nd September 1942, he was probably the same man as involved in the
incident above. The citation for this awarded reads.."F/Sgt Sykes has proved himself to be a most skilful and reliable navigator. He has participated in
attacks on a wide range of enemy targets, including Hamburg, Cologne, Stettin, Berlin, two daylight raids on the enemy battleships at Brest, and two low
level attacks on the German naval base at Trondheim."
Harry Williams was also awarded the DFM for service with 35 Squadron, Gazetted on 13th March 1942 but by the time this was printed in the London Gazette he had
received a commission on 16th February 1942 (116901). He survived the War and remained in the RAF until at least 1961.
Reginald Lane was awarded the DFC for service with 35 Squadron, Gazetted on 22nd September 1942; and the DSO for service with 35 Squadron PFF, Gazetted on 9th July 1943.
He was also awarded the Bar to the DFC for service with whilst being Commanding Officer of 405 Squadron PFF, Gazetted on 14th November 1944, a Mention in Despatches on 1st
January 1946 and the Queen's Coronation Medal on 13th October 1953. He remained in the RCAF until December 1974 having risen to Lieutenant General of the RCAF. He died in 2003
and his life is well documented on the internet mainly through the superb research carried out by Hugh Halliday. He was the pilot when 35 Squadron Halifax W7676 was photographed
in the air in one of the most famous colour photographs of a Halifax taken during the War (shown at the top of this page).
Sgt Williams, Sgt Sykes and Sgt Thorpe survived the crash of Halifax L9579 near Linton on Ouse on 13th October 1941.
Sgt Francis Flint was killed on 20th May 1942 and was still flying with 35 Squadron and in Halifax W1101. He was thirty one years old and is buried in Durnbach War Cemetery.
Halifax R9364 was built by Handley Page at Radlett and was delivered as new to 12 MU on 17th October 1941. The aircraft was taken on charge by 35 Squadron at Linton on Ouse on 25th October 1941. As a result of flak damage sustained on 30th December 1941 Cat.A/FB damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site. On 25th January 1942 the aircraft was transferred to 76 Squadron and then on 27th February 1942 it passed to 78 Squadron. It was being flown on the Thousand Bomber raid on Essen on 2nd June 1942 when it was badly damaged by enemy flak, the aircraft crashed off the Dutch coast in a flat spin and broke into two. Two airmen were thrown out and survived despite being in the dinghy for four days before a German boat found them. Back home, the aircraft was struck off charge on 3rd June 1942.