Halifax R9367 damaged by flak, returned to Linton on Ouse airfield.
On the night of 11th / 12th December 1941 the crew of this 35 Squadron aircraft flew an operational flight to bomb Cologne and took off from base of Linton on Ouse at 17.10hrs. The aircraft was hit and one of the engines damaged by flak while over the target area at 16,000 feet. Despite the damage the crew managed to make a safe return to Linton on Ouse and landed safely at 00.04hrs.
Pilot - S/Ldr Stuart Auldjo Middleton DFC RAF(AAF) (90371).
Second Pilot - P/O Robert Alexander Fisher Frew RAFVR (104518).
Observer - Sgt Williams
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt John Albert Orton RAFVR (964519).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Percy Clement Gorwyn Maflin RAFVR (911942).
Air Gunner - Sgt Matthew George Kipling RAF (614312).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Gregson
Stuart Middleton attended Aberdeen Grammar School. He received a commission in the RAF to the rank of P/O on 10th October 1937 while serving
in the newly formed 612 Squadron (County of Aberdeen Squadron). He was promoted to F/O on 10th April 1939, to F/Lt on 3rd September 1940 and to S/Ldr on 1st December
1941. For service with 612 Squadron he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 22nd October 1940.
Robert Frew received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 9th August 1941.
On 30th December 1941 S/Ldr Middleton, P/O Frew and Sgts Kipling, Orton and Maflin were flying Halifax V9979 on a daylight operational flight to bomb
Germany battleships at Brest. Their aircraft was badly damaged by flak over the target area and crashed with the loss of the whole crew. They are
buried in Brest Cemetery, France.
Halifax R9367 was taken on charge by 10 Squadron on 24th October 1941 at Linton on Ouse. It was briefly transferred or loaned to the Halifax Conversion Flight and then transferred to 35 Squadron on 2nd November 1941. As a result of flak damage sustained on 11th December 1941 Cat.A/FB damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site at Linton on Ouse. On 11th March 1942 the aircraft was transferred to 1652 Conversion Flight and on 22nd August 1942 it passed to 158 Conversion Flight. On 5th April 1942 it was deemed in need of a repair on site by Handley Page though probably not as the result of damage sustained in a flying accident. The repair was complete by 16th April 1942 and it was returned to 158 Conversion Flight. On 17th August 1943 it crashed at Riccall airfield. Cat.Ac/FA damage was the initial damage assessment but as repair got underway it was found to be more seriously damaged. On 31st August 1943 it was struck off charge having been Re-Cat.E. It had flown a total of 490 hours from new.