Whitley Z6580 damaged by flak, returned to Linton on Ouse airfield.
On the night of 17th / 18th June 1941 the crew of this 58 Squadron Whitley were undertaking an operational flight to Cologne and set out from Linton on Ouse at
around 23.00hrs. The aircraft sustained slight flak damage over Germany but the crew were able to make a safe return to base and land at 05.55hrs.
Pilot - Sgt Frank Ernest Rymills RAFVR (748665).
Second Pilot - Sgt Riley.
Observer - Sgt Alistair Alexander Stobie Heggie RAFVR (967663).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt William John Hampton RAFVR (915500).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Herbert Harry Stott RAFVR (1058698), of Selby, Yorkshire.
Sgt Heggie was soon posted to 35 Squadron and survived the crash of Halifax L9497 in Norfolk on return from Ops to Berlin on 13th August 1941. He was
killed on 25th August 1941 flying in Halifax L9572 on Ops to Dusseldorf when the aircraft crashed in Belgium with the loss of the whole crew. He is buried
in a joint grave in Chievres Communal Cemetery, Belgium.
Sgt Stott was later posted to 10 Squadron, he was killed on 28th April 1942 while flying in Halifax W1037 on an operational flight to try to sink
the German battleship Tirpitz. He was twenty two years old and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Frank Rymills was born in Oxford in August 1920 was awarded the DFM for service with 58 Squadron, Gazetted on 21st November 1941. He received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 20th
January 1942 (115338) and rose to F/O on probation on 1st October 1942. He also flew with 138 Squadron on SOE operations before transferring to 161 Squadron also involved in SOE work, he
was awarded the DFC for service with 161 Squadron, Gazetted on 25th May 1943. He was awarded the Bar to the DFC for further service with 161 Squadron, Gazetted
on 10th September 1943 and was later promoted to F/Lt on 20th January 1944. Post-War he was appointed to a permanent commission of F/Lt on 15th July 1948 and was later promoted to S/Ldr.
He retired from the RAF on 11th August 1963. He died in 1997.
William Hampton received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 18th March 1943 (144438) and rose to F/O on 18th September 1943 and F/Lt on 18th March 1945.
Whitley Z6580 was built to contract 106962/40 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 9th March 1941. It was taken on charge by 58 Squadron
on an unknown date. The minor battle damage detailed above on 18th June 1941 was not recorded in the published history on the aircraft but Cat.A/FB damage is the likely assessment.
It would have been repaired on site and returned to 58 Squadron use. It later transferred to 19 OTU at Kinloss and then 10 OTU at Abingdon where it was lost on 28th October 1942 and
Cat.E(m) damage was recorded. Sadly its then crew of six were killed, listed as missing.