Whitley Z6939 near Linton on Ouse airfield.
On 30th September 1941 the crew of this 58 Squadron aircraft had been diverted to land at Linton on Ouse after Ops to Stettin but flew into trees at 04.20hrs alongside the lane
to Fall Gates Farm at the west side of the airfield. The aircraft caught fire on crashing. Sadly two of the five crew were killed and one later died of his injuries in
York Military Hospital.
Pilot - Sgt George Bow Watters RAFVR (912095), aged 26. Buried Morningside Cemetery, Edinburgh.
Second Pilot - Sgt Robert Hayden RAF (611997), aged 23, of Leytonstone. Buried Manor Park Cemetery, Essex.
Observer - Sgt John Ernst Turner RAAF (406018), aged 36, of Swanbourne, Western Australia. Died of injuries on 4th October 1941. Buried Newton on Ouse Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Walter Cawthorne RAFVR (998256). Injured.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Gerald Finnbarr McHugh RCAF (R/54884). Slightly injured.
Sgt Hayden and Sgt Turner's gravestones.
John Turner was born on 2nd February 1905 in Perth and enlisted there in April 1940. He was above average age when he enlisted and had already done some basic military training
and some civilian flying. After basic training he arrived in the UK and trained at 19 OTU in June and July 1941 before being posted to 58 Squadron on 13th August 1941. His
discharge papers after his death stated he was "a fine Air Observer who died of injuries received in a crash when returning from operations."
George Bow Watters may have been from the Edinburgh area, a family of other Bow Watters moved from Edinburgh to Canada before WW1 and he may well be related to this family
and a James Bow Watters who died on active service in WW1 is possibly related.
Walter Cawthorne recovered from his injuries, he later received his commission on 24th May 1944 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency)(183054) and was promoted to F/O
(war subs) six months later as was the nornal arrangements for wartime commissions. He would appear to have left the RAF after the war as no further record of him exists in the
London Gazette exists.
F/Sgt Gerald McHugh was later posted to 149 Squadron and was killed on 30th September 1942 flying as tail gunner in Stirling BF328. He was thirty one years old and is
commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, he was was either originally from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire or his parents were living there when the CWGC (or IWGC) compiled their records.
Whitley Z6939 was built to contract 106962/40 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 23rd July 1941. It was taken on
charge by 58 Squadron at Linton on Ouse the same month to replace Z6666 which failed to return from an operational flight on Hamm on 9th July 1941. As
a result of the damage on 30th September 1941 Whitley Z6939 sustained Cat.E2/FB(Burnt) damage and was written off.