Whitley BD210 damaged on Ops, returned to Linton on Ouse airfield.

On the evening of 29th March 1942 the crew of this 58 Squadron aircraft were flying a "nickel" flight to Lille, France and took off from Linton on Ouse at 18.54hrs. They carried out the operational order and landed at base at 23.17hrs. The aircraft was found to have a hole in the aircraft that caused a minor oil leak and a further hole in the spar, accurate and heavy flak was believed to have caused the damage. The aircraft was soon repaired.

Pilot - Sgt Sidney Edward Davies RAFVR (1384224).

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Stanley Brimer RAFVR (1101057).

Observer - F/Sgt Kenneth McKenzie Leslie RAAF (400240).

Wireless Operator - Sgt John Dunbar Rice RAFVR (1354019).

Air Gunner - Sgt Alexander Seaton Lorimer RCAF (R/77122).

Sgt Davies was killed on 6th June 1942 while serving with 58 Squadron when they were on detachment to Coastal Command. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Sgt Brimer and F/Sgt Lorimer were killed on 12th June 1942 while serving with 58 Squadron when they were on detachment to Coastal Command. They are buried at Bilbao British Cemetery, Spain.

Kenneth Leslie had earlier served with 405 Squadron. He would be killed on 17th August 1942 when 58 Squadron Whitley Z9517 crashed in the Bay of Biscay. He is also commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

W/O Rice was later posted to 517 Squadron and was killed on 14th November 1944. He is buried in Riddrie Park Cemetery, Glasgow. His brother Samuel Rice died on board HM Submarine Thunderbolt. The date for his death is given on the CWGC database as being 28th March 1943 although the submarine was sunk with all on board being lost on 14th March 1943.
Whitley BD210 was built to contract 106962/40 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on 12th March 1942. It was taken on charge by 58 Squadron at Linton on Ouse later the same month and as a result of the minor damage sustained on 29th March 1942 Cat.A/FB damage was recorded. It was then repaired on site and on 8th April 1942 moved to St,Eval with the squadron on detachment to Coastal Command. It failed to return from an operational patrol on 13th June 1942 and Cat.Em damage was recorded.

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