Halifax L9606 at Linton on Ouse airfield.
On 22nd March 1942 this aircraft was stationary at a taxying post on the airfield at Linton on Ouse when it was struck and damaged by Whitley Z9426. Minor damage resulted to the Halifax and it was repaired and returned to this training unit. Looking at who was using Halifax L9606 around this period it appears to have been a 35 Conversion Flight aircraft though the AM Form 78 for it does not reflect that, stating it to be a 35 Squadron aircraft. Whitley Z9426 was probably a 58 Squadron aircraft. There is no AM Form 1180 for the Halifax.
Crew - Names unknown.
I have got myself confused surrounding when 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit formed. Various modern books give October 1942 while the 1652 H.C.U orb gives 1st January 1943.
Halifax L9606 was built to contract 692649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. and was allotted to 8 MU on 2nd September 1941. The aircraft was received by 8 MU on 19th September 1941 and was taken on charge by 35 Squadron at Linton on Ouse on 26th September 1941. 35 Squadron began operating Halifax B.II’s in January 1942. With this aircraft being a B.I and as their Conversion Flight was formed on towards the end of the same month, taking into consideration all the 35 Squadron and 35 Conversion Flight records I am in the belief that it was being used by 35 Conversion Flight by March 1942 (probably from January 1942). As a result of the damage sustained at Linton on Ouse in a collision on 22nd March 1942 Cat.Ac/FA damage was the damage assessment. A repair was begun two days later and it was returned to 35 Squadron (or 35 C.F.) on 7th April 1942. By July 1942 the aircraft's AM Form 78 still does not reflect any transfer to 35 C.F.. On 16th July 1942 the AM Form 78 states that a repair on site was carried out, what this relates to is not clear, if it is damage in another flying accident then no details are yet known and this must have been a Cat.A/FA incident. It was returned to 35 Squadron (35 C.F.) on 25th July 1942 and finally the AM Form 78 then acknowledges transfer to 35 Conversion Flight. On 29th July 1942 it was being used on a training flight when it crashed at Linton on Ouse airfield. Cat.Ac/FA damage was the damage assessment because a repair on site was carried out on site and was complete by late-September 1942 (though it is listed as Cat.B in the unit ORB). 35 Conversion Flight moved while the aircraft was being repaired at Linton on Ouse; on 5th September 1942 they moved to Marston Moor and on 21st September 1942 to Rufforth. The aircraft's AM Form 78 states that it was returned to service on 21st September 1942 but this is not reflected in the 35 C.F. orb who state it was collected by them on 8th October 1942 after repairs were complete. Perhaps the AM Form 78 was compiled to show that 35 C.F. still owned the aircraft on 21st September 1942 despite them not being at the airfield where it was being repaired. 35 Conversion Flight was absorbed into 1652 Conversion Unit at Marston Moor soon after. The AM Form 78 states a transfer to them on 31st December 1942. It was operated by 1652 H.C.U. until 14th August 1943 when it was flown to No.12 School of Technical Training who converted the aircraft into a Ground Instructional Airframe 4046M. The aircraft lasted until 28th March 1946 when it was struck off charge.