Halifax R9446 at Linton on Ouse airfield.
On 8th March 1942 this 35 Squadron aircraft was to have been used on an operational flight, it was loaded with a bomb load that included two large 4,000lb bombs that were to large for the bomb doors to be properly closed. While the engines were switched off the bomb door lever was accidentally set to the "close" position. The engines were later started without the operator checking that the lever was set to the "open" position. Unfortunately once the engines caused the hydraulic pressure to build up this resulted in the bomb doors closing causing damage when they were forced against the two protruding large bombs.
Pilot - F/Sgt Gardiner RCAF (R/71639).
Pilot - Sgt Richard Joseph Clarke RAFVR (640609).
Halifax R9446 was built to contract 692649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was delivered to 35 Squadron at Linton on Ouse on 8th February 1942. As a result of the damage sustained on 8th March 1942 Cat.A/FA damage would have been the damage assessment, it does not feature on the aircraft's AM Form 78. On 9th April 1942 the aircraft was transferred to 102 Squadron. On 26th June 1942 it failed to return from Ops to Bremen with it's then crew being killed. Cat.Em damage was recorded on the paperwork and it was struck off charge on the same day.