Halifax W1047 at Linton on Ouse airfield.
On the night of 6th / 7th June 1942 this 35 Squadron aircraft was one of eleven of the squadron used on an operational flight to bomb Emden and the flight went without incident. A landing as made back at base of Linton on Ouse at 04.05hrs. As the aircraft was landing a Fordson Tender 24204 was driven across the runway in front of the Halifax and a collision resulted. The driver of the Fordson failed to see the aircraft. Minor damage to the aircraft was caused.
Pilot - F/Sgt Norman Wallis MacKenzie RAFVR (910402).
Bomb Aimer? - P/O J R Field (Possibly P/O Jonathan Raymond Field RAFVR (107926)).
Navigator? - Sgt Herbert Henry Sandford RAFVR (1152503).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Leslie Smith RAFVR (1002081).
Air Gunner - Sgt Richmond.
Air Gunner - F/Sgt Lesley Ledger RAF (614072).
Flight Engineer - Sgt J G Davis (Possibly Sgt John Griffin Davis RAFVR (815070)).
Leslie Smith joined the RAFVR in 1940. For service with 35 Squadron he was awarded the DFM, Gazetted on 27th October 1942. He received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 17th December 1942 and rose to F/O six months later. By April 1945 he had re-mustered as a pilot and was serving with 80 Squadron. On 17th April 1945 he was killed when Tempest NV991 failed to return from an armed recce flight possibly after combat with enemy FW190 and Me109's. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Herbert Sandford was awarded the DFM for service with 35 Squadron, Gazetted on 20th November 1942 but for service prior to receiving a commission, which he was granted the rank of P/O on probation on 27th July 1942.
Lesley Ledger's service was slightly different to most Bomber Command air gunners, he had joined the RAF back in 1938 in the ground trades but later re-mustered as an air gunner. He served with 236 Squadron in Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain and as such credited as being one of "The Few". He later transferred to Bomber Command and for service with 35 Squadron he was awarded the DFM, Gazetted on 12th January 1943. He received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 8th November 1944.
If the flight engineer was John Davis then he later received a commission on 30th June 1943 and was awarded the DFC for service with 158 Squadron, Gazetted on 14th September 1943. He was made a PoW with 158 Squadron.
Similarily P/O Field was possibly Jonathan Field, he was later awarded the DFC for service with 624 Squadron SOE on 25th August 1944.
This crew ditched off Norfolk on 8th / 9th June 1942 when Halifax W1049 was damaged on Ops to Essen, all were rescued by a high speed launch boat later in the day and resumed their operational tour. The wireless operator Sgt Smith was later awarded the DFM partly for his actions on this night, presumably he was able to transmit a very accurate message stating their position.
Norman MacKenzie received a commission in August 1942 and was awarded the DFC for service with 35 Squadron, Gazetted on 6th November 1942. He later served with 627 Squadron being awarded a Bar to the DFC, Gazetted on 13th October 1944.
Halifax W1047 was built to contract B.982938/39 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury. It was initially taken on charge by 102 Squadron at Dalton on 27th March 1942 but was transferred to 35 Squadron at Linton on Ouse on 9th April 1942. The aircraft sustained Cat.A/FA damage on 7th June 1942 at Linton on Ouse. A repair on site was carried out and it was returned to 35 Squadron use. On 8th July 1942 the tail wheel mounting broke on landing at Linton on Ouse and it sustained Cat.A/FA damage. A repair was again carried out at Linton on Ouse and it was returned to 35 Squadron on 5th August 1942. 35 Squadron moved to Graveley on 15th August 1942. The aircraft was then lost on Ops with them on 6th October 1942 when it failed to return from Aachen, it crashed near Lille with the loss of the seven crew. It was struck off charge on the same date.