Halifax W7675 at Linton on Ouse airfield.
On 8th May 1942 this 35 Squadron aircraft had been given an airtest, following a heavy landing back at Linton on Ouse at 15.30hrs a swing developed and the undercarriage collapsed. Those on board were not injured but the aircraft was deemed beyond repair.
Pilot - Sgt Norman Booth RAFVR (1376648).
Second Pilot - Sgt Sidney Richard Stickney RAF (655741).
5 Crew - Names unknown.
Norman Booth was posted to 105 Squadron to fly Mosquitoes later in 1942 and on 13th November 1942 he was the pilot of Mosquito DZ361 on Ops to attack the German ship "Neumark" believed to have been in harbour at Vlissingen. The aircraft was hit by flak and crashed in Holland sadly killing both the airmen on board. He was twenty six years old and is buried at Flushing Northern Cemetery, Holland. The photograph shown above was found on a Dutch website "www.wingstovictory.nl" and came via his family. His brother Leslie Booth also died on active service on 6th February 1944 on HMS Penbroke; a land-based Naval establishment. His body was returned home and buried locally in Stockton on Tees Cemetery.
Halifax L7675 was built to contract B.73328/40 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett. It was taken on charge by 35 Squadron at Linton on Ouse on 1st May 1942 and as a result of the landing accident there a week later on 8th May 1942 Cat.E/FA damage was the assessment. It was struck off charge on 15th May 1942.
Only days after this incident, on 19th May 1942, Sgt Stickney was flying as second pilot in Halifax W7658 on Ops to Mannheim when the aircraft was struck by flak and then attacked by a night-fighter. The aircraft sustained damage across the aircraft and the starboard inner engine caught fire. The flight engineer accidently shut down the wrong engine which then failed to re-start. The aircraft crashed in the Ardennes, France and sadly four of the crew died, including Sgt Stickney, who was twenty six years old and buried at Aiglemont Communal Cemetery, France. Although CWGC list no personal information for him, his birth was registered in the Richmond district of Surrey in 1917.