Halifax W7760 damaged in the air, landed at Linton on Ouse airfield.
On the night of 8th / 9th July 1942 this 35 Squadron aircraft was to undertake an operational flight to bomb Wilhelmshaven. In the course of the night a Wellington passed very close to the Halifax and the trailing aerial of the Wellington struck the front of the Halifax damaging the front turret, navigator's compartment and also cut through wires that effected the working of the aircraft's intercom. The aircraft landed at Linton on Ouse at 04.24hrs.
Pilot - F/Lt Samuel Davis Jones RAF (45065).
Second Pilot - Sgt J W Smith RAFVR (1176613).
Navigator - F/O Alfred Ernest Webster RCAF (J/4956).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Ogg (Possibly Sgt Archibold Craig Ogg RAFVR (1108344)).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Eric Charles Creaney RAFVR (1337406).
Air Gunner - Sgt Haakon Rivedal RCAF (R/54388).
Flight Engineer - Sgt John Maurice Mitchell RAFVR (637416).
The Sgt Ogg listed above was possibly Archibald Ogg and is correct then he was later awarded the DFM for service with 76 Squadron, Gazetted on 20th April 1943. By the time his DFM went from a recommendation to being granted he had received a commission on 23rd February 1943.
Samuel Jones was awarded the DFC for service with 35 Squadron, Gazetted on 22nd September 1942. He was later posted to 158 Squadron and was killed on 31st March 1944. He is buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery.
John Mitchell was awarded the DFM for service with 35 Squadron, Gazetted in October 1942. He was later granted a commission in April 1943.
Sgt Smith was flying as a second pilot in this aircraft for operational experience prior to beginning operational flying with 35 Squadron with his own crew. On 18th August 1942 he was flying Halifax W1226 when the aircraft was badly damaged by enemy aircraft on Ops to Flensburg, the Halifax was ditched and all on board were later picked up from their dinghy to become PoWs.
Alfred Webster had earlier served with 51 Squadron. For service with 51 Squadron he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 12th March 1943. He would later serve with 168 Squadron and be killed on 4th November 1945 in the crash of RCAF Fortress 9202 in Germany whilst involved in a flight to deliver penicillin to a Polish hospital.
Halifax W7760 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 24th June 1942. As a result of the minor damage sustained on 9th July 1942 minor Cat.A/FB damage was the damage assessment. It was repaired on site but was then lost on 28th July 1942 when it failed to return from Ops to Hamburg. Cat.E(m) damage was recorded and it was struck off charge on the same date.
Eric Creaney was later awarded the DFC for service with 102 Squadron, Gazetted on 16th February 1945 having received his commission on 10th May 1943.