Whitley Z9429 damaged by flak, returned to Linton on Ouse airfield.

On the evening of 28th January 1942 the crew of this aircraft were one of a number of 58 Squadron Whitley crews tasked with an operational flight to bomb Rotterdam. They took off at 17.59hrs from Linton on Ouse and was slightly damaged by flak while over the target area, they were able to return to base and landed at 22.40hrs. The flak punctured the tyre and the aircraft may well have been further damaged on landing with the damaged tyre.

Pilot - P/O Graham Lloyd Mandeno RAFVR (64937).

Second Pilot - Name unknown.

Observer - Sgt Paine.

Wireless Operator - Sgt Woolhouse.

Wireless Operator - Sgt Archie Frank Sparham RAFVR (1160328), of Lowestoft.

Graham Mandeno was born in New Zealand in 1914. He received a commission in the RAF on 27th April 1941 to the rank of P/O on probation. He was awarded the DFC for service with 156 Squadron, Gazetted on 6th July 1943, and later the Bar to the DFC as Acting S/Ldr for further service with 156 Squadron, Gazetted on 11th February 1944. He was later awarded the DSO for service with 139 Squadron, Gazetted on 2nd January 1945. He died in 2008 in Auckland, New Zealand.
Sgt Archie Sparham was killed on 3rd August 1942 when Whitley Z9518 crashed near Wick, he was still serving with 58 Squadron during their detachment to Coastal Command. He was twenty two years old and is buried in Lowestoft (Beccles Road) Cemetery.
Whitley Z9429 was built to contract 106962/40 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd. at Baginton and was awaiting collection on the 4th December 1941. It was taken on charge by 58 Squadron at Linton on Ouse later the same month. As a result of the incident on 28th January 1942 Cat.A/FB damage was as serious as the assessment got and it was repaired on site. On 22nd February 1942 it received slight damage when it was struck by Whitley Z9426 while taxying. On 8th April 1942 it moved with the unit to St.Eval on detachment to Coastal Command and then was transferred to 77 Squadron at Chivenor, who were also in Coastal Command at the time. In October 1942 77 Squadron ceased operating Whitley MkV's moving back to Bomber Command and converting to Halifaxes at Elvington. The aircraft was transferred to 10 OTU at Abingdon and finally to 19 OTU at Kinloss. By August 1944 19 OTU had ceased operating Whitley MkV's and the aircraft was placed in long term MU storage awaiting disposal. It was eventually struck off charge on 26th April 1945 and scrapped.

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