Halifax W1236 mid air collision, landed safely at Linton on Ouse.
At around mid-day on 3rd April 1943 a number of 76 Squadron Halifaxes were being given air tests prior to that evening's operational order. At 12.05hrs. Halifax HR748 and believed to have been Halifax W1236 were flying in formation when a minor mid-air collision took place when one of the aircraft crossed from port to starboard across the other. HR748 suffered very minor damage and both aircraft landed safely at Linton on Ouse. Halifax W1236 appears to have escaped without any damage. Both took part in the operational task that night.
Pilot - F/O Maurice Alec Stanley Elliott RAFVR (117489).
Probable crew:
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Francis Owen Ross RCAF (R/99150).
Flight Engineer - Sgt John Douglas Armstrong RAFVR (1014935).
Navigator - F/O Alexander Millar Houston RAFVR (121569).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt John Appleton RAFVR (1101248).
Air Gunner - Sgt Reginald John Matthews RAFVR (1187176).
Air Gunner - F/Sgt Thomas Kenneth Wagstaff RAFVR (655937).
On 17th April 1943 F/Sgt Ross was killed in Halifax DT575 which failed to return from an operational sortie to Plzen. He is buried Liesse Communal Cemetery. Unfortunately he was the final member of the crew listed above to be killed as a week earlier on the night of 8th / 9th April 1943 the remaining six crew members above were killed when Halifax W1236 failed to return from Ops to Duisburg. They were lost without trace and commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Halifax W1236 was built to contract B.982938/40 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury and was taken on charge by 460 Squadron at Breighton on 26th July 1942. On 25th October 1942 it was transferred to 76 Squadron at Linton on Ouse. Cat.U/FA damage would have been the damage assessment on 3rd April 1943 had no damage been located following the collision with Halifax HR748. Just days later on the night of 8th / 9th April 1943 it failed to return from Ops to Duisburg sadly resulting in the lives of all eight of it's then crew being killed. Cat.Em damage was recorded on the paperwork and it was struck off charge on 12th April 1943 having clocked up 298 hours total flying time.