LAST VISIT TO LINTON TO HONOUR RAF 78 SQUADRON HALIFAX CREW

Security was on high alert at RAF Linton on Ouse on Sunday, 21st July to welcome honoured visitors.

Wingcommander Graham Bingham and The Rev. John Hetherington were on hand with members of Linton Parish Council; All Saints Newton; Jan Jauncey with the Linton History Society; and Mrs Pearson Headteacher of Linton School.

The occasion was to greet the coach from the area around Montcony and Louhans in Southern Burgundy, France on possibly their last visit to RAF Linton with a sad but proud purpose.

Already on a number of occasions Linton has received visits from delegates of this area of France who proudly maintain the graves and memory of eight crew in a WWII Halifax that was shot down over their village.

This loss from 78 Squadron based at Linton occurred on 23rd October 1942 and is a date remembered yearly in Montcony with great ceremony and significance as having given great impetus to the Resisitance in Burgundy against their Nazi occupiers.

The French visitors were led by Sylvie Monin-Badey, from Lyons University who has researched many RAF crash sites….