1944 Incident Logs

Select a month below to see the incidents for that month.

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January

Date	Type	Serial	Unit	Location	Notes
1st January	Beaufighter X	LZ440	No.236 Sqn	North Coates	Swung on takeoff in rain, ran into a pond.
1st January	Beaufighter X	NE346	No.236 Sqn	North Coates	Lost height after takeoff and crashed.
2nd January	Lancaster III	JB738	No.460 Sqn	Binbrook village	Coded AR-T, airborne 2330 from Binbrook for Berlin. The aircraft crashed 6 minutes after takeoff near Binbrook village. Finn gives the date as 1st, serial as JB378 Lostbombers does not list it although refers to it. F/L B.A. Knyvett DFC RAAF, KIA, Sgt R.D. Trett KIA, F/S J. Dobinson RAAF KIA, F/S J.W.A. Farthing RAAF KIA, F/S H.J. Gill RAAF KIA, P/O E.J. Ross DFM RAAF KIA, F/O C.R. Pickworth RAAF KIA.
2nd January	Lancaster I	DV345	No.550 Sqn	Whaplode Drove	Coded BQ-? Airborne 0005 2nd Jan from Grimsby for Berlin. Took fire and crashed 0708 at whaphole Drove, 8 miles SE of Spalding. Sgt Taylor and Sgt Capel are buried in Cambridge City Cemetery; the others are buried in the UK, the Irish Republic and Melveren (St-Truiden) in Belgium. F/O de Menten de Horne, just one of a handful of Belgians serving in the RAF, having been brought here 25th Oct 49. F/O R.H.Mawle KIA, Sgt P.P.O'Meara KIA, F/O G.M.H.F.de Menten de Horne KIA, Sgt J.E.Rounding KIA, Sgt C.W.Taylor RCAF KIA, Sgt E.Skelton KIA.
3rd January	P-51B Mustang	43-12174	CCRC2-8thFC	Kirton Lindsey	Coded FT:1 from the 353FS/354FG, this aircraft was flown from Goxhill to Kirton-in-Lindsey on a trip for administrative duties by pilot Cpt Wilson V Edwards. At 1052hrs the aircraft bounced on touchdown and during Cpt Edwards' recovery actions, the left wing dropped, damaging the flying controls. Cpt Edwards elected to try to go around again, but caught the undercarriage on the airfield perimeter fence, causing it to crash through a hedge and cartwheel across the road into another hedge.
4th January	Halifax V	EB193	1667 HCU	Faldingworth	Airborne from Faldingworth at 2012 for a night navigation exercise. During the flight, oil problems were experienced first with the starboard outer, and then whilst on approach with the port outer, which then burst into flames. Unable to reach the runway, the aircraft force-landed in a field near the airfield under the approach at 0047.
4th January	Beaufighter X	NE226	No.254 Sqn	Donna Nook	Engine lost power, landed wheels-up in sleet at Donna Nook.
5th January	Spitfire II	P8367	53 OTU	Kirton Lindsey	Force-landed near the airfield.
6th January	Beaufighter X	LZ413	No.254 Sqn	nr Mablethorpe	Rolled inverted and stalled into the ground 1 mile west of Mablethorpe Hall.
7th January	Lancaster	ME574	No.44 Sqn	Dunholme Lodge	Coded KM-W. Airborne 1545 7th Jan from Dunholme Lodge. On return to base on completion of the training exercise the throttles jammed and while trying to go round again, the Lancaster crashed 1630 into a small spinney some 2 miles SW of the airfield. Sgt Welch is buried in Hull Eastern Cemetery. F/O E.Mercer, Sgt H.G.Capps, P/O V.D.Purvis, Sgt L.H.Barker, P/O A.C.Baker, Sgt W.J.Manley, Sgt W.H.Welch KIA.
7th January	Halifax V	DG290	1662 HCU	Blyton	Airborne from Blyton at 1550 for circuit practise with 8 on board. On landing with the pupil pilot in control, the aircraft swung to a degree that the instructor could not correct and the undercarriage collapsed.
7th January	B-17F Fortress	42-29821	508BS-351BG	Whaplode Drove	Mid-air structural failure, P 1st Lt Harvey J Anderson Crashed - Fatal, CP 2nd Lt Benjamin L Finnell Crashed-Broken Leg, N 2nd Lt Douglas E Webb Crashed - Fatal, B 2nd Lt William H Udick Crashed - Fatal, TT T/Sgt William F Reilly Crashed- chest injury, RO T/Sgt Domenick E Curcio Crashed - ankle injury, LWG S/Sgt Richard J Allen Crashed - Fatal, RWG S/Sgt Buddie Wolfe Crashed-Laceration Scalp, BT S/Sgt Frank H McNamara Crashed - Fatal, TG S/Sgt Leonard Edwards Crashed - Fatal.
8th January	Halifax V	DG287	1667 HCU	Swallow	Airborne from Faldingworth at 1850 for a night cross-country flight with 6 on board. During the flight, the weather deteriorated to such a degree that the crew were ordered to divert to another airfield. By midnight, the weather was so poor that the crew were unable to ascertain their own position, and at 0125 the aircraft was abandoned, being almost out of fuel.The crew exited safely and the aircraft crashed at Swallow.
11th January	P-47D Thunderbolt	42-75097	367FS-358FG	Goxhill	This aircraft sustained repairable (cat 3) damage in a taxiing accident on this date. Pilot was Joe R Holloway Jr.
13th January	Lancaster III	ED826	No.15 Sqn	in the Wash	Coded LS-? On a training flight. Crashed in the Wash 13 miles SW of Skegness, following an engine fire. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. F/S.W.A.Houston RCAF KIA, Sgt R.A.Andrews KIA, WO2 W.J.Hynes RCAF KIA, F/S C.W.Christie RCAF KIA, Sgt J.Johnston KIA, Sgt K.Talbot KIA, NB. These were the first casualties sustained by 15 Sqn since converting from Stirlings to Lancasters.
14th January	Lancaster III	EE197	No.207 Sqn	Spilsby	Coded EM-N, Airborne 1647 14th Jan from Spilsby for Braunschweig. Outbound, the port outer failed and was feathered. After jettisoning part of the bomb load, the crew continued to the target where they came under sustained attack from a Fw190. Damage was inflicted on the port inner, flying controls and both turrets before the fighter was shaken off. Then a burst of Flak rendered both ailerons useless. After a difficult return flight, the Lancaster touched down at 2254 and broke up on the runway, injuring F/S Stewart. For his outstanding skill and tenacity in the face of all odds, P/O Gallagher gained an immediate DSO and F/S Stewart a DFM, both awards Gazetted 18th Feb. P/O F.W.Gallagher, F/S C.E.D.Stewart inj, W/O A.Young, F/S R.P.Scott, Sgt S.Fawcett, Sgt K.Waddington, Sgt M.Serman RCAF.
14th January	Lancaster III	JB602	No.100 Sqn	Waltham	Coded HW-A, Airborne 1713 14th Jan from Grimsby for Braunschweig. Very severely damaged during an engagement with a Ju88 and crash-landed 2132 on return to Grimsby. Sgt Sanders was mortally wounded during the action and he is buried in South Shields (Harton) Cemetery. W/O P.R.M.Neal, Sgt R.Cull, Sgt C.Storr, Sgt R.G.Evans, Sgt H.A.T.Warner, Sgt J.Mason, Sgt T.S.Sanders KIA.
15th January	Spitfire II	P7663	53 OTU	Hibaldstow	Undershot on landing.
15th January	Blenheim IV	T1957	1 AAS	Manby	Crashed on landing.
15th January	Wellington X	LN707	No.300 Sqn	nr Ingham	Coded BH-R, airborne at 1837 from Ingham for mine laying off the French coast. The mines were laid from 1200 feet at 2132, and on return to base the aircraft was wrecked when it undershot on landing at 0018, coming to rest across the Lincoln road. The air bomber (unidentified in the crew list) was slightly injured in the crash.
20th January	Lancaster III	ED698	No.207 Sqn	Spilsby	Coded EM-? Airborne 1657 20th Jan from Spilsby for Berlin and crashed almost immediately. Details pertaining to the crew are omitted from Sqn records. P/O V.J.Glann RAAF.
22nd January	Lancaster III	ND366	No.460 Sqn	Caistor	Coded AR-?. Airborne 1958 21st Jan from Binbrook for Magdeburg. Homebound, both starboard engines cut, due to fuel starvation, and the Lancaster crashed 0314 22st Jan on Whitegate Hill near the small town of Caistor. All were injured, Sgt Allison and Sgt Norwood particularly so and both needed extensive treatment. F/S P.A.Teece RAAF inj, Sgt R.S.Hollingum inj, F/S W.McIntyre inj, Sgt J.Allison inj, F/S R.mansfield RAAF inj, Sgt P.C.Robins inj, Sgt G.T.Norwood injured.
22nd January	Halifax II	DT693	1662 HCU	Nr Corringham	Airborne from Blyton at 2214 for night circuits and landings, but crashed at Scroggs Farm shortly after takeoff. F/S E.J. Rayner KIA, Sgt A.E. Chaffe KIA, F/S A.K. Hill RNZAF KIA, Sgt G. Brand inj, but died shortly afterwards in Blyton SSQ, Sgt A.M. Griffiths injured
25th January	Blenheim IV	L9294	12 (P) AFU	Spitalgate	Undercarriage collapsed in heavy landing.
26th January	P-38J Lightning	42-67492	76FS-20FG	in the Wash	This aircraft took off from KingsCliffe on a sortie to practice dive-bombing targets in the Wash. The pilot, 2nd Lt Esburn D. Otis was killed when he made a bombing run at far too steep an angle and was unable to pull out of the dive before hitting the water.
27th January	P-51B Mustang	43-12222	355FS-354FG	Goxhill	Coded GQ:U, this aircraft was written off in a landing accident in bad weather. The pilot, 2nd Lt Rob Roy McIntosh lost control of the aircraft in extremely gusty winds at 1350 whilst on approach to Goxhill on a cross-country flight from his home base at Boxted and crashed on the runway.
29th January	Master 2	DL192	RAFC	nr Ruskington	Spun in during aerobatic session.
29th January	Stirling III	EF246	1660 HCU	in the Humber off North Killingholme	Coded -C, airborne from Swinderby for a combined Bullseye and a searchlight cooperation exercise. At approximately 2200, the aircraft dived in, after the pilot was possibly dazzled by searchlights and lost control after violent evasive action. F/O J.M. Greig DFC KIA, P/O V.F. Dickinson KIA, Sgt A. Spence KIA, Sgt G.J. Williams KIA, F/O E.P. Neary KIA, Sgt S. Walker KIA, Sgt D.L. Helsby KIA, F/S J.P. Hayden RAAF KIA.
29th January	Halifax V	LL150	No.431 Sqn	off the coast	Coded SE-N, Airborne 2358 28th Jan from Croft for Berlin. Hit by flak and after reaching the Lincolnshire coast, the crew were ordered to bale out. All landed in the sea, from where four were rescued by the combined efforts of the coastal minesweepers, Property, Prospect and Varanga and taken into Grimsby. Of the three killed, WO2 Barrie and Sgt Raymond are commemorated on Panels 249 and 256 of the Runnymede Memorial. F/S Corriveau is buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery. F/S J.T.R.Corriveau RCAF KIA, Sgt G.S.Webber WO2 J.D.Barrie RCAF KIA, F/S M.J.Charlebois Sgt S.C.B.Parker Sgt J.P.Raymond RCAF KIA, Sgt R.S.Cole.
31st January	Stirling	EF232	1660 HCU	Carlton-le-Moorland	Airborne from Swinderby for a night exercise, the crew included a pupil pilot and 2 flight engineers. The aircraft crashed at 2132 shortly after takeoff. F/O J.H. Mason DFC RCAF inj, (died the following day), F/S S.E. Martin inj, (died the following day), Sgt R.H. Appleton KIA, Sgt G.B. Lamb inj, (died the following day), W/O J.B. McKnight KIA, F/O H.G. Trueman RCAF KIA, Sgt R.E. Duke KIA, Sgt H. Nelson KIA.

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February

Date	Type	Serial	Unit	Location	Notes
2nd February	Lancaster I	W4132	1 LFS	Elsham Wolds	Undercarriage collapsed after the aircraft overran on landing. This may have been a minor accident or may have slipped through the net, as this crash does not appear in Chorley's HCU crashes book in either the HCU section (aircraft was previously assigned to 1667 HCU) or the LFS section, which starts 13th Mar.
2nd February	Proctor I	P6229	1 RS	nr Grantham	Spun in.
3rd February	Blenheim I	L8727	12 (P) AFU	Harlaxton	Crashed on landing.
4th February	P-47C Thunderbolt	41-6193	2GTTF-496FTG	Goxhill	This aircraft was airborne from Goxhill at 1952hrs with the pilot 1st Lt Wayne E. Downing making his first flight on the type. At 1115hrs whilst downwind to land, the undercarriage was lowered and the pilot reduced the throttle. The engine did not appear to respond, so the pilot tried full/half/full throttle, still with no response from the engine, so he elected to crash-land about 500 yeards north-east of the airfield. The accident was found to have been caused by the pilot not being familiar with the lag in response between throttle movement and engine response on the type. The aircraft was written off as a result of the crash-landing.
5th February	Spitfire II	P8320	AFDU	Kirmington	Overshot on emergency landing.
5th February	Halifax II	W7781	1662 HCU	Blyton	Whilst attempting takeoff at 2135 from Blyton, the aircraft swung violently and ground-looped, shearing the undercarriage in the process.
7th February	Halifax II	V9983	1662 HCU	Haxey	Airborne from Blyton at 2013 for night circuits and landings. Crashed at approx 2018 after losing control during evasive action to avoid a mid-air collision. The aircraft impacted near the East Lound - Craizelound road. F/S W.H.A. Daly RAAF KIA, Sgt T.R. Davison KIA, Sgt L.N. Singer KIA, Sgt J.E.G. Nowlan KIA, Sgt R.J. Payne KIA, Sgt H.R. Freeman KIA.
8th February	Spitfire	NK	NK	Kirmington	No details recorded.
12th February	Lancaster I	W4119	No.50 Sqn	nr East Kirkby	Coded VN-Q. Airborne 1510 12th Feb from Skellingthorpe for a fighter affiliation exercise. during the course of the sortie, a fire broke out in the port outer engine and the order to bale out was given. Before all could comply, part of the outer section of the port main-plane broke off and the Lancaster spun and crashed 1555 12th Feb near East Kirkby Airfield. Sgt Puddock is buried in Cambridge City Cemetery, while the others who were killed were taken to their home towns for burial. F/L M.J.Beetham, P/O D.A.Jennings RAAF, Sgt E.D.Moore KIA, F/O Swinyard, F/S Bartlett, Sgt R.Payne, Sgt Higgins, Sgt F.C.Ball KIA, Sgt H.G.Puddock KIA, Sgt C.King KIA, Sgt Payne draws attention to the fact, that his Skipper, F/L Beetham, became ACM Sir Michael Beetham GCB CBE DFC ADC. Chief of Air Staff. F/S Bartlett was to be the sole survivor, albeit injured, whilst serving with No.186 Sqn 4/5 Apr 45. See RA533.
14th February	P-38 Lightning	42-67773	27ATG-310FES	South Lincs	This aircraft flew into the ground in bad weather (thick fog) whilst on a ferry flight, exact location is not recorded. The pilot F/O K.A. Maloney was killed in the crash.
15th February	P-38 Lightning	42-67500	554FS-496FG	nr Goxhill	Coded CL:M, this aircraft force-landed 2 miles northwest of the airfield. Pilot 1st Lt Ernest R. Wilson took off from Goxhill at 1545hrs on a check-ride during his conversion to the type. Visibility was poor on the day so he remained in the vicinity of the airfield. Not long into the flight, he noticed fuel pressure problems, and then in quick succession both engines stopped, with Wilson being unable to restart either. He made a forced landing at 1618hrs, during which the aircraft was written off. The crash was attributed to pilot error due to inexperience on the type.
16th February	Lancaster III	ED655	No.619 Sqn	Old Bolingbroke	Coded PG-? Loaned to 619 Sqn, Berlin 15/16 Feb aircraft crashed whilst attempting to land at Coningsby on return. Squadron ORB states, visibility poor on return to base, and after overshooting due to another aircraft being slow to clear, it made another circuit at 700 feet. When coming into the funnel it hit the ground, the rear-gunner being severely injured and the aircraft wrecked. The rest of the crew suffered minor injuries. P/O K.Roberts (RAAF), Sgt J.F.J.Forrest, Sgt J.Lott, Sgt DeVeill, Sgt J.H.Tucker, Sgt L.E.Williams, Sgt L.F.Virgo.
16th February	Lancaster III	JB534	No.106 Sqn	Timberland Fen	Coded ZN-? Airborne 1720 15th Feb from Metheringham for Berlin. On return to base crashed 0010 16th Feb, while avoiding another Lancaster on Timberland Fen near the Lincolnshire villages of Timberland and Martin, some 11 miles SW of Horncastle. Sgt Hills died that same day from his grievous injuries. Those killed were buried in their home towns. F/O R.W.Dickerson KIA, Sgt G.H.Boffey KIA, F/O R.H.Lewis KIA, F/S F.O.W.Pauley KIA, Sgt W.C.Hills inj, Sgt B.Krukowski RCAF inj, F/O W.H.C.Ramsay injured.
19th February	Blenheim I	L8371	12 (P) AFU	Harlaxton	Crashed on landing.
19th February	Halifax V	DG314	1667 HCU	Sandtoft	Airborne from Sandtoft at 2215 for night flying practise. At 2245 whilst accelerating along the runway to go around for another circuit, the port tyre exploded. Despite attempted corrective action by the pilot, the aircraft left the runway and the undercarriage collapsed.
20th February	Lancaster III	JB530	No.103 Sqn	Elsham Wolds	Coded PM-? Airborne 2322 19th Feb from Elsham Wolds for Leipzig. On return to Base and while preparing to land, collided with another aircraft from the Sqdn (ND334). Despite the damage caused, F/S Gumbrell managed to crash-land without serious injury to his crew. F/S H.Gumbrell, Sgt T.V.Shaw, F/O H.J.Hearn, Sgt F.G.F Osborne, F/S J.Seward, Sgt D.W.Evans, Sgt R.A.Boulton.
20th February	Lancaster III	ND334	No.103 Sqn	Elsham Wolds	Coded PM-? Airborne 2350 19th Feb from Elsham Wolds for Leipzig. On return to base, collided in the air with another Sqn Lanc, (see JB530), and crashed. Of those killed, two were taken to nearby Brigg Cemetery, F/O Fuller was buried in Cambridge City Cemetery, while two were taken back to their home towns. Sgt Gunn's brother, Davod, also died on Active Service. W/O J.C.Warnes inj, Sgt D.H.J.Cunningham KIA, F/O R.H.Fuller KIA, F/S C.Bagshaw KIA, Sgt E.S.Gunn KIA, Sgt S.Clapham inj, Sgt A.O.Haines KIA.
20th February	Lancaster III	ND563	No.630 Sqn	East Kirkby	Coded LE-? Started the take-off run at 2340hrs for Stuttgart but swung out of control and after crashing through the boundary fence the Lancaster ran over the Stickney road and lost its undercarriage. Moments later, the bomb load exploded. P/O E.J.Murray killed, Sgt F.Westhead killed, Sgt P.G.Mottram killed, F/O H.K.Battye killed, Sgt K.J.Wallbey killed, Sgt D.W.Remole (Canadian) killed, Sgt W.Davies slightly injured.
21st February	Lancaster III	ND419	No.460 Sqn	North Witham	Coded AR-? Airborne 2330 20th Feb from Binbrook for Stuttgart. On return encountered near blizzard conditions and while trying to establish their position, the Lancaster flew into trees just to the south of North Witham, 9 miles S of Grantham. The RAAF crew members are buried in Cambridge City Cemetery. F/O F.A.Cleveland RAAF KIA, Sgt P.D.Rawson KIA, P/O G.A.Grant RAAF KIA, F/S E.H.Lawrie RAAF KIA, F/S A.G.Young RAAF KIA, Sgt J.E.McCarthy KIA, F/S J.A.Dietman RAAF KIA.
21st February	Lancaster III	ND498	No.49 Sqn	Fiskerton	Coded EA-? Airborne at 0007 from Fiskerton for Stuttgart, but swung on takeoff run. The aircraft caught fire, and the crew escaped unhurt before it exploded.
21st February	CG-4A Hadrian	42-77432	73TCS-434TCG	Fulbeck	This glider was involved in a landing accident colliding with C-47s 42-100507 and 42-24039 whilst practising stream landings. Pilot F/O Leon C. Doelger and co-pilot F/O george F Heath were in the #8 position of 8 gliders being towed. In F/O Doelger's words from www.airbornetroopcarrier.com: "I cut loose from tow plane a few seconds after No. 7 released. Made a normal turn to the left, speed of 105 MPH. Slowed glider speed with use of spoilers and also to avoid getting to close to No. 7 glider. On the final approach I stayed to the right and to the rear of No. 7. It was then I came into the prop-wash causing a loss of 150’. Believing I was still making the proper approach I began holding the glider off the ground as long as possible to make up for the lost altitude. Looking to the ground I could see nothing, it was then we hit C-47 # 42-100507 causing damage to the left wing tip, left wing, left de-icer boot and aileron. Then our right wing hit the other C-47 # 2-24039 damaging the left wing and wing tip, the left propeller and aileron and accessory cowling section, that swung the glider around the front of the plane causing damage to the right wing leading edge and de-icer boot. " The glider suffered major damage, including right wing smashed and loose in it’s connection to the fuselage, left wing badly torn and also loose from the fuselage. Fuselage at the wing boots was bent and torn and the pilots greenhouse was damaged slightly. The right hand door didn’t open and the overall fuelage was slightly bent. The glider was a write-off, the accident investigsation officers concluding the cause to be "The pilot of the glider failed to release at the proper time and landed short of his objective. Prop-wash may have contributed to loss of altitude but was only indirectly responsible for the accident."
21st February	C-47 Dakota	42-100507	73TCS-434TCG	Fulbeck	Collided with CG-4A 77432, aircraft suffered damage to the left wing tip, left wing, left de-icer boot and aileron. Repaired and returned to service.
21st February	C-47 Dakota	42-24039	73TCS-434TCG	Fulbeck	Collided with CG-4A 77432, aircraft suffered damage tothe left wing and wing tip, the left propeller and aileron and accessory cowling section, that swung the glider around the front of the plane causing damage to the right wing leading edge and de-icer boot. Aircraft was repaired and returned to service.
22nd February	Halifax II	BB213	1662 HCU	Blyton	Airborne 1430 from Blyton for a Gee training sortie. On return to Blyton at 1605, the aircraft bounced on touchdown, and on the second contact with the runway the undercarriage collapsed.
23rd February	Master 2	DL893	RAFC	nr Swineshead	Lost control and dived in 0.5 miles west of Swineshead.
23rd February	Oxford	LW992	RAFC	nr Market Rasen	Hit a tree whilst undertaking bombing training, crashed 4 miles east-southeast of Market Rasen, possibly near Sixhills.
23rd February	Beaufighter X	NE201	No.236 Sqn	off North Coates	Dived into the sea after takeoff on an anti-shipping sweep, 2 Killed.
24th February	Lancaster I	ME641	No.166 Sqn	Kirmington	Coded AS-B. Airborne 2000 24th Feb from Kirmington for Schweinfurt but collided in the air with a No.460 Sqn Lancaster (JB547) out of Binbrook, and crashed 2220 near Bully Hill, Market Rasen. Sgt Connolly died the next day from his injuries. Along with the other Canadian, he is buried in Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery. P/O A.H.Hullah KIA, Sgt J.Oldfield, WO2 G.A.Andrews RCAF KIA, F/O R.J.Barton RCAF, Sgt A.J.Wolfe KIA, Sgt T.L.Connolly RCAF inj, Sgt W.P.Martin KIA.
24th February	Lancaster III	JB547	No.460 Sqn	Kirmington	Coded AR-? On a training flight, collided with ME641.
24th February	Halifax II	BB365	1662 HCU	Blyton	Airborne 1725 for a night cross-country exercise. The aircraft was returning to base after problems with the port inner engine when the starboard inner engine failed on approach. The pilot elected to make a wheels-up landing on the airfield at 2245, and action which was endorsed and praised by his commanding officer.
24th February	Beaufighter 11	JM172	No.143 Sqn	Donna Nook	Coded ? - On take-off hit the sea wall at 1750 and damaged two nissen huts, ripping off the wheels on the aircraft amongst other bits. It then carried on across the sands and hit the water. One body was recovered the next day.
24th February	Lancaster III	LM335	No.166 Sqn	Kirmington	Coded AS-O, Started take-off 2000 24th Feb from Kirmington for Schweinfurt but swung to port and ended up in a field 500 yards from the runway. No crew injuries, though the Lancaster was assessed as beyond economical repair and SOC. Sgt G.D.Jones, Sgt H.T.Gregory, F/O R.D.Crone RCAF, F/O G.C.Neville RCAF, Sgt J.McGuire, Sgt B.T.williams, Sgt C.E.Mayne.
24th February	P-38 Lightning	42-67761	385FS-364FG	New Leake	The aircraft took off from Honington at 1617hrs on a local high-altitude flight to 30000 feet. The pilot, Cpt Harold E. Brown was killed at 1715hrs when the aircraft crashed 440 yards north of the New Leake crossroads in Eastville, exploding on impact. Debris was scattered over an area of 300 x 50 yards.
25th February	Halifax II	W7866	1662 HCU	Laughton	Airborne 2144 from Blyton for the pilot's first night solo,and circuits/landing practise. Aircraft climbed out normally until it reached 500 feet, then dived steeply into a wheat stack, bursting into flames on impact. No fault was found on the aircraft by investigators. Sgt K. Walmsley KIA, Sgt M.A. Bowles KIA, Sgt C.T. James KIA, Sgt F.N. Bower KIA.
26th February	Lancaster I	W4815	No.207 Sqn	Spilsby	Coded EM-C. Airborne 1842 25th Feb from Spilsby for Augsburg. Overshot on return to Spilsby and crashed with great force. Sgt Wright was buried in Cambridge City Cemetery, while the rest are buried in their home towns. It is noted that P.O Derbyshire came from the county of that name and is buried in Glossop Cemetery. P/O J.E.Derbyshire KIA, Sgt G.Cannock KIA, F/S Cooke KIA, Sgt C.T.L.Clement KIA, Sgt G.E.Wright KIA, Sgt J.S.Barker KIA, Sgt J.W.Linfoot KIA, In Feb 43 this Lancaster had been damaged during the operation to Lorient 13/14 Feb when the tail-gunner, Sgt T.Bown was killed. He is buried in Bramley (St.Peter) Churchyard, Leeds.
29th February	Halifax II	JD386	1666 HCU	Broughton	Coded -T, airborne 1230 from Wombleton for a daytime navigation sortie. Lost control at high altitude, possibly due to rudder stall, witnesses stated that the pilot appeared to be using differential throttle to try to recover control. At 800 feet, the aircraft went into a spiral dive and crashed nr Bridge Farm. P/O J. Sigurdson RCAF KIA, Sgt R.T.G. Loughrin KIA, F/O G.L. Muskett RCAF KIA, F/O J.B. Eaton RCAF KIA, WO1 J.M. Healey RCAF KIA, Sgt F.E. Wilts RCAF KIA, Sgt P. Zayets RCAF KIA.

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March

Date	Type	Serial	Unit	Location	Notes
1st March	P-51B Mustang	43-12424	555FS-496FG	Goxhill	The aircraft was airborne from Goxhill on a transition flight, with the pilot 2nd Lt William C Hawkins converting onto the type. After overshooting the runway, the pilot failed to go around for another attempt at landing after overshooting his landing point and hit an obstruction beyond the end of the runway. The aircraft was repaired and returned to service.
3rd March	Halifax III	LW649	No.76 Sqn	nr Scunthorpe	Coded MP-B, airborne from Holme-on-Spalding Moor with a full bombload. The rudder controls stiffened in flight, resulting in a loss of control and a steep dive. The aircraft broke up in the dive and the aircraft crashed at 1615. No record of crew casualties - Pilot recorded as P/O G.H. Smith.
3rd March	Spitfire V	EE617	No.443 Sqn	Digby	Overturned on takeoff.
5th March	Spitfire I	X4771	53 OTU	Hibaldstow	Pilot passed out on approach, aircraft undershot and overturned.
5th March	Master 3	W8641	53 OTU	Hibaldstow	Crashed on landing.
7th March	Halifax V	EB184	1667 HCU	nr Craizelound	Coded GG-D, airborne 1835 from Sandtoft for general night flying. Collided with HR657 over Misson bombing range, aircraft crashed nr Craizelound. Sgt P.A. Street KIA, Sgt H. Russon KIA, Sgt A. Fox KIA, F/O E.G. Bayer RCAF KIA, Sgt H.W. Green KIA, Sgt L.F. Woods KIA, Sgt J.W. Henderson KIA, Sgt W.N. Farrell KIA.
7th March	Halifax II	HR657	1662 HCU	nr Craizelound	Airborne 1800 from Blyton for a night navigation exercise, crew attached from 300 (Polish) Sqn. During the flight, the aircraft collided with EB184 over Misson bombing range, and crashed nr Craizelound. F/O Z. Ingling PAF KIA, Sgt B. Kot PAF KIA, F/O K. Lenartowicz PAF KIA, F/O H.J. Jarnicki PAF KIA, Sgt G. Liskiewicz PAF KIA, Sgt A. Loksza PAF KIA, Sgt B. Machulak PAF KIA.
7th March	Lancaster III	JA687	No.460 Sqn	Binbrook	Coded AR-? Destroyed by the explosion from ME646's bomb accident.
7th March	Lancaster I	ME646	No.460 Sqn	Binbrook	Coded AR-? Bomb exploded on loading, destroying the aircraft and also JA687.
8th March	Spitfire I	P9380	53 OTU	Hibaldstow	Overran on landing.
9th March	Halifax V	DJ998	1667 HCU	Belton Park	Coded GG-E, Airborne from sandtoft at 1330 for dual circuits and landings. Spun in at 1335 from 700 feet and burst into flames as it impacted. F/O S. Burton DFC KIA, P/O E.J. Patterson RNZAF KIA, Sgt G.R. Marshall KIA, Sgt R.G. Williams KIA, Sgt J. MacMillan-Clarke KIA, Sgt D. StClair KIA, Sgt D.R.W. Hall KIA, Sgt A. Forsyth KIA.
10th March	Spitfire I	N3163	53 OTU	Hibaldstow	Crashed on landing.
13th March	A-20 Havoc	41-3388	2GTTF-496FG	Goxhill	This aircraft sustained repairable (cat 3) damage in a landing accident on this date and was returned to service afterwards. Pilot was Dorsey L Martin.
13th March	P-38J Lightning	42-67490	554FS-496FG	North Killingholme	Aircraft landed wheels-up at RAF North Killingholme after apparently ruinning out of fuel. Damage was repairable (cat 3), pilot was John L Armstrong.
13th March	P-38J Lightning	42-67686	554FS-496FG	Goxhill	This aircraft, coded CY:T, was airborne from Goxhill on a training sortie as #2 in a pair. On return to base the pilot, 2nd Lt James R Korecky landed behind his element leader but quite a way down the runway and a little fast, requiring him to brake harder than normal. Under braking, the right tyre exploded, preventing Lt Korecky from braking further. The aircraft overran the runway, exited the airfield through the perimeter fence, crossed a road and came to rest in a ploughed field. The aircraft was repaired and returned to service.
13th March	Stirling	EF463	1660 HCU	Swinderby	Coded TV-D- Airborne at 2235 from Swinderby for a night conversion exercise. Returned to Swinderby at 0200 with the port outer engine unserviceable, and landed heavily on the starboard wheel, causing the aircraft to bounce back into the air, swing to the left and touch down again with sufficient force to collapse the undercarriage.
14th March	Master 3	W8952	53 OTU	Kirton Lindsey	Crashed on takeoff
14th March	Stirling	EF120	1660 HCU	Norton Disney	Airborne from Swinderby at 1315 for conversion training. The aircraft descended from 11000 feet with the starboard outer engine feathered (it is not stated whether this was due to a problem or part of the exercise) but overshot the runway at Swinderby and crash-landed near Norton Disney at 1615.
14th March	Blenheim I	L6745	12 (P) AFU	Spitalgate	Crashed on approach.
14th March	Blenheim IV	Z5973	1 AAS	Manby	Crashed on landing.
15th March	Halifax II	W1212	1662 HCU	Blyton	On takeoff for a training sortie at 2025 from Blyton, the aircraft swung slightly. One wheel left the runway and hit a ditch, ripping the undercarriage off and damaging the aircraft beyond repair.
16th March	Lancaster III	ED606	No.463 Sqn	Branston	Coded JO-E. Airborne 1924 15th Mar from Waddington for Stuttgart. While returning to Waddington was involved in a mid-air collision with a 625 Sqn Lancaster (ND637), both aircraft falling near Branston, 4 miles SE of Lincoln. P/O Grahem and his fellow Australian, F/S Humphreys, are buried in Cambridge City Cemetery. The others were taken to their home towns. P/O W.A.Graham RAAF KIA, Sgt D.M.A Munro KIA, Sgt J.A.Coates KIA, Sgt J.G.B.Jameson KIA, Sgt H.A.Baxter KIA, Sgt T.H.Jones KIA, F/S A.S.Humphreys RAAF KIA.
16th March	Lancaster III	ND637	No.625 Sqn	Branston	Coded CF-L. Airborne 1908 15th Mar from Kelstern for Stuttgart. While returning to base was involved in a mid-air collision with a 463 Sqn Lancaster (ED606), both aircraft crashing near Branston, 4 miles S of Lincoln. The three RCAF men were taken to Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery; Sgt Aiston, a South African married to Jean Aiston of Whitburn in County Durham, is buried in Lincoln (Newport) Cemetery. The rest were taken to their home towns. F/Sgt J P Bulger RCAF KIA, Sgt A W Aiston KIA, F/Sgt G Ivey RCAF KIA, F/O R R Jones RCAF KIA, Sgt D Hewitt KIA, Sgt J D Dadswell KIA, Sgt R J Fettis KIA.
18th March	L-4B	43-728	315SrS-97SrG	Bourne	This aircraft sustained repairable damage in a landing accident on this date. Pilot was Cpt Thomas E Beaird Jr. DFC. Cpt Beaird had been awared his DFC on March 7th 1944 and was promoted to Major on April 4th 1944.
18th March	Halifax II	DT485	1662 HCU	Blyton Village	Airborne at 1130 from Blyton for a training sortie with 8 on board. At 1405 the aircraft overshot the runway and the flight engineer discovered that the undercarriage would not retract. Due to this and having full flap deployed, the aircraft lost height rapidly and force-landed near Blyton village.
18th March	Halifax V	DG270	1662 HCU	Blyton	Airborne 2048 from Blyton for dual circuits and landings at night. At 2055 the trainee pilot misjudged his rate of descent, touched down and bounced back into the air. The instructor pilot could not open the throttles fast enough to prevent airspeed decaying, and the aircraft stalled onto the runway, bursting the port tyre in the process and collapsing the undercarriage.
19th March	Blenheim V	AZ966	12 (P) AFU	Spitalgate	Overshot and crashed.
19th March	Halifax V	EB149	1667 HCU	nr Crowle	Coded GG-C, airborne from Sandtoft for a night cross-country sortie. The starboard outer engine overheated in flight and was shut down. Shortly before 0024, the pilot was on final approach to Sandtoft with the starboard outer engine feathered when he flew into a pylon line and crashed heavily near Crowle. P/O J. Hetherington inj, Sgt D.C. Orme inj, F/O W.B. Handy RCAF KIA, Sgt R.C.A. Rollo RCAF KIA, Sgt D.A. Edwards KIA, Sgt E. Crossthwaite KIA, Sgt E.R.H. Hynes injured.
19th March	He177	6N+OK	KG100	off Skegness	Shot down by 307 Sqn Mosquito, 6 Killed.
19th March	Do217	U5+RL	KG2	Legbourne	Shot down by 264 Sqn Mosquito.
21st March	Spitfire VB	AB897	No.402 Sqn	Digby	Collided with AB880 in formation - aircraft damaged but survived.
21st March	Spitfire VB	AB880	No.402 Sqn	Digby	Collided with AB897 in formation.
22nd March	P-51B Mustang	43-12419	555FS-496FG	Goxhill	This aircraft sustained category 3 repairable damage in an accident during takeoff on this date. Pilot was 1st Lt Thomas L Donohoo.
22nd March	Beaufighter	?	No.143 Sqn	North Coates	Coded Z - Crash landed at the airfield after suffering under carriage trouble. No further information found.
24th March	Oxford	ED182	No.139 Sqn	nr Grantham	Force-landed after becoming lost.
25th March	Havoc 3 (Turbinlite)	AL458	304 FTU	nr Keisby	No further details.
25th March	Halifax V	DG293	1667 HCU	Sandtoft	Coded GG-MAirborne 1945 from Sandtoft for a night exercise, during which the port outer engine failed necessitating a return to base. Having touched down safely at 0105, the aircraft overran the flarepath, and the pilot was forced to swing the aircraft violently from its course to avoid a hangar. Seconds later, the aircraft hit EB144 which was parked on its dispersal.
25th March	Halifax V	EB144	1667 HCU	Sandtoft	Coded -A Hit whilst parked on dispersal by DG293.
25th March	Beaufighter X	JM338	No.254 Sqn	North Ormsby	Force-landed wheels-up after engine failure.
26th March	Blenheim IV	T1848	1 AAS	Manby	Crashed on landing.
26th March	Mosquito IV	DZ388	1655 MTU	nr Billingborough	Airborne from Warboys at 1908 for an operational training sortie. Spun in and crashed at 1930 at Aslackby Farm nr Billingborough. The inquiry considered that the pilot flew into a situation that was to prove his undoing in conditions bordering on instrument flying rules. S/L V. Allport DFC RNZAF KIA, F/L T.W. Matthews KIA.
26th March	Halifax II	W1246	1662 HCU	Blyton	Airborne from Blyton at 1645 for night and dusk training. At 2245 whilst accelerating down the runway, the port tyre burst, and the aircraft veered off the runway before the pilots could control it, causing the undercarriage to collapse, damaging the aircraft beyond repair.
27th March	Lancaster III	ND402	No.103 Sqn	Elsham Wolds	Coded PM-? Airborne 1951 26th Mar from Elsham Wolds for Essen. Turned back with engine trouble. On touchdown at 0005 27th Mar at Elsham, the brakes failed and the Lancaster veered from the runway, losing its undercarriage in the process. a fire broke out but there were no injuries. Sadly, this entire crew were to lose their lives 11/12 May in JB733 F/S R.Whitley, Sgt W.C.Benstead, WO2 J.A.Carter RCAF, F/S R.B.webb, Sgt P.N.Crutchfield, Sgt J.W.Smith, Sgt K.M.Martin.
27th March	Halifax V	DG305	1667 HCU	Sandtoft	Coded GG-D, on takeoff from Sandtoft at 0023 for night circuit practise the aircraft swung off the runway and the undercarriage collapsed. The same pilot also wrecked DG307 on 31st Mar when it swung off the runway whilst doing circuits and landings.
28th March	Lancaster III	LM432	No.9 Sqn	nr Horsington	Coded WS-O. On a transit flight. Airborne 1900 29th Mar from Manston. Crashed at Fir Grove Farm near Poolham Hall, Horncastle. Weather conditions in the area were described as very poor with limited visibility. P/O Porter, a First Class Diploma Student from Wimbledon Technical School, is buried in Sutton and Cheam (Cuddington) Cemetery. His crew, who are not identified, escaped injury, but an unnamed passenger is reported to have been killed. P/O K.L.Porter KIA.
30th March	Lancaster I	W4933	No.50 Sqn	Skellingthorpe	Coded VN-? Started the take-off 2215 30th Mar from Skellingthorpe for Nuremburg but a tyre burst and the Lancaster skidded out of control and was so severely damaged that it was eventually SOC. No injuries. F/S G.C.Bucknell RAAF. It is reported that this Lancaster had been funded from part of Andover's magnificent total of 232,787 raised in a Wings for Victory campaign. When lost it had completed 47 operational sorties.
30th March	Proctor 3	DX240	1 RS	Cranwell	No details recorded.
30th March	Halifax II	W7846	1662 HCU	Blyton	Coded - B2, at 0029 the aircraft's Aldis lamp failed whilst taxiing at Blyton, and the aircraft ran off the perimeter track into a ditch and was wrecked.
30th March	Martinet 1	JN646	53 OTU	Hibaldstow	Stalled on approach and spun in.
30th March	P-38 Lightning	42-67517	554FTS-496FTG	Goxhill	Coded B9:F, the pilot 2nd Lt Robert J. Rubel was taxiing out of his squadron's dispersal area at Goxhill when he inadvertently left the taxiway and the aircraft ran into a ditch, causing major unrepairable damage (cat 4).
31st March	P-51B Mustang	43-12195	555FTS-496FTG	Goxhill	This aircraft sustained repairable (cat 3) damage in a landing accident on this date and was subsequently returned to service. Pilot was 1st Lt Philip M.N. McHugh.
31st March	Halifax V	DG307	1667 HCU	Sandtoft	Airborne from Sandtoft at 2248 for a solo night flight with 5 crew onboard. After 5 successful circuits, the aircraft swung violently on touching the runway on the 6th and ended up on the grass with broken undercarriage. The same pilot also wrecked DG305 on 27/Mar/44 when the aircraft swung off the runway on takeoff.

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April

Date	Type	Serial	Unit	Location	Notes
1st April	Halifax V	DG355	1667 HCU	Sandtoft	Coded - G, Swung on takeoff from Sandtoft at 1804, undercarriage collapsed after pilot over-corrected.
1st April	P-51B Mustang	43-12210	555FTS-496FTG	Goxhill	This aircraft sustained repairable (cat 3) damage during a forced landing on this date, pilot was 2nd Lt Wayne W. James.
2nd April	Beaufighter X	LZ416	No.254 Sqn	Donna Nook	Landed wheels-up after being hit by flak during a convoy attack.
3rd April	Lancaster I	L7540	5 LFS	Waddington	Overshot on landing according to Hancock, who quotes the date as 15th Apr. Chorley gives the date as 3rd Apr, aircraft code as RC-U, and states that it was reported to have been DBR in an unspecified ground accident, subsequently allocated 4092M, no accident card has been traced.
5th April	C-47 Dakota	41-18541	45TCS-319TCG	Folkingham	This aircraft sustained repairable (cat 3) damage in a landing accident on this date. Pilot was Howard V Young.
8th April	Halifax V	DG386	1667 HCU	Epworth	Airborne at 0120 from Sandtoft for the pilot's first night solo on type. At 0135 whilst flying at 600 feet the port outer engine failed due to a fractured tappet. The aircraft was brough back under control by stopping the starboard outer engine, and the aircraft turned to port and force-landed in a field at Epworth. P/O D.W. Lee RNZAF injured.
8th April	Master 3	W8631	53 OTU	Hibaldstow	Undercarriage collapsed on landing.
8th April	Lancaster I	R5672	1 LFS	nr Caistor	Airborne from Hemswell on an air test, crashed at approx 1700 having been seen diving steeply from approx 1000 feet. Destruction was so great that the cause of the accident was not ascertainable by the investigators. Given the non-aircrew status of 5 of those on board, it must be assumed that they were groundcrew who had been invited along on the flight as a 'jolly'. Noteworthy are the rank of the pilot and the presence onboard of an ATA pilot. W/C E.F.K. Campling DSO DFC KIA, 2nd Officer T. Whittall(ATA) KIA, Sgt T.D. Regan KIA, LAC R.P. Freer KIA, AC1 T. King KIA, AC1 H. Quinton KIA, AC1 A.H. Spiller KIA, AC1 E.R. Steventon KIA, AC2 G.V.F. Killick KIA.
8th April	C-47 Dakota	42-100922	97TCS-440TCG	Bottesford	This aircraft sustained repairable (cat 3) damage as a result of an accident on take-off run on this date, pilot was Bob W. Turner.
9th April	Blenheim V	AZ964	12 (P) AFU	Harlaxton	Hit a fence after aborting takeoff.
9th April	Lancaster I	ME727	No.460 Sqn	nr Binbrook	Coded AR-X2. Airborne 2124 9th Apr from Binbrook to bomb the railway yards at Villeneuve-St-Georges, but crashed six minutes later into Scallows Wood, roughly 5 miles E of Binbrook. The four Australian crew members and both Air Gunners are buried in Cambridge City Cemetery. Sgt Barber is buried in Acock's Green (St Mary) Churchyard. He was 35 years of age. P/O W.D.McKenzie RAAF KIA, Sgt S.Barber KIA, F/S W.D.Weekes RAAF KIA, F/S B.J.J.Simpson RAAF KIA, F/S R. Mansfield RAAF KIA, Sgt J.L.Crouch KIA, Sgt J.S.Pyne KIA.
10th April	Lancaster III	ND407	No.625 Sqn	Kelstern	Coded CF-? Lost on a training flight.
10th April	Lancaster III	EE200	No.166 Sqn	nr Kirmington	Coded AS-F, Take-off 2311 10th Apr at Kirmington tasked to bomb railway yards at Aulnoye, but crashed almost immediately. The wreckage caught fire, but all the crew members got clear of the wreckage before the bombload exploded. P/O D.C. Gibbons, Sgt L.A.Lewis, Sgt T.F.Millett, Sgt C.T.Rose, Sgt R.F.Scott, Sgt E.Ashton, Sgt M.R.Walsh.
10th April	Lancaster III	ND820	No.635 Sqn	nr Bicker	Coded F2-W, caught fire in the air on a training sortie and crashed, 7 Killed.
10th April	Beaufighter X	NE480	304 FTU	Denton	Engine failed after takeoff, aircraft force-landed.
10th April	P-38 Lightning	42-67225	554FTS-496FTG	Goxhill	Coded B9:Q, this aircraft was airborne from Goxhill on a training flight. On return to Goxhill, the port engine failed. The pilot, 2nd Lt Edward M Bale, made a good circuit, but ran wide turning finals causing him to have to go around again. He retracted the undercarriage and completed a second circuit and approach, but forgot to lower the undercarriage before landing. The aircraft came to rest at 1145hrs on the grass by the side of the north-east end of runway 25. The aircraft was severely damaged in this accident and was salvaged for parts.
10th April	P-38 Lightning	42-67815	554FTS-496FTG	Louth Park	This aircraft was airborne from Goxhill for a practice formation flight. During the sortie, the pilot, 2nd Lt Emmanuel Levin, used up the fuel from the wing tanks, and switched to other fuel tanks as per standard procedure. Some minutes later, the port engine stopped from fuel starvation, followed shortly afterwards by the starboard engine failing for the same reason. The aircraft was belly-landed on Louth Park, and was severely damaged in the crash, though the pilot was uninjured.
10th April	P-38 Lightning	42-67207	554FTS-496FTG	Goxhill	This aircraft was damaged in a taxiing accident on this date and sustained repairable damage – pilot Arthur Marcus unharmed.
10th April	P-38 Lightning	42-67524	554FTS-496FTG	Goxhill	Coded B9:D, this aircraft sustained repairable (cat 3) damage in a taxiing accident at Goxhill on this date, pilot's name not recorded.
11th April	P-38 Lightning	42-66718	554FTS-496FTG	Goxhill	This aircraft was involved in a ground accident at Goxhill on this date and sustained repairable (cat 3) damage. Pilot's details not recorded.
11th April	P-38 Lightning	42-67682	554FTS-496FTG	Goxhill	This aircraft was involved in a ground accident at Goxhill on this date and sustained repairable (cat 3) damage. Pilot's details not recorded.
11th April	Blenheim I	K7089	12 (P) AFU	Spitalgate	Undercarriage collapsed whilst taxiing.
11th April	B-17 Fortress	42-38131	304BS-305BG	Grimsby (Waltham?)	Coded WF-A, named 'Bertie Lee'. Crash-landed on return from Stettin after being severely damaged by fighters. SOC. Crash report does not appear on the AAIR listing.
12th April	Stirling	LJ450	1654 HCU	Hilltop Farm, Caythorpe	Airborne from Wigsley for a long night navigation and bombing exercise at the Bassingham ranges. Whilst in the range area, shot down at 0125 by Me410 intruder thought to be from 2/KG51. Aircraft crashed at Hilltop Farm, Caythorpe. The farmer, Mr Theaker, erected a memorial at the crash site. Of the 8 crew on board, 4 were killed: F/S J.J.G. Nicholson, Sgt J.E. Lowe, Sgt G.J. Lewis, Sgt K.L. MacFarlane.
12th April	Mosquito VI	LR266	60 OTU	nr Grantham	Damaged by an intruder during a night navigation exercise. aircraft abandoned, crashed near Grantham.
13th April	Wellington III	DF598	22 OTU	Sandtoft	Airborne from Wellesbourne Mountford for a night-flying sortie. The aircraft crash-landed at 2237 following fire in the starboard engine.
15th April	Spitfire II	P7667	53 OTU	Faldingworth	Force-landed.
18th April	Lancaster III	JB662	No.460 Sqn	Binbrook	Started the take-off roll at 2226 from Binbrook for Rouen but swung out of control and crashed. A fire developed and before the blaze could be brought under control there was an explosion and the Lancaster was wrecked. No crew injuries. Note: 460 Sqn Records omit details of this loss and the information reported here has been taken from the Accident Record Card. Although 460 Sqn visited Rouen on this date, it also fulfilled a Gardening sortie. W/O R.H.White RAAF.
18th April	C-47 Dakota	42-100922	97TCS-440TCG	Bottesford	This aircraft sustained major but repairable damage in a crash on the runway on take off. The accident was caused by an elevator lock being left in place. The crew were unhurt and returned to duty. Pilot Lt Riffel, copilot 1st Lt Turner, radio operators Cpl Fralick and S/Sgt Weiss and crew chief S/Sgt Boozer. This aircraft was repaird and served post-war with the Venezualan air force.
18th April	P-38 Lightning	42-67870	554FTS-496FTG	nr Goxhill	This aircraft departed Goxhill at 1621hrs on a high-altitude formation practice sortie. Around 40 minutes later the aircraft was seen north of the airfield in a dive with smoke trailing from it. The pilot, 2nd Lt John M Kiefer pulled out of the dive at around 5-6000 feet, at which point ground observers noted that one engine was on fire.The aircraft crashed 2 miles north of the airfield, possibly at Goxhill Haven, killing the pilot.
19th April	Lancaster I	ME734	No.625 Sqn	nr Kelstern	Coded CF-J, Airborne 2216 18th Apr from Kelstern to attack the railway yards at Rouen. Shot down by an Intruder near Kelstern on return. Two were buried in Cambridge City Cemetery, while P/O Cosgrove was taken to Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery, where so many of his countrymen are buried. The other were taken to their home towns. P/O J.P.Cosgrove RCAF KIA, Sgt A.Bennett KIA, F/S R.A.Mercer KIA, Sgt G.E.Jeeves KIA, Sgt C.Williams KIA, Sgt C.J.Page KIA, Sgt D.H.Beechey KIA, This was the first operation for this aircraft.
20th April	Halifax I	L9613	1662 HCU	Blyton	Airborne 1356 from Blyton but after climbing to 200 feet both outer engines failed, with the port outer catching fire. The aircraft successfully force-landed.
20th April	Beaufighter X	NE771	No.143 Sqn	off North Coates	Crashed in the sea off the airfield during a practise bombing exercise.
21st April	Beaufighter XI	JL879	No.143 Sqn	off North Coates	Crashed in the sea off the airfield during a low-level bombing exercise.
21st April	Beaufighter X	JM333	No.254 Sqn	nr North Coates	Landed wheels-up on the beach near the airfield after engine failure.
21st April	C-47 Dakota	43-15183	15TCS-61TCG	Barkston Heath	This aircraft sustained repairable damage in a taxiing accident on this date, pilot Lt Lawrence C. McMurtry was unhurt and returned to duty.
22nd April	Lancaster I	LL834	No.550 Sqn	off Donna Nook	Coded BQ-K. Lost on a training flight, both starboard engines failed, aircraft ditched north of Donna Nook.
22nd April	Stirling	EF498	1660 HCU	nr Eagle	Coded -P. Airborne 2203 from Swinderby for a night navigation sortie. At 0358 whilst circling and preparing to land, the aircraft collided with EH926 and crashed north of Morton Hall. P/O A.M. Lees KIA, Sgt T. Mitchell KIA, Sgt J.E. Rowley KIA, F/O M.P. O'Keefe KIA, Sgt P.B. Illingworth KIA, Sgt L. Burman KIA, Sgt N.H.B. Garrity RCAF KIA, Sgt A.L. Stoneham RCAF KIA.
22nd April	Stirling	EH926	1660 HCU	nr Eagle	Coded -T. Airborne 2103 from Wigsley for a night navigation sortie. At 0358 whilst circling and preparing to land, the aircraft collided with EF498 and crashed north of Morton Hall. P/O G.R. Jeans KIA, Sgt R.V. Searle KIA, Sgt J.G. Case KIA, Sgt J.W. Willies KIA, Sgt A.J.G. King KIA, Sgt L. Allen KIA, Sgt A.D. Short KIA.
22nd April	Spitfire II	P7553	53 OTU	Kirton Lindsey	Force-landed near the airfield.
22nd April	Spitfire II	P7554	53 OTU	Kirton Lindsey	Force-landed near the airfield following engine failure.
22nd April	Halifax V	DK186	1667 HCU	Sandtoft	Coded -A2. taxiing at Sandtoft at 0310, the undercarriage collapsed when aircraft swung off the taxiway and ran into a deep ditch.
22nd April	Mosquito IV	DZ478	No.627 Sqn	nr Woodhall Spa	Dived in on approach to the airfield.
22nd April	Halifax II	HR668	1662 HCU	Blyton	Airborne 2220 from Blyton for night circuits and landings. At 2230 the aircraft landed with undercarriage retracted. The pilots and flight engineer all testified that the undercarriage indicators showed that the gear was in the down position.
22nd April	Lancaster I	LL883	No.9 Sqn	Bardney	Coded WS-C, Started take-off run from Bardney at 2328 22nd Apr for Braunschweig (Brunswick), but swung out of control, crashed and caught fire. Later the bomb load exploded, wrecking the Lancaster. As a result of this accident, from which the crew escaped unhurt, fourteen aircraft waiting to depart for Brunswick had to be withdrawn from the operation. P/O G.F.Maule, Sgt T.S.Brickley, F/O L.B.Connery RCAF, F/S G.e.Ridley RCAF, Sgt J.M.Smith, Sgt H.Harvey, Sgt G.Charlesworth.
23rd April	Albemarle ST2	V1610	42 OTU	Kirton Fen	Shot down either by night intruder or Coningsby AA fire, 3 Killed.
24th April	Mosquito XII	HK168	No.307 Sqn	Coleby Grange	Crashed on takeoff.
24th April	Lancaster III	JB556	No.630 Sqn	East Kirkby	Coded LE-? Airborne 2054 24th Apr from East Kirkby for Munich but the port inner engine burst into flames. Showing commendable skill, P/O Bailey managed to get the Lancaster into the air and then flew round the circuit before crash-landing five minutes later on the perimeter track. A fire broke out and the crew were dragged clear through the combined efforts of the Station Commander, G/C Taafe OBE, the Senior Medical Officer, S/L Elliott, F/L Nelson and the crash-rescue team. P/O R.W.Bailey Sgt H.Allwright KIA, F/S C.Richardson Sgt J.Henderson Sgt J.Cable Sgt H.Lindsay Sgt M.Murton.
25th April	Blenheim I	K7155	12 (P) AFU	Spitalgate	Landed with wheels retracted in error.
25th April	Halifax II	BB383	1662 HCU	nr Blyton	Airborne 1825 from Blyton for an air test but crashed 1 mile from the airfield after engine failure on takeoff. The aircraft struck a tree in the final seconds of flight, 2 crew injured, the remainder unhurt. Injured were: P/O R.J. Bunten DFC and Cpl D. Eyre. The 'crew' appears to have mainly consisted of groundcrew on a 'jolly' as apart from the pilot and flight engineer, there were 2 Corporals, 1 AC2 and a WAAF LACW making up the complement onboard.
25th April	Lancaster III	ND638	No.103 Sqn	Elsham Wolds	Airborne 2146 24th Apr from Elsham Wolds for Karlsruhe. Hit by incendiaries over the target area, causing F/O Legget to lose control. The order to bale out was given and F/O Apostilides left the aircraft. Before anyone else could follow, the pilot recovered the situation and cancelled his order. Base was reached and landed at 0354 25th Apr without further incident. a technical inspection, however, revealed extensive damage and the Lancaster was reduced to spares and scrap. F/O T.G.Leggett, Sgt W.A.Edwards, F/O R.H.Beer, P/O A.A.Wilks, F/S L.Ireland RAAF, F/O J.G.Apostilides PoW, F/O A.V.M.Jones. F/O J.G.Apostilides was interned in Camp L3.
25th April	P-51B Mustang	43-12151	555FTS-496FTG	Goxhill	This aircraft sustained repairable damage in a landing accident at Goxhill on this date – pilot Lt Walter M. Christensen Jr returned to duty.
26th April	Beaufort I	JM571	North Coates SF	North Coates	Hit a bank whilst overshooting after engine failure.
26th April	Beaufighter	?	No.236 Sqn	Donna Nook	Coded P - Crash landed at the airfield after OPs due to a hydraulic failure. The aircraft burst into flames and was destroyed. The crew escaped unhurt.
26th April	P-51B Mustang	43-12487	355FS-354FG	Goxhill	Coded GQ:V, this aircraft was airborne as one of a pair from Lashenden on a cross-country flight to Goxhill. On arrival the pair were instructed to use a shorter alternate runway as the main one in use was blocked at the time. Pilot 2nd Lt Charles W. Hawley landed long at a higher speed than normal. On braking, the aircraft's brakes failed and it overran the runway onto softer ground at the end where it nosed over.
26th April	UC-78 Bobcat	43-31804	1 TAD	North Witham	Undercarriage collapsed whilst aircraft doing practise circuits, pilot Vaughan O. Stevens (rank unkonown).
27th April	P-38 Lightning	42-67307	554FTS-496FTG	nr Goxhill	Coded B9:D. Shortly after takeoff for a training flight involving camera-gun and single-engine work, pilot 2nd Lt Robert E. Parry noticed oil and smoke coming from the starboard engine. He was cleared to land again at Goxhill and made an approach after shutting down the starboard engine. His landing was fast and further along the runway than normal, resulting in the need to brake harder than normal. Under braking the right mainwheel tyre blew out, and this caused the right main leg of the undercarriage to collapse. The aircraft sustained major damage in this incident but Lt Parry returned to duty afterwards.
27th April	P-38 Lightning	42-67772	554FTS-496FTG	Goxhill	Coded B9:C, this aircraft sustained damage in a landing accident on this date. No further information is known regarding the crash though the aircraft may have been scrapped as a result of this accident. Pilot was Lt William J. Noon.
27th April	P-38 Lightning	42-67700	554FTS-496FTG	Goxhill	This aircraft sustained minor (cat 1) damage in a mid-air collision on this date. No further details known though pilot Cptn Harold O. Binkley survived the war.
28th April	P-38 Lightning	42-67418	554FTS-496FTG	in the Humber, nr Sunk Island	This aircraft was airborne from Goxhill for a solo aerobatic training flight. Shortly after the pilot 2nd Lt Earl R. Fryer had completed a roll at around 10000ft altitude, he noticed smoke from the starboard engine. This smoke filled the cockpit and became so dense after the pilot removed the canopy that he baled out, landing uninjured in the river Humber. The aircraft crashed some 3 miles east of Immingham.
28th April	Halifax V	DG317	1667 HCU	Sandtoft	Coded UG-J, collided at 0056 on the ground with DG347 whilst taxiing out for a night sortie.
28th April	Halifax V	DG347	1667 HCU	Sandtoft	Coded UG-O, struck at 0056 by DG317 whilst stopped at the marshalling point to have the tyres checked.
29th April	P-38 Lightning	42-67211	HQ Sqn-496FG	Folkingham	During a mock dogfight on a cine-gunnery training flight, the port propellor ran away, causing loss of control of the aircraft. The aircraft spiralled down through the cloud, and on breaking through the bottom of it, the pilot 2nd Lt Chester F Gerick was still unable to regain control and chose to bale out. During his egress from the aircraft, Lt Gerick hit his head on part of the airframe and was knocked out. His parachute snagged on part of the aircraft too, causing it to open. Lt Gerick landed safely, his aircraft was destroyed when it crashed at 0915hrs at Lodge farm, Walcot near Folkingham.
30th April	Lancaster I	LM527	No.576 Sqn	nr Elsham Wolds?	Coded UL-U2 Airborne 2150 30th Apr from Elsham Wolds to bomb an ammunition dump at Maintenon but struck a hedge on take-off and severely damaged the the under surfaces. Unable to jettison the bomb load or lock down the undercarriage the crew had no option but to bale out. The aircraft was headed out to sea and they all successfully baled out close to the airfield. No injuries. P/O J.S.Griffiths, Sgt J.D.Hawkswood, Sgt D.C.Dint, Sgt T.Atherton, Sgt W.J.McCarthy, Sgt M.Langmead, Sgt T.Jago.
30th April	Lysander	NK	NK	Manby	No further details.

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May

Date	Type	Serial	Unit	Location	Notes
2nd May	Blenheim IV	N3613	1 AAS	Theddlethorpe	Collided with V5449.
2nd May	Blenheim 4	V5449	1 AAS	Theddlethorpe	Collided with N3613.
2nd May	Blenheim I	K7125	17 FTS	in the sea?	Missing on exercise, presumed crashed into the sea.
2nd May	P-38 Lightning	42-67823	55FS-20FG	nr Stamford	Airborne from Wittering on a test flight, the starboard engine was feathered for a restart test. The engine failed to restart in flight and the drag from the propellor was more than the other engine could compensate for. The pilot, Capt Roy M Scrutchfield chose to force-land wheels-up at North Field Farm near Stamford. The aircraft sustained unrepairable (cat 5) damage in the landing though the pilot returned to duty after the crash.
3rd May	Master 2	DL353	17 FTS	nr Cranwell	Hit a wall 0.5 miles west of the airfield after engine failure.
3rd May	Beaufighter X	JM332	No.254 Sqn	North Coates	Crashed on takeoff.
4th May	Spitfire II	P7882	53 OTU	Hibaldstow	Undershot on landing.
4th May	Halifax II	BB316	1662 HCU	Kirton Lindsey	Airborne 2155 from Blyton on a Bullseye sortie. Returned to base with the starboard outer feathered around midnight. Whilst approaching the circuit the aircraft turned steeply and crashed near Kirton Lindsey village at 0005, bursting into flames on impact. No definitive cause was found, though the investigators suggested that the starboard inner engine may have stopped due to running out of fuel. Sgt J.N. Robertson KIA, Sgt H.J. Street KIA, F/O S.J. Chaplin KIA, F/O S.J. Spencer KIA, Sgt W.M. Harvey KIA, Sgt S. Bird KIA, Sgt L.G. Garrod injured.
4th May	Lancaster I	ME703	No.576 Sqn	Elsham Wolds	Coded UL-S2, Airborne 2140 3rd May from Elsham Wolds for Mailly-le-Camp. Badly shot about by a Ju88. Rear Gunner killed. P/O Reed returned to base and made a successful landing despite damaged landing gear and burnt-out rear turret. Aircraft beyond repair. P/O Reed was awarded an immediate DSO. Tragically, the survivors of this episode were all killed 22/23 May in ME687.
4th May	P-38 Lightning	42-67503	554FTS-496FTG	nr Hagworthingham	Airborne from Goxhill as the leader of a pair of aircraft assigned to high-altitude single-engine flying practice, the pair encountered an RAF Hurricane during the sortie and made several dummy attack runs against it. In the course of these mock attacks pilot 2nd Lt James G. Edmonson heard an unusual noise and shortly afterwards noticed smoke in the cockpit. This was followed by signs of fire in the port engine, and shortly afterwards Lt Edmonson crash-landed in a field at High Barn Farm at Hagworthingham. Lt Edmonson returned to duty but his aircraft was damaged beyond repair in the crash.
5th May	Blenheim I	L1224	12 (P) AFU	Gelston Grange	Crashed on a weather-test sortie.
5th May	P-38 Lightning	42-67655	554FTS-496FTG	Goxhill	This aircraft was involved in a taxiing accident at Goxhill on this date, sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. Pilot Cptn William W Smith returned to duty after this accident.
6th May	Lancaster III	W4793	1 LFS	nr Sturgate	Began takeoff 1005 from Sturgate to return to Hemswell, but the rudder adjustment slipped, causing the pilot's feet to slip off the rudder pedals. The aircraft ran through a hedge and came to rest on Christmas Farm, Heapham despite the best efforts of the pilot to bring the aircraft to a halt safely.
7th May	Mosquito II	DZ422	No.627 Sqn	Woodhall Spa	Crashed near the airfield bomb dump on single-engined approach - assume this to be a training flight as it is not listed by lostbombers as an operational loss, 2 Killed.
7th May	P-51B Mustang	43-12210	554FTS-496FTG	Goxhill	Coded C7:E, this aircraft was involved in a taxiing accident on this date, sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage – pilot Lt Warren L. Ewert returned to duty after this accident and was shot down and taken POW on July 21st 1944.
8th May	Halifax V	LL391	1667 HCU	Sandtoft	Coded -O, airborne 2159 from Sandtoft for a night cross-country flight with 6 on board. On takeoff, a swing to the left was overcorrected, and the aircraft skidded out of control off the runway, causing the undercarriage to collapse. After coming to rest, the starboard outer engine caught fire.
8th May	Lancaster I	LL912	No.49 Sqn	Fiskerton	Coded EA-? Officially this aircraft was wrecked in a taxing accident due brake failure at Fiskerton with a total of 75 hours. No injuries reported. F/O L.M.Pederson RCAF Note: It appears from the definitive 49 Sqdn history, that this aircraft was actually wrecked due to a fist fight with the the pilot and a F/S Fitter from 'B' Flight. There was a dispute between them regarding a WAAF on the station. The F/S was reduced to Sgt. LL912 was wrecked, and the crew went on to complete a tour with No.49 Sqn.
8th May	P-38 Lightning	42-67075	554FTS-496FTG	nr Market Deeping	Coded B9:K, this aircraft was airborne from Goxhill on an evening solo combat training flight when the port engine failed. Pilot 2nd Lt Dwight D Lee was forced to make an emergency landing 1 mile north of Peakirk at 2025hrs. The aircraft sustained major damage in the landing though Lt Lee returned to duty afterwards.
8th May	P-38 Lightning	42-67682	554FTS-496FTG	nr Barton-on-Humber	This aircraft was airborne from Goxhill on a training flight to convert 2nd Lt Darrel D. Kite to the type. During the flight, Lt Kite collided with P-51B 42-12190 and crashed 1 mile southeast of Barton-on-Humber, killing Lt Kite. One of the two aircraft came down on a farm belonging to a Mr Knapton, and the other crashed near Barrow Wold Farm at Deepdale.
8th May	P-51B Mustang	43-12190	555FTS-496FTG	nr Barton-on-Humber	Airborne from Goxhill on a training flight, this aircraft was involved in a mid air collision with P-38J 42-67682 1 mile southeast of Barton-on-Humber. The pilot 2nd Lt Harry N. Hagan baled out and suffered only minor injuries. One of the two aircraft came down on a farm belonging to a Mr Knapton, and the other crashed near Barrow Wold Farm at Deepdale.
9th May	P-38 Lightning	42-67203	554FTS-496FTG	Goxhill	Coded B9:O this aircraft was airborne from Goxhill on a test flight.The Pilot, 1st Lt Robert F. Maloney, an instructor on the squadron came in over the field after completing a normal flight. Over the field, the port propeller stopped. Lt maloney attempted to land, but could not extend the landing gear, so went around for another attempt. Flying Control advised him that his left mainwheel door was not open, so he retracted the undercarriage and landed wheels-up, the aircraft sustaining major damage in the crash.
10th May	Halifax V	DG309	1667 HCU	Sandtoft	Airborne from Sandtoft for the pilot's first solo on type. After completing 4 good circuits, the aircraft swung out of control on the 5th and veered off the runway despite the pilot's attempts at corrective action. Aircraft came to rest after the undercarriage collapsed.
11th May	P-38 Lightning	42-67410	554FTS-496FTG	Claxby, nr Market Rasen	Coded B9:Z, this aircraft was airborne from Goxhill on a training flight to practice single-enge flying. It crashed on the railway embankment near Claxby station at 1208hrs after the pilot 2nd Lt Robert G. Hanley had completed a loop and apparently lost control whilst practising slow rolls at low altitude. Lt Hanley was killed in the crash.
12th May	Oxford	V3858	17 SFTS	Wellingore	Engine failed on overshoot.
12th May	Lancaster I	LM478	No.61 Sqn	Skellingthorpe	Coded QR-? Airborne 229 11th May from Skellingthorpe to bomb a military camp at Bourg-Leopold in Belgium. The sortie was abandoned by order of the Master Bomber and at 0100 12th May the crew jettisoned most of the bomb load and returned to base, landing at 0200 12th May over-running the runway and dropping into a ditch. Damage was sufficient to classify the Lancaster BER. No injuries to the crew. F/S C.J.Woolnough RAAF, Sgt F.gould, F/O H.A. Haggerstone, F/O I.Ravenscroft, Sgt R.Smith, Sgt H.Silzer, Sgt E.G.Smith.
13th May	Halifax V	LK991	1667 HCU	Sandtoft	Airborne from Sandtoft 1709 for circuits and landings. Approaching the runway at 1724 the pupil was too high, and flared with insufficient throttle. The instructor was too late in opening the throttles to overshoot, and the aircraft stalled and crashed heavily. 6 of the 8 crew were unhurt, those injured were P/O W.G. Parsons RNZAF and F/S J. Lister RAAF.
14th May	P-38J Lightning	42-67766	554FTS-496FTG	Goxhill	This aircraft was airborne from Goxhill at 0930hrs as the number 2 in a pair on a 90 minute high-altitude formation training flight, followed by a recovery to base flying on instruments. On return to base, the pilot, 2nd Lt Gordon L Doolittle attempted to land immediately behind his leader on the very end of the runway. A few seconds from touchdown, Lt Doolittle's aircraft caught the propwash from his leader's aircraft and hit the airfield boundary fence and landed short of the runway threshold, causing the nosewheel to collapse. The aircraft skidded along the runway for around 300 yards before coming to a halt. Lt Doolittle was uninjured in this accident and the damage to the aircraft was soon repaired.
15th May	Stirling	LJ575	1661 HCU	Waddington	Ground accident? No trace in Chorley's OTU book. Finn notes that this aircraft 'became TS266' in book 2, but on the same date in book 1, with no serial the location is quoted as Wigsley – Hancock has no trace of it.
16th May	Lancaster I	W4965	1 LFS	Sturgate	Airborne 0110 from Sturgate on a transit flight back to Hemswell but lost control on takeoff, crashed and caught fire at Laburnam Farm. No injuries recorded.
16th May	Master II	DK857	16 FTS	Long Sutton	Spun in from cloud, 1 Killed.
16th May	Master II	DM348	16 FTS	Sutton Bridge	Overturned after undercarriage collapsed on landing.
16th May	P-38J Lightning	42-67483	554FTS-496FTG	Goxhill	Coded B9:C, this aircraft was airborne from Goxhill on a cine-gun and instrument flying training sortie. On return to base the pilot, 2nd Lt Jarrette D. Bowen approached starboard wing low, causing the right undercarriage mainleg to strike the runway with some force, breaking it. After going around for another approach Lt Bowen was unable to raise or lower the undercarriage even by using the emergency sytems. At this point the starboard engine's oil pressure dropped and Lt Bowen made a landing with the undercarriage up. Lt Bowen was unhurt and the aircraft sustained repairable (cat 3) damage.
17th May	P-51B Mustang	43-12149	555 FTS-496 FTG	5 miles northwest of Ludford Magna	Airborne from Goxhill on a cine-gunnery training sortie, the aircraft hit high tension wires whilst flying at very low level and crash-landed. The pilot 2nd Lt James D. Smith returned to duty after this crash, the aircraft sustained repairable (cat 3) damage. The cause of the accident was attributed to Lt Smith disobeying flying instructions coupled with error in his technique.
17th May	P-51B Mustang	43-12210	555 FTS-496 FTG	Goxhill	This aircraft is recorded as having ground-looped at Goxhill on this date sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. The pilot Lt Charles E. Burtner was uninjured.
19th May	P-51B Mustang	43-12438	496 FG	nr Waltham airfield	Landed wheels-up 4 miles north of Waltham airfield,apparently after colliding with an obstacle (HT cables?) and sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. The pilot Lt Nelson R. Jesup survived the crash.
21st May	Spitfire VB	BM567	53 OTU	Hibaldstow	Hit on taxiway by AA839 (which was repaired).
22nd May	Spitfire II	P7820	53 OTU	Lea Road, Gainsborough	Collided with Wellington BJ819 (which crashed in Nottinghamshire) and crashed on Lea Road station in Gainsborough.
22nd May	Lancaster II	DS633	No.574 Sqn	in the Wash	Coded JI-B2. Airborne 2250 21st May from Waterbeach for Duisburg. A fix on this aircraft was obtained by Waterbeach at 0303 22nd May and about six minutes later base ordered the crew to jettison their bombs. All are buried in various UK cemeteries. Sgt T.L.Gibson KIA, Sgt J.Fraser KIA, Sgt A.H.Freeburn KIA, Sgt L.Dunbar KIA, Sgt L.Buxton KIA, Sgt G.H.Kemp KIA, Sgt J.Gallagher KIA.
22nd May	Lancaster III	JB142	No.166 Sqn	Barnetby-le-Wold	Coded AS-P, airborne at 1150 from Kirmington on an air-test sortie. Crash-landed at 1215. Holmes and Finn give the date as 25th May, Chorley and Hancock quote 22nd.
22nd May	P-38 Lightning	42-67257	554 FTS-496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded B9:W, this aircraft returned to Goxhill after a training sortie. The pilot 2nd lt William E. Gunn landed fast and too far down the runway meaning that he was unable to take off to go round again before he ran out of runway. The aircraft ran off the end of the runway and hit the airfield boundary fence at 1430hrs. The aircraft sustained major (cat 4) damage but Lt Gunn was able to return to duty after the accident.
23rd May	Lancaster I	LL857	No.300 Sqn	Faldingworth	Coded BH-B. Airborne 2240 22th May from Faldingworth for Dortmund but was obliged to turn back with engine trouble, part of the bomb load being jettisoned in the sea. Tragically, as the under-powered Lancaster made it approach to land it collided with the station's gunnery butts. The impact was severe and two members of the crew were killed instantly. Sgt Rybinski was pulled from the wreckage, grievously injured and he died a few hours later. along with his two comrades he is buried in the Polish Plot at Newark-upon-Trent Cemetery. F/S J.Nalepa PAF inj, F/S K.Nieruchalski PAF (P2) inj, Sgt C.Rybinski PAF inj, Sgt J.R.Bychowski PAF KIA, F/S W.Mroczkowski PAF inj, Sgt A.Leszkowicz PAF KIA, F/S M.Golec PAF inj, F/S M.Nowak PAF injured.
23rd May	Lancaster III	ND415	No.97 Sqn	nr Revesby	Coded OF-B. Airborne 2237 22nd May from Coningsby for Brunswick. On return to base and while preparing to land, collided in the air with a No.57 Sqn Lancaster 1 LL967 which managed to land safely. ND415 crashed at Revesby, 6 miles SSE of Horncastle. Four, including the first three named, are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, while two have been taken to Brookwood Military cemetery. Sgt Phillips is buried in Harrow (Eastcote Lane) Cemetery, London. F/O W.B.Jardine RCAF KIA, Sgt J.P.Olive KIA, F/O G.H.Wright KIA, WO2 A.Dunae RCAF KIA, W/O R.C.W.G.Baker KIA, Sgt J.J.Phillips KIA, F/O J.W.Paige KIA.
23rd May	Lancaster I	LL967	No.57 Sqn	nr Revesby	Collided with ND415 but landed safely.
24th May	Halifax V	DG403	1667 HCU	Butterwick	Airborne 2217 from Sandtoft for a night navigation sortie. During the flight the starboard outer began issuing black smoke, and whilst returning to land, the starboard inner failed on the downwind leg, leaving no other option than to for the aircraft to force land at map ref 290262 at 2312. Examination found a stuck exhaust valve on the inner and a broken no2 conrod on the outer. All 7 crew were injured in the forced landing: P/O E.P. Burke RAAF. Sgt R.P. Fowler, Sgt R.A. Bell, Sgt G.K. John, F/S J.M. Meggitt RAAF, F/S J.E. Bateup RAAF, Sgt T.R. Wood.
24th May	P-38 Lightning	42-67524	554 FTS-496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded B9:D this aircraft was airborne from Goxhill on a training flight. After arounf half an hour, the starboard enging failed and the pilot, 2nd Lt Hal G Bowers attempted to land back at Goxhill. His first two approaches were unsuccessful as he was too high and too fast. On his third approach he was unable to fullyextend the left undercarriage mainleg and had neither the speed nor height to break off the approach to go around again. The left mainleg gave way as the aircraft landed, causing suffient damage to the left wing and propeller for it to be classed a write-off. Lt Bowers returned to duty after this accident.
25th May	Blenheim I	L1171	12 (P) AFU	Spitalgate	Landed wheels-up.
25th May	P-51B Mustang	43-12193	555 FTS-496 FTG	Goxhill	This aircraft sustained repairable (cat 3) damage in a taxiing accident at Goxhill on this date, pilot 2nd Lt Cecil M. Freeman returned to duty after the accident.
26th May	P-38 Lightning	42-67199	554 FTS-496 FTG	nr Goxhill	This aircraft was airborne from Goxhill at 1626hrs on a local familiarisation flight. The aircraft was seen to have caught fire in the air at 1857hrs at a height of 4-5000ft, after which one engine stopped and the aircraft pitched into a half roll followed by a vertical dive, crashing 1 mile north of the airfield. The pilot 2nd Lt Lane A. Ferrara was killed in the crash and the aircraft destroyed.
26th May	P-38 Lightning	42-67476	554 FTS-496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded B9:P this aircraft was departing Goxhill on a familiarisation flight at 1845hrs when part-way down the runway the aircraft dipped to port, causing the port propeller blades to repeatedly hit the runway. The port wingtip then struck the runway, causing the aircraft to slew round and leave the runway, catching fore when it came to rest. The pilot 2nd Lt Willard G. Erfkamp escaped the aircraft uninjured and was sent to hospital as a precautionary measure. The aircraft was destroyed in the accident.
27th May	Halifax III	LW336	1662 HCU	Blyton	Airborne 1415 from Blyton for a cross-country sortie but undershot on landing at 1440 after starboard outer engine failed shortly after takeoff, crashed at Mount Pleasant Farm. No injuries reported.
27th May	P-51B Mustang	43-12171	555 FTS-496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded C7:S, this aircraft was involved in a taxiing accident at Goxhill on this date, sustaining major (cat 4) damage. The pilot Lt Wilbur E Eaton was unhurt and returned to duty after the accident. It is not known whether this accident and that of 43-12173 are related.
27th May	P-51B Mustang	43-12173	555 FTS-496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded C7:R, this aircraft was involved in a taxiing accident at Goxhill on this date, sustaining major (cat 4) damage. The pilot Lt Robert J. Bain was unhurt and returned to duty after the accident. It is not known whether this accident and that of 43-12171 are related.
28th May	Wellington III	DF641	30 OTU	Thorpe-le-Fallows	Airborne at 2235 from Hixon as part of a 9 aircraft detail on a Bullseye sortie. At approximately 0035, the aircraft broke up in the air after the dinghy broke loose from its compartment. Debris fell around 5 miles south-west of Ingham. F/O C.G. Archibald RCAF KIA, F/O R.G. Hills RCAF KIA, F/S J. Rutter KIA, Sgt W.O.D. Baird RCAF KIA, Sgt H. Riley KIA, Sgt G.W. Mitchell RCAF KIA, Sgt J.R. Pollon RCAF KIA.
29th May	Halifax V	DG236	1667 HCU	Holton-cum-Beckering	Airborne 2315 from Sandtoft for general night flying, the port inner oil pressure dropped. The engine was successfully feathered, but the remaining 3 engines all failed at 10000 feet. The aircraft was abandoned, and crashed at 0325. 4 crew unhurt, but 3 injured: F/S W.T. Ramsden injured his ankle and was treated at Sandtoft SSQ, F/O R.P. Simpson was treated at Lincoln Military Hospital for an ankle injury. The rear gunner, Sgt R.D. MacDonald was missing for 8 hours after the crash, finally being discovered unconscious and trapped in his turret at the crash scene, he was treated at the RAF hospital at Rauceby for head wounds sustained.
31st May	P-51 Mustang	42-103007	555 FTS-496 FTG	Goxhill	This aircraft was involved in a taxiing accident at Goxhill on this date, sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. Pilot Lt Donald E Smith returned to duty after this accident.

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June

Date	Type	Serial	Unit	Location	Notes
2nd June	Lancaster III	ED953	No.467 Sqn	Waddington	Coded PO-? The undercarriage collapsed after tyre burst on landing at 1749 from an air-test sortie.
2nd June	C-47 Skytrain	42-23306	59 TC - 61 TCG	Barkston Heath	This aircraft was involved in a taxiing accident at Barkston Heath on this date, sustaining repairable damage. The pilot, Lt George B Hartzell was uninjured and returned to duty. He was killed in action on July 28th 1944 in C-47 43-15097.
2nd June	P-51B Mustang	42-103036	555 FTS-496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded C7:Z, this aircraft was involved in a landing accident at Goxhill on this date, sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. The pilot Lt Paul E Olson was unharmed in the accident and returned to duty. The aircraft was lost in a fatal crash 5 days later.
2nd June	P-51B Mustang	43-12255	555 FTS-496 FTG	Halton Holgate	Coded C7:L, this aircraft was airborne from Goxhill at 1330hrs as part of a multi-aircraft formation for high-altitude formation flying practice. In the course of the flight the pilot 2nd Lt William D. Jolly reported fuel fumes in the cockpit, and a short time later the flight leader saw Lt Jolly's aircraft in a spin. During the violent spinning descent the tailfin and port wing detached from the aircraft and came down some distance from the rest of the aircraft. Lt Jolly attempted to bail out but left the aircraft too low for his parachute to open and he was killed on impact with the ground. The aircraft crashed in a field near the Spilsby - Halton Holegate road and was classed as a write-off.
3rd June	Beaufighter X	LX857	No.236 Sqn	North Coates	Swung on takeoff for a shipping patrol, hit a hangar and exploded, destroying LZ183 and NM143.
3rd June	Beaufighter X	LZ183	No.236 Sqn	North Coates	Destroyed on the ground by LX857 exploding.
3rd June	Tiger Moth	NM143	North Coates SF	North Coates	Destroyed on the ground by LX857 exploding.
4th June	B-24 Liberator	42-100261	392 BG	Willoughby Walks, nr Sleaford	Coded GC-A and named "Sweet Chariot", this aircraft departed Wendling at 1600hrs on a mission to St Avord airfield near paris. During the sortie over occupied territory the aircraft's rudder controls were severely damaged when it was hit by flak. The crew carried on to the target and manually dropped the bombload before returning to England. Over the Wash the crew all baled out safely, leaving the aircraft to continue flying. It came down at Willoughby walks near Sleaford and made a gentle descent before crash-landing, hitting and severely damaging a house occupied by the Brown family before eventually coming to a halt several hundred yards from the house. The aircraft was destroyed in the crash, though nobody on the ground was hurt. Crew were pilot 2nd Lt Harry A White, co-pilot 2nd Lt John W Martin, navigator 2nd Lt William I Forde, Bombardier 2nd Lt Harry J Green, engineer S/Sgt G M barnes, radio operator S/Sgt J J Reynolds, left waist gunner Sgt R Dunbar, right waist gunner Sgt J F Braccioforte and tail gunner Sgt J W Wehunt. No ball-turret gunner was carried on this mission.
5th June	P-38 Lightning	42-67700	554 FTS-496 FTG	nr Rothwell	Coded B9:U, this aircraft took off from Goxhill at 1000hrs for a single-engine training flight followed by a session of medium-level aerobatics. The aircraft should have been number 2 of a pair led by 1st Lt J S Murray, but ended up as a solo aircraft when Lt Murray's aircraft became unserviceable and was not ready in time for the sortie. 35 minutes later the aircaft crashed 2 miles southeast of Rothwell, near Cuxwold, killing the pilot 2nd Lt James D. Dempsey. The aircraft was totally destroyed in the crash.
6th June	Halifax V	DG345	1667 HCU	Sandtoft	Airborne 0046 from Sandtoft for night dual circuits and landings. At 0101, swung whilst landing and struck EB194 which was parked. Investigation showed that the port engine throttles had stuck open preventing the pilot from evenly reducing power.
6th June	Halifax V	EB194	1667 HCU	Sandtoft	Coded GG-N, struck on the ground by DG345.
6th June	Halifax	NK	1662 HCU	Blyton	May have been a minor ground accident, not mentioned in Chorley's HCU losses book.
7th June	Martinet	MS870	82 OTU	Burton-upon-Stather	The pilot broke off from a mock attack on another aircraft, flew under an HT cable line and crashed into a riverbank, F/O Gordon Smith was killed.
7th June	P-51C Mustang	42-103007	555 FTS-496 FTG	nr Owmby-by-Spital	Airborne from Goxhill on an instrument training flight in cloudy weather, this aircraft collided with P-51 42-103036 flown by 2nd Lt Robert H Magnuson who was on a similar sortie. Pilot 2nd Lt Charles R. Moritz was killed in the crash but listed as missing in action. This was his first flight in a P-51. The crash location 1.5 miles South of Owmby by Spital was excavated by LARG in September 2011, during which Lt Moritz's remains were discovered in the wreckage. Lt Moritz's remains were repatriated to the USA and buried in his hometown of Effingham, Illinois on May 5th 2012 with full military honours.
7th June	P-51C Mustang	42-103036	555 FTS-496 FTG	nr Owmby	Airborne from Goxhill on an instrument training flight in cloudy weather, this aircraft was struck in mid air by P-51 42-103007 flown by 2nd Lt Charles R Moritz. The impact of Lt Moritz's aircraft tore the starboard wing off this aircraft. The pilot 2nd Lt Robert H. Magnuson reported that he did not see the aircraft that hit him, but was able to safely bale out. His aircraft crashed half a mile North of Faldingworth.
7th June	P-51B Mustang	43-12150	496FG	Goxhill	This aircraft was involved in a taxiing accident at Goxhill on this date. The pilot, 2nd Lt Raymond H Littge was taxiing on the perimeter track when he collided head on with P-51 43-12210 piloted by 2nd Lt Donald E Smith. Both pilots were unhurt and Lt Littge's aircraft was repaired and returned to service. The cause of the accident was attributed to neither pilot performing sufficient weaving manoeuvres during taxiing to see past the nose of the aircraft which obscured forward visibility.
7th June	P-51B Mustang	43-12210	496 FG	Goxhill	This aircraft was involved in a taxiing accident at Goxhill on this date. The pilot, 2nd Lt Donald E Smith was taxiing on the perimeter track when he collided head on with P-51 43-121500 piloted by 2nd Lt Raymond H Littge. Both pilots were unhurt though Lt Smith's aircraft was written off in the accident. The cause of the accident was attributed to neither pilot performing sufficient weaving manoeuvres during taxiing to see past the nose of the aircraft which obscured forward visibility.
7th June	Lancaster III	EE146	No.617 Sqn	Woodhall Spa	Minor accident, though no record of this in Holmes, lostbombers or Chorley. Aircraft must have been repaired as it is recorded as damaged on 6th Apr 45 in Holmes.
9th June	P-51B Mustang	43-12488	555 FTS-496 FTG	nr Barton-on-Humber	This aircraft was airborne from Goxhill on a training flight when it broke upat around 3000ft, some 2 miles south of the town. The pilot 2nd Lt James W. Mullins was killed in the crash. Lt Mullins was an exceptional marksman, part of the University of Arkansas ROTC senior rifle team that were presented with trophies for their win of the William Randolph Hearst national ROTC rifle competition.
9th June	Halifax II	W1187	1662 HCU	Blyton	Airborne 1832 from Blyton for circuits and landings. Crashed 1838 after swerving on landing caused the undercarriage to collapse.
13th June	Master II	DK981	17 FTS	nr Cranwell	Caught fire in the air, abandoned 1 mile southwest of the airfield.
15th June	P-51 Mustang	43-12416	555 FTS-496 FTG	Goxhill	This aircraft was involved in a take-off accident on this date at Goxhill, sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. The pilot, 1st Lt Jack O. Flack was uninjured and returned to duty.
16th June	B-24 Liberator	42-52670	576 BS - 392 BG	Barkston Heath	Coded CI:L this aircraft departed Wendling on a flight to Barkston Heath. The pilot, 1st Lt Ward E Mathias, was instructed to land on runway 25 as there were gliders parked on the preferred runway (29). However, he landed on runway 19 at 1340hrs. During the landing run, the left brakes failed and the aircraft ran off the runway. The nose leg collapsed when the aircraft hit a hole, and the nose section was caved in on impact. The aircraft was written off as a result of the damage, though the crew were unhurt and returned to duty. Pilot 1st Lt Ward E Mathias, co-pilot 1st Lt L C Jones, engineer T/Sgt S L Chambless, radio operator T/Sgt K G Slyhoff.
17th June	Spitfire I	X4490	53 OTU	Kirton Lindsey	Hit X4659 whilst landing.
17th June	Spitfire I	X4659	53 OTU	Kirton Lindsey	Hit by X4490 whilst landing.
17th June	Stirling	EF209	1660 HCU	nr Stapleford	Coded TV-H Airborne from Swinderby to practise 3-engined landings. Crashed 0345 after taking violent avoiding action to miss another aircraft. F/O M.F. Smith DFC RAAF KIA, F/S F.A. Martin KIA, Sgt J. Stabler KIA, Sgt J. Totten inj, but died shortly after in hospital from his injuries, F/S R.H. Turrell DFM KIA, Sgt R.L. Wade inj, but died shortly after in hospital from his injuries, F/S H.W.R. Tufts RCAF KIA, Sgt E.E. Allen inj, Sgt D.F. Cook inj, Sgt D.G. Smith injured.
19th June	Blenheim I	L6839	12 (P) AFU	Spitalgate	Landed wheels-up.
19th June	Blenheim I	L1501	12 (P) AFU	Spitalgate	Collided with L6735.
19th June	Blenheim 1	L6735	12 (P) AFU	Spitalgate	Collided with L1501.
19th June	Halifax II	BB272	1656 HCU	Sandtoft	Airborne 0055 from Sandtoft for night circuit practise. Landed 0115, but swung to port. pilot overcorrected and the undercarriage collapsed.
21st June	Stirling	EH940	1661 HCU	Kettlethorpe	Airborne from Winthorpe for the pilot's first solo on type. At 1800 feet, and engine caught fire, following which the aircraft dived and then banked to the right, crashing 1738 at Park Farm causing considerable damage to a barn and farm machinery. F/O F.S. Bradbury KIA, Sgt F. Dauble inj, Sgt T.W. Farrell inj, P/O W.R. Clayton KIA, F/O G.W. Rankin KIA, Sgt A.M. McCune inj, Sgt J.A. Micallef KIA, Sgt W.H. Miller KIA.
22nd June	Lancaster	LL917	No.12 Sqn	Wickenby	Coded PH-C. Airborne 1415 22nd Jun to bomb a flying-bomb site. Within six minutes of becoming airborne, the crew reported severe problems with the inner port engine and the sortie was abandoned. At 1541 22nd Jun part of the bomb load was jettisoned over the sea but on return to Wickenby the Lancaster ran beyond the runway and crashed at 1630. No injuries were reported. P/O B.S.Leuty, Sgt D.Emmott, F/O S.A.Clack, Sgt E.F.Evans, Sgt J.R.Stone, Sgt W.E.Pullen, Sgt D.G.Northcott. For the loss of this crew see LM225.
22nd June	P-51 Mustang	43-12171	555 FTS - 496 FTG	5-10 miles west of Grimsby	This aircraft sustained repairable (cat 3) damage after striking an obstruction in flight on this date. The aircraft appears to have landed safely back at Goxhill afterwards and the pilot 1st Lt Paul A Pelon was uninjured and returned to duty after the accident.
23rd June	Lancaster I	ME625	No.97 Sqn	Deeping Fen	Coded OF-O. Collided with another 97 Sqn Lancaster ND981 while engaged in formation flying practice and spun out of control to crash at Cloor House Farm on Deeping Fen. five are buried in Cambridge City Cemetery, the others being buried in their home towns. F/O Arnold was flying as a Visual Air Bomber. F/L H.S.van Rhalte RAAF KIA, F/S M.Durn KIA, P/O D.G.Williams KIA, W/O A.L.Lambert RAAF KIA, F/O A.Arnold RAAF KIA, F/S E.H.Peace KIA, F/S R.G.Davies KIA, F/L J.D.Fletcher KIA.
23rd June	Lancaster III	ND981	No.97 Sqn	Deeping Fen	Coded OF-H. Collided with ME625 while engaged in formation flying and crashed with ME625 at Cloor House Farm on Deeping Fen. Sgt Cowan had a miraculous escape and parachuted safely as the Lancaster broke up. Four days later, the London Gazette carried details of the DFM awarded to W/O Partos. Those killed were buried in their home towns. F/L E.L.J.Perkins KIA, Sgt F.E.Coxhead KIA, F/L W.J.Hunt KIA, F/S J.Fairbairn KIA, Sgt Cowan W/O D.G.Partos KIA.
24th June	Lancaster III	EE124	No.300 Sqn	between Linwood and Lissington	Coded BH-M, Airborne 1612 24th Jun from Faldingworth to attack a flying-bomb site at Les Hayons in Belgium. On the return leg, the aircraft was hit by flak and although the aircraft made it back over English soil, the crew were killed when the Lancaster crashed in the Faldingworth circuit between Linwood and Lissington, south of Market Rasen. F/S Z.Badowski PAF KIA, Sgt T.Popowicz PAF KIA, F/O A.J.Groblicki PAF KIA, F/S J.Staniewski PAF KIA, F/S E.Kosnik PAF KIA, W/O A.Madejowski PAF KIA, F/S W.Stec PAF KIA.
24th June	Halifax II	JD267	1662 HCU	nr Thornton-le-Moor?	Coded -G2, airborne 1435 from Blyton for air circuit training sortie. The aileron locking bar had not been removed from the right-hand control column. The pilot climbed to 500 feet, but was unable to raise the undercarriage, following which the aircraft banked and the pilot was unable to correct the altitude. Crashed 9 miles east of Blyton. P/O W.H. O'Callaghan RAAF inj, Sgt A. Slack KIA, Sgt J.C. Waddell KIA, F/S A.S. Kidman RAAF KIA, W/O H.R. Molony RAAF KIA, F/S T.N.I. Jones RAAF KIA.
24th June	Halifax V	LL366	1662 HCU	Blyton	Coded - M2, the undercarriage collapsed after aircraft swung multiple times on landing.
26th June	Spitfire II	P7294	53 OTU	Kirton Lindsey	Overshot on landing.
26th June	Wellington X	MF528	29 OTU	4 miles north of Thorney	Airborne at 2305 from Bruntingthorpe for a high-level bombing training sortie. The aircraft encountered bad weather, and was unable to maintain height after the port engine failed at 4300 feet. The crew were ordered to abandon the aircraft, with the pilot intending to stay on board to make a forced landing. At 0115, the starboard engine stopped at a height of 800 feet and the pilot abandoned the aircraft over Thorney. The aircraft crashed 4 miles north of the village, approx 2 miles west-southwest of Saxilby, in the vicinity of Stow Park.
27th June	Wellington III	Z1592	18 OTU	nr Middle Rasen	Airborne at 1335 from Finningley for a cross-country sortie, but caught fire in the air. The aircraft crashed at 1715 at Baner Farm, nr Market Rasen. Sgt G.K. Cameron RCAF KIA, Sgt E.A. Crowe RCAF KIA, Sgt G.F. Marchington RCAF KIA, Sgt G.W. Dunham RCAF KIA, Sgt E. Bunt RCAF KIA, Sgt R.S. Cracknell RCAF KIA.
27th June	P-38 Lightning	42-104104	554 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded B9:C, this aircraft was severely damaged (cat 4) in a ground accident at Goxhill on this date, though it was repaired and later returned to service.
28th June	Stirling III	BK654	1661 HCU	Gosberton Risegate	Airborne from Winthorpe for a night cross-country sortie. Lost power from both outer engines and force-landed at 0740 after being unable to maintain height.
28th June	P-38 Lightning	42-67931	554 FTS - 496 FTG	1.5 miles south west of Thornton Abbey	This aircraft was airborne from Goxhill on a high-altitude flight, during which the pilot 2nd Lt Byard M Cutler joined a mock-combat dogfight which several other aircraft were participating in already. Lt Cutler dived down from approximately 7000ft. In the course of the dive the horizontal tail broke halfway between the twin rudders, followed quickly by the entire tail unit breaking off just in front of the vertical tails. The aircraft crashed at 0842hrs and exploded on impact ond and a half miles south west of Thornton Abbey, killing Lt Cutler and destroying the aircraft.
29th June	Lancaster I	ME701	No.463 Sqn	Waddington	Coded JO-F, Christened 'Whoa Bessie' by her crew. Airborne 1211 from Waddington to destroy a flying-bomb site at Beauvoir. Hit and severely damaged by Flak but returned safely to Waddington at 1517. Subsequently SOC as beyond reasonable repair. No injuries. F/LB.A.Buckham, Sgt W.Sinclair, F/O R.W.Board, F/S L.J.Manning, W/O e.J.Holden, F/O E.H.Giersch, F/O D.W.Procter.
29th June	Blenheim I	L6744	54 OTU	nr Tattershall	Abandoned after control lost 3 miles southwest of Tattershall.
30th June	Halifax V	DG338	1667 HCU	Sandtoft	Whilst taking off for a circuit practise sortie from sandtoft at 1837, the port tyre burst. This caused the aircraft to veer off the runway, following which the starboard undercarriage leg collapsed. This was the aircraft's third and final takeoff accident – previous ones were Ma 43 at Swinderby with 1660 HCU and 1st Feb at Sandtoft.
30th June	P-38 Lightning	42-67871	554 FTS - 496 FTG	Habrough	Coded B9:I, this aircraft was one of a pair airborne from Goxhill at 1306hrs for an instrument flying practice sortie. During the flight, the two aircraft engaged in a mock dogfight with a pair of P-51s near Habrough. Whilst engaging the P-51s in combat, the port wing of this aircraft collided with the lead P-38 of the pair 42-67220 (which survived) severing the port wing. The aircraft crashed one mile west of Habrough railway station, pilot 2nd Lt Charles M. Mardel jr was killed in the crash.

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July

Date	Type	Serial	Unit	Location	Notes
1st July	P-51 Mustang	43-12212	555 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	This aircraft was involved in a landing accident on this date at Goxhill, sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. The pilot, 1st Lt Jack O. Flack was uninjured and returned to duty.
4th July	Lancaster I	LM229	No.550 Sqn	North Killingholme	Coded BQ-S. Airborne 2208 4th Jul from North Killingholme for Orleans but crashed almost immediately, the wreckage catching fire. Only one crew member injured. P/O E.S.Vaughan inj, Sgt R.W.Metcalfe P/O L.C.Davies F/S D.Porter Sgt T.Elliott Sgt W.J.Watson RCAF Sgt L.D.Purser.
4th July	Lancaster III	NE139	No.460 Sqn	Binbrook	Coded AR-?, undercarriage failed on takeoff for a training sortie.
5th July	Halifax V	DG414	1667 HCU	Alkborough	Airborne from sandtoft at 1520 for a dual instruction sortie. The crew comprises instructor pilot, pupil, 4 flight engineers, navigator, wireless op/air gunner and bomb aimer.Lost control at 200 feet during 3-engine practise and crashed at 1315. F/L B.E McLaughlin DFC KIA, P/O E. Barley KIA, Sgt P. Morrissey DFM inj, Sgt T.E. Carr inj, Sgt I.H. Simmonds inj, (died of injuries shortly after the crash at Scunthorpe War Memorial hospital), Sgt G. Beedle KIA, F/S J.N. Bond RAAF KIA, Sgt H. Fryer KIA, F/S R.A. Wixted RAAF KIA.
5th July	P-38 Lightning	42-67276	496 FG	Great Coates	This aircraft was airborne from Goxhill on a training flight when it struck overhead powerlines at 0907. The aircraft then crashed 0.5 miles south of Great Coates, killing the pilot 2nd Lt Arthur E. Miner. Some reports state that Lt Miner may have been 'buzzing' a girlfriend's house at the time of the crash.
6th July	Lancaster III	ND799	No.12 Sqn	nr Faldingworth	Coded PH-L. Airborne 1835 6th Jul from Wickenby. To attack a flying-bomb site in the Foret du Croc. Over the target a bomb from another attacking aircraft sliced off the starboard fin and rudder. F/L Gray retained control, but was unable to prevent his Lancaster from crashing as he approached the airfield at Faldingworth. F/S Silverman was critically injured and he died 18th Jul, his grave being in Blackley Jewish Cemetery, Manchester. Sgt Frith is buried in Sutton-in-Ashfied Cemetery, while P/O Gibson is buried in Wigston Cemetery. F/L H.I.Gray Sgt P.Frith KIA, P/O J.S.Gibson KIA, F/S E.W.Strand F/S T.Silverman inj, F/O H.P.Taylor Sgt J.N.D.Scott.
6th July	P-51 Mustang	43-6496	555 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded C7:E, this aircraft was involved in a taxiing accident at Goxhill on this date, sustaining reapairable (cat 3) damage, though the pilot, Lt William E Whalen was unhurt and returned to duty after the incident.
7th July	Beaufighter X	NE744	No.404 Sqn	Strubby	Crash-landed after engine failure on approach.
8th July	Lancaster III	PB207	No.49 Sqn	Fiskerton	Coded EA-? Airborne 2226 7th Jul from Fiskerton to attack the flying-bomb storage facility in the caves at St.Leu d'Esserent. Badly shot up by a Me210 and though the crew made a safe return to base, landing at 0300 8th Jul, PB207 was assessed to be so badly damaged as to be beyond economical repair and was SOC. F/O L.McCracken, Sgt E.Hilton, F/O R.L.Bienvenu, F/O J.Wilkes, W/O J.Pollard, W/O S.S.Inglis, F/S S.F.Harding.
8th July	Beaufighter X	LZ188	No.236 Sqn	North Coates	Belly-landed on return from shipping strike after being damaged by flak.
8th July	Beaufighter X	LZ221	No.254 Sqn	North Coates	Belly-landed on return from shipping strike after being damaged by flak.
11th July	Beaufighter	?	No.236 Sqn	North Coates	Coded C - Crash landed at the airfield after suffering undercarriage failure. No injuries were repoted.
11th July	A-20 Havoc	43-9441	646 BS - 410 BG	Spitalgate	This aircraft was on a ferry flight from Gosfield to Grantham (RAF Spitalgate). On arrival, the pilot 1st Lt Gerald F. Dale landed just under halfway along the runway and the aircraft skidded off the runway under heavy braking. The aircraft left the runway and crossed a ditch, causing the undercarriage to be sheared off. The aircraft came to rest across the main road (A52) outside the airfield perimeter.The damage sustained to the aircraft caused it to be classed as a writeoff. Both the pilot, Lt Dale and his passenger 1st Lt Greek H Holland returned to duty after this incident.
11th July	P-51 Mustang	43-12411	555 FTS - 496 FTG	Barton-on-Humber	Coded C7:G, this aircraft was airborne from Goxhill on a training flight when the engine failed shortly after takeoff. The pilot 2nd Lt William C. Slade Jr was able to make a successful belly-landing near Barton-on-Humber. He was uninjured and the aircraft only sustained repairable (cat 3) damge in the belly-landing.
13th July	Halifax V	W7778	1662 HCU	nr Sotby	Airborne from Blyton at 2305 for a Bullseye sortie. At 0320 the aircraft hit the ground 0.5 miles southwest of Sotby. The force of the impact destroyed the aircraft and investigators were unable to ascertain more than that the aircraft hit the ground at approx a 45 degree angle. Weather may have been a factor in the crash as there was heavy drizzle and between 2-4000 yards visibility a the time. P/O A.R. Harris KIA, Sgt R.H. Brooks KIA, Sgt J.J.H. Smith KIA, Sgt J.A. Allen KIA, F/S F.W. Filmer KIA, Sgt J.A. Malcolm KIA, Sgt V.B. Myers KIA, Sgt A.R. Rogers KIA.
13th July	B-24 Liberator	42-95103	392 BG	Wrangle Common	Coded GC-V this aircraft took off from Wendling assigned to bomb a target at Saarbrucken. The squadron encountered problems forming up during assembly before setting off on the raid. This aircraft suffered severe icing and spun in, crashing at Wrangle Common. 8 of the 9 onboard were killed, only the left waist gunner S/Sgt Mark Osment was able to bale out and survived. Those killed were pilot 1st Lt Norman J Hunt, co-pilot 1st Lt Peter B Roetzel, navigator 2nd Lt William J Hession, engineer T/Sgt Walter L McKinzie, radio operator T/Sgt Harold C Wilkinson, ball-turret gunner S/Sgt Daniel L McEwan, left waist gunner S/Sgt William E Carrington and tail gunner S/Sgt Leonard A Jackson. In the February 1991 edition of the 392nd BGMA News, left waist gunner S/Sgt Osment provided these details: "Takeoff was at 5:30 a.m. in rain and heavy overcast. We had icing conditions for a while but the ice left and the aircraft resumed normal flight. A few minutes later, however, the ice reappeared and this time the aircraft, including the propellers ran away and the aircraft was out of control. At this time I attempted to leave through the waist window but was caught half in and half out and was semi-conscious from striking the side of the aircraft. A few seconds later I was thrown clear, pulled the ripcord and then lost consciousness. I regained consciousness on the ground. I remember talking to 2 children and members of the British Home Guard. I was placed on an ironing board and was transported to an RAF hospital. I later learned that no one else survived the crash. According to the article, "The bombs aboard the aircraft did not explode, but gave the local authorities many anxious moments as the crashed aircraft burned fiercely. Finally, however, the fire died out, the bombs were disposed of, and the crash site bulldozed in."
14th July	Halifax V	DG424	1662 HCU	Blyton	Airborne 0155 from Blyton for the pilot's 4th solo on type. Landed 0205, but swung off the runway and DBR when the port undercarriage folded.
14th July	Lancaster I	ME560	No.617 Sqn	Woodhall Spa	Coded KC-G, crash-landed after both port engines caught fire on takeoff for a training sortie.
15th July	CG-4A Hadrian	43-79105	48 TCS - 315 TCG	3 miles northwest of Folkingham	This glider was under tow at the time of the accident in the lower of 2 tow positions behind a tug aircraft at 800ft altitude and a speed of 118mph. The tow rope broke in flight at 1430hrs and the section still attached to the glider wrapped itself around the elevator and rudder, fouling the flying controls and causing the glider to go into an outside loop and crash. The glider came down 3 miles north-west of Folkingham village and was destroyed in the accident. The pilot F/O William H Coons and co-pilot F/O Preston Griggs were both killed in the crash.
16th July	Lancaster III	ND464	No.83 Sqn	nr New York	Coded OL-S, Partially abandoned at 2348 16th Jul following total engine failure while engaged on night-bombing practice. Those killed were found at the crash site, 3 miles SE of Coningsby airfield. F/O Hegarty is buried in Cambridge City Cemetery, while the others were taken to their home towns. It is noted that F/O Sillitoe, who came from Hyde Park in Leeds, is buried in the same plot at Sgt Ewen Edward John sillitoe, an Observer killed flying with 235 Sqn 17th Jan 43. Although born of separate parents, both shared the names of Ewen and Edward. F/O D.J.Hegarty DFC RAAF KIA, F/O K.E.E.Sillitoe KIA, W/O M.G.Cross KIA.
17th July	P-51 Mustang	42-102998	555 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded C7:E, this aircraft was involved in a taxiing accident at Goxhill on this date, sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. The pilot, Lt Earl Medoff was uninjured and returned to duty after the incident.
17th July	P-51 Mustang	43-12438	555 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded C7:F, this aircraft was involved in a taxiing accident at Goxhill on this date, sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. The pilot, Lt William T Gerbe Jr was uninjured and returned to duty after the incident. Lt Gerbe went on to win the DFC on 1st November 1944 when he became the first Allied pilot to shoot down an Me-262 jet. He flew 76 missions and survived the war.
18th July	Lancaster III	LM634	No.100 Sqn	Waltham	Coded HW-H, Airborne 0356 18th Jul from Grimsby to bomb a strong point at Sannerville in the Normandy Battle Area but swung out of control, crashed, and later, exploded. Fortunately the crew managed to get well clear of the wreckage ahead of the detonation. F/O C.M.Stewart RCAF, Sgt H.Prince, F/O R.H.Rix, Sgt P.Burnett, Sgt P.T.Dunn, F/O J.P.Insell, Sgt S.Kowal.
18th July	P-51 Mustang	43-12171	555 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded C7:S, this aircraft was involved in a landing accident at Goxhill on this date, sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. The pilot, Lt Alfred B Maclay was uninjured and returned to duty after the incident.
19th July	P-51 Mustang	43-12173	555 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded C7:R, this aircraft was involved in a landing accident at Goxhill on this date, sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. The pilot, Lt Karl M Waldron Jr was uninjured and returned to duty after the incident.
20th July	P-51B Mustang	43-6955	555 FTS - 496 FTG	Hemingby	This aircraft took off from Goxhill at 0615hrs as one of 4 aircraft on a low-level formation practice sortie. During a turn in battle formation the pilot 2nd Lt Lawrence A Bearden realised that he was losing speed whilst in a vertical bank. Lt Bearden noticed a small hill in his immediate path and realised that he would stall and crash if he tried to pull up to clear it, so he switched his fuel and engine off and made a forced landing one mile south of Hemingby. Lt Bearden returned to duty after this accident but his aircraft was written off in the forced landing.
20th July	Piper L-4B Cub	43-714	95 BG	Elm Tree Farm nr Welby	Airborne from Horham, this aircraft was piloted by Donald F Engle made a forced landing near Welby on this date. The aircraft sustained repairable (cat 3) damage but Engle was uninjured and returned to duty after the accident.
21st July	Beaufighter X	LZ134	144 Sqn	Strubby	Crash-landed after engine failure on takeoff.
21st July	P-38 Lightning	42-67309	554 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded B9:R, this aircraft took off from Goxhillat 1455hrs for formation flying practice, returning with the other aircraft in formation at 1630hrs.The pilot 2nd Lt Reginald A. Pitzer made a standard approach to the airfield but did not 'flare' the aircraft from the glideslope to land. As a result, the aircraft hit the runway extremely hard causing to bounce. The aircraft touched down from this bounce very solidly on all 3 wheels, causing both main wheel tyres to burst and the nose leg support strut to break sideways. The aircraft rolled to a stop at the end of the runway having sustained sufficient damage in this incident to be declared a writeoff. Lt Pitzer returned to duty after this accident and was killed in action flying a P-38 over Germany on 5th November 1944.
21st July	Lancaster III	ND413	No.100 Sqn	Aylesby	Coded HW-R. Airborne 2355 20th Jul from Grimsby to bomb railway facilities at Courtrai in tactical support of the Normandy Battle Area. Homebound, emerged from low cloud and crashed 0330 21st Jul at Aylesby, 6 miles W of Cleethorpes. Those killed are buried in their home towns. It is observed that F/S Amory, who came from Georgetown, British Guiana, was taken to Cambridge City Cemetery, while his Cambridge born skipper was buried in Grimsby (Scartho Road) Cemetery. F/O D.G.Mills KIA, Sgt R.G.Crabb KIA, F/S R.G.Amory KIA, F/S A.J.Irwin inj, F/S L.Fisher KIA, Sgt G.A.Wells inj, Sgt A.R.Fuller injured.
22nd July	Lancaster III	ED936	No.617 Sqn	Woodhall Spa	Coded AJ-H, Holmes records this aircraft as crashed on this date, no record in Chorley of this crash.
22nd July	P-51B Mustang	43-12416	555 FTS - 496 FTG	nr South Ferriby?	Coded C7:V, this aircraft departed Goxhill at 1717hrs on a training sortie to transition the pilot onto the aircraft type. At 1755hrs the pilot 1st Lt Richard F Murray got the aircraft into a spin just below the cloudbase which was around 1200-1500ft. Lt Murray halted the spin, but the aircraft hit the ground flat and exploded on impact, destroying it and killing Lt Murray.
23rd July	Lancaster I	ME594	No.300 Sqn	Faldingworth	Coded BH-B, overshot on landing from a training sortie.
23rd July	P-38 Lightning	42-67220	554 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded B9:G, this aircraft returned to Goxhill from a formation flying sortie at 1521hrs. Whilst landing in turn with the other aircraft of the formation, this aircraft moved too close to the aircraft in front and caught the propwash from it. The pilot 2nd Lt George K. Tachick was unable to regain control of his aircraft before it struck the runway very hard. The aircraft sustained sufficient damage to be classed as beyond repair and it was written off.
23rd July	P-51C Mustang	43-25048	77 FS - 20 FG	West Pinchbeck	This aircraft was airborne from Kings Cliffe at 1600hrs on a practice sortie with the group. At 1710hrs at 6000ft over the Wash, the pilot 1st Lt Carl W Clough switched to use the fuel in the aircraft's drop-tanks and the engine immediately began to cut out. Despite changing to using another fuel tank, the engine continued to cut out and Lt Clough pointed his aircraft back inland. Whilst descending over land, the engine began to run very badly, leaving Lt Clough with no other option than to perform a controlled forced landing at 1715hrs at West Pinchbeck. Lt Clough was uninjured in the forced landing and returned to duty, but the aircraft sustained major damage and was classed as a write-off.
24th July	Lancaster III	ND614	No.166 Sqn	Kirmington	Coded AS-A, Airborne 2238 23rd Jul from Kirmington for Kiel. Wrecked 0409 24th Jul on return to base following the collapse of its undercarriage on touch- down. P/O P.H.Allan inj, F/O J.D.Nelson (P2) RCAF, Sgt R.C.Duke, Sgt G.B.McGhee, Sgt G.N.Raynes, Sgt G.King, Sgt V.Montague, Sgt R.C.Duke.
24th July	CG-4A Hadrian	42-73562	29 TCS - 313 TCG	Folkingham	This glider was leading a flight of 4 gliders returning to land at Folkingham after being released from their tug aircraft. The pilot 1st Lt William Pennington slowed down to just above stalling speed on the downwind leg of the approach to lose height more quickly. This resulted in the port wing slowing to below stalling speed as the glider was turned to the left onto final approach to land. The loss of lift from the port wing caused the glider to fall to the left and it struck the ground port wing first. In the crash the nose section of the glider was destroyed and both Lt Pennington and his co-pilot F/O Edward B Cohen were seriously injured.
25th July	Lancaster III	PB294	No.207 Sqn	off the coast	Coded EM-G, Airborne 2150 24th Jul from Spilsby to bomb an oil storage depot at Donges. Crashed in the North Sea off the Lincolnshire coast while in the process of jettisoning bombs. Three bodies were recovered from the water. F/O McIntosh is buried in Grimsby (Scartho Road) Cemetery; his Navigator, F/S Little who came from New Malden in Surrey, is buried in Cambridge City Cemetery, while Sgt Bateman is buried in Islington Cemetery, Finchley in Middlesex. The others are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. F/O P.C.McIntosh KIA, Sgt J.R.Grint KIA, F/S S.W.G.Little KIA, F/S G.R.Shannon KIA, Sgt J.Beech KIA, Sgt L.D.Bateman KIA, F/S A.W.Smith KIA.
25th July	P-38 Lightning	42-67281	554 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded B9:P this aircraft was airborne from Goxhill on a training flight. On return to base at 1055hrs, the pilot 2nd Lt Alexander F Cilli called his formation leader and obtained permission to land first as he was low on fuel. He made his approach too fast and landed over two thirds of the way down the runway. Lt Cilli was unable to stop the aircraft before it ran off the end of the runway. The aircraft ploughed through a hedge, crossed a road and an entanglement of barbed wire finally came to a halt in a field. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair in this crash. Lt Cilli returned to duty after the accident and survived the war.
25th July	B-17G Fortress	42-97543	364 BS - 305 BG	nr Spalding	Whilst airborne on a training flight performing mock bombing runs against Kings Lynn from 15,000ft, the top turret caught fire due to a fault in the oxygen system. The fire spread quickly and the pilot, 1st Lt Samuel E Rosser ordered the crew to abandon the aircraft. All 8 baled out and landed safely and the aircraft was last seen heading out to sea. it is unclear whether this aircraft crashed at sea, or as has also been reported, it turned around and crashed near Spalding. Pilot 1st Lt Samuel E Rosser, co-pilot 2nd Lt Earl B Douglas, navigator 2nd Lt Earl D Metko, bombardier 1st Lt Lowell L Ricky, engineer 1st Lt Keith E Estes, radio operator S/Sgt Ollice Z Rowe and waist gunners S/Sgt William D Foster and Sgt Norman W Putney all returned to duty after baling out. The aircraft was listed as missing in action.
26th July	P-51B Mustang	43-6503	555 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	This aircraft was airborne at 1001hrs from Goxhill piloted by 2nd Lt Denis J Alison as one of a pair for a cine-gunnery exercise with P-51 43-12214. Lt Alison's aircraft acted as the target for 1st Lt John D Daniel in 43-12214 to make simulated attack passes at, but on the first pass Lt Daniel's aircraft collided with the underside of it, leaving a large dent in the wheel-bay door. The collision happened at 1054hrs and Lt Daniel's aircraft was severely damaged, forcing him to bale out near Withernsea. Lt Daniel died after landing in the sea, his body being recovered around 2 weeks later. Lt Alison returned safely to base and made a wheels-up landing as a precuation as he could not tell how severely his aircraft's undercarriage had been damaged in the collision. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair in the belly-landing, though Lt Alison returned to duty after the accident.
26th July	Stirling	LK483	1660 HCU	Swinderby	Took off from Swinderby 0930, but began to swing. The throttles were closed, but the aircraft was rapidly approaching the airfield boundary hedge, so the pilot raised undercarriage to stop aircraft overrunning. Of the 8 onboard at the time, the following 3 were injured: Sgt D.W. Dunthorpe, Sgt R.J. Harris, Sgt C.J. Western.
27th July	Master II	DK978	17 FTS	Wellingore	Overran on takeoff.
27th July	Master II	EM330	7 PAFU	in the Wash	Spun in during aerobatics 2.5 miles north of the mouth of the river Nene.
28th July	C-47 Dakota	42-23334	59 TCS - 61 TCG	South Rauceby	This aircraft flown by 1st Lt Thomas A Gall was the lead aircraft of a stream of 3 C-47s on a training flight. Lt gall began to lead the other aircraft in a descent between some clouds. He made a turn to the right to follow a break in the cloud and was struck by C-47 43-15097 flown by 1st Lt George B Hartzell who had misjudged his speed and entry into the turn. Lt Hartzell's aircraft wing struck Lt Gall's aircraft behing the astrodome on top of the fuselage. Lt Gall appeared to have control over the aircraft, but crashed after descending in a wide slow turn with smoke coming from the port engine. The aircraft was written off in the crash and all 5 crew, pilot 1st Lt Thomas A Gall, co-pilot 2nd Lt Jack L Craven, navigator 1st Lt Robert E James, radio operator Sgt Robert R Meyers and crew chief T/Sgt Max E Turner were all killed.
28th July	C-47 Dakota	43-15097	59 TCS - 61 TCG	South Rauceby	This aircraft, flown by 1st Lt George B Hartzell was flying as the tail-end aircraft in a stream of 3 C-47s on a training flight when Lt Hartzell misjudged his speed and collided with the lead aircraft, C-47 42-23334 flown by 1st Lt Thomas A Gall in a turn. Lt Hartzell's starboard wing struck Lt Gall's aircraft and in the ensuing collision Lt Gall's port propeller severed the tail of Lt Hartzell's aircraft, causing it to dive vertically into the ground, destroying the aircraft and killing all 4 crew on board - pilot 1st Lt George B Hartzell, co-pilot 2nd Lt Arthur F Gruel, radio operator S/Sgt Harold E West and crew chief S/Sgt Margarito S Lujan.
30th July	Lancaster I	LM284	No.57 Sqn	in the Wash	Coded DX-? LM284 was delivered to 57 Sqn 29th Jul. Crashed in The Wash on post-delivery air test. When lost this aircraft had a total of 2 hours. Airborne from East Kirkby (time not recorded) crewed by a 55 Base Test Crew consisting mainly of 207 Sqn personnel. Presumed lost in The Wash. The body of F/S Gidman was washed onto a beach near Brancaster, Norfolk and taken for burial; the rest are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. The three DFM recipients, all from 207 Sqn, had their awards published 18th Aug, 15th Aug, and 18th Aug respectively. F/O D.L.Davies DFC KIA, F/S A.H.Allison DFM KIA, P/O D.J.Scuffins DFM KIA, F/S C.Gidman DFM KIA, P/O B.O Hunt KIA, P/O F.W.Logan DFC RCAF KIA.
30th July	P-38 Lightning	42-104104	554 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded B9:C, this aircraft was involved in a taxiing accident at Goxhill on this date, sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. The aircraft appears to have been under the control of crew chief Pvt Andrew F Cirlincione at the time of the accident.
30th July	P-38 Lightning	42-67216	554 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded B9:B, this aircraft sustained repairable (cat 3) damage in a landing accident at Goxhill on this date. The aircraft was salvaged on August 5th. Pilot 1st Lt Charles R Bilby was uninjured and returned to duty after this incident. He was posted to an operational squadron in France shortly afterwards and survived the war.

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August

Date	Type	Serial	Unit	Location	Notes
4th August	Master 2	DK838	17 FTS	nr Welby	Stalled during a practise gun attack, crashed 1 mile west of Welby.
5th August	Avenger 2	JZ569	No.787 Sqn FAA	Holbeach range	Dived in.
5th August	P-38 Lightning	42-67277	554 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded B9:Y, this aircraft was returning to Goxhill from a low-altitude formation training sortie. On touchdown, one of the undercarriage wheels was broken off, and the pilot, 2nd Lt Alexander F Cilli immediately took off again and followed instructions to land the aircraft wheels-up on the grass by the runway. The aircraft was written off after the belly-landing, but Lt Cilli returned to duty after this accident.
5th August	P-38 Lightning	42-67297	554 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded B9:A, this aircraft was one of several airborne from Goxhill on this day for low-altitude formation training work. Around 60 miles north of the airfield, somewhere in Yorkshire the pilot 2nd Lt Harry I Curtis Jr misjudged his height and flew through some tree-tops. Lt Curtis landed his aircraft safely back at Goxhill but the aircraft sustained sufficient damage in the accident for it to be declared a write-off afterwards.
7th August	Mosquito VI	NT202	No.617 Sqn	Wainfleet Range	Coded AJ-N, airborne from Woodhall Spa at 1059. After 3 passes on the Wainfleet range, the starboard engine failed, followed by structural failure causing the starboard wing to break away during a climbing turn over the range. F/O W.A. Duffy DFC RCAF KIA, F/O P. Ingleby KIA.
7th August	P-51 Mustang	42-102999	555 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded C7:H, this aircraft was involved in a landing accident at Goxhill on this date, sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. The pilot, 2nd Lt Francis J McCarthy was unhurt and went on to fly with the 352nd FG alongside his brother, Ed. Lt McCarthy was killed on a sortie in the Hamburg area on March 30th 1945.
8th August	Lancaster I	LM292	No.103 Sqn	Trentside Marshes between Torksey and Laughterton	Coded PM-?Airborne 2118 7th Aug from Elsham wolds to attack a strong point at Fontenay-le-Marmion. Homebound when an engine took fire. Control soon became difficult and the Lancaster was partially abandoned, with the skipper and engineer remaining in position to hold the aircraft as steady as possible to allow the other five crew-men to bale out before crashing at Fenton, 7 miles SE of Grantham. Sgt Corless is commemorated on Panel 227 of the Runnymede memorial, F/O Brown is buried in Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery. F/O G.C.Brown RCAF KIA, Sgt J.Corless KIA, Sgt B.M.Sandberg RCAF, F/O R.Robinson RCAF, F/S S.Porter RCAF, Sgt G.R.Vickery, Sgt W.G.Hurley.
8th August	Lancaster I	ME813	No.50 Sqn	Skellingthorpe	Coded VN-?, Airborne 2110 7th Aug from Skellingthorpe to bomb an enemy strong- point in the Normandy Battle Area at Secqueville. Over-ran the runway landing at Skellingthorpe on return 0130 8th Aug, colliding with an air-raid shelter. No crew injuries reported but the aircraft was assessed as beyond economical repair. Note. The 50 Sqn ORB is now on microfiche and the quality of the original document was of such poor quality that it is impossible to determine the names of the crew. However, an examination of the Aircraft Accident record identifies the pilot and circumstances of the write-off. F/O F. Mountain.
9th August	P-51C Mustang	42-102998	555 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded C7:E, this aircraft returned to Goxhill after a sortie to transition the pilot onto the aircraft type. The pilot 2nd Lt David H. Courtney landed around a third of the way down the runway, touching down sufficiently hard to collapse the port undercarriage leg, causing the aircraft to slew to the left and skid off the runway. The aircraft sustained damage sufficiently severe to be classed as a write-off. Lt Courtney returned to duty after the accident.
9th August	P-51C Mustang	43-12460	554 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded B9:I, this aircraft was involved in a taxiing accident at Goxhill on this date sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. Pilot 2nd Lt Billy Clemmons was uninjured in the accident and returned to duty afterwards.
10th August	P-51B Mustang	43-12171	555 FT - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded C7:S On return to Goxhill from a 4-ship high altitude formation training flight, all 4 aircraft landed in formation at 2139hrs. Pilot 2nd Lt Russell J. Anderson was one of the lead aircraft and slowed more than normal on the runway, beginning to make S-turns to allow him forward visibility past the aircraft's nose whilst he taxied. Due to his moving slower than expected, his aircraft was struck from behind by P-51 12417 flown by 2nd Lt Bradford N Ashcraft which inflicted major damage to the tail section of Lt Anderson's aircraft. 42-12171 was written off as a result of this accident and was salvaged on August 12th. Lt Anderson returned to duty after the accident.
10th August	P-51B Mustang	43-12417	555 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded C7:O On return to Goxhill from a 4-ship high altitude formation training flight, all 4 aircraft landed in formation at 2139hrs. Pilot 2nd Lt Bradford N Ashcraft was one of the trailing aircraft in this formation, and on landing struck P-51 42-12171 flown by 2nd Lt Russell J Anderson from behind, inflicting major damage to the tail section of Lt Anderson's aircraft. 42-12171 was written off as a result of this accident and was salvaged on August 12th. Lt Ashcraft's aircraft was subsequently repaired and returned to service. The cause of the accident was that Lt Anderson had slowed more than normal on the runway, beginning to make S-turns to allow him forward visibility past the aircraft's nose whilst he taxied. Lt Ashcraft returned to duty after the accident.
11th August	Stirling	EF510	1654 HCU	nr Metheringham	Airborne from Wigsley for a short cross-country flight. Whilst flying at 2000 feet, both outer engines failed. Force-landed wheels-up at Willow Farm near Metheringham airfield at 1550.
11th August	P-51 Mustang	43-12460	554 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded B9:I, this aircraft was involved in a taxiing accident at Goxhill on this date sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. Pilot 2nd Lt John E Bauer was uninjured in the accident and returned to duty afterwards.
12th August	Wellington X	HF452	1481 BGF	Thorpe-le-Fallows	Airborne 1000 from Ingham for a cine-gun training sortie. Force-landed 1007 after losing power. Of the 8 onboard, the following 3 were injured and treated at Ingham SSQ. Sgt A.D Call RCAF, Sgt D. Smith, Sgt D.A. Hookham, RCAF.
12th August	Lancaster III	ND465	No.83 Sqn	Coningsby	Coded OL-L, Airborne 2043 11th Aug from Coningsby to bomb the railway yards at Givors. Crash landed 0458 12th Aug on return to base due battle damage, the eight-man crew escaping injury. F/L A.J.Saunders RAAF, F/S Redding, P/O J.F.Falconer, P/O D.D.Govett RAAF, F/O A.C.Mcdonald, P/O F.S.Hulland, Sgt P.A.Kaye RCAF, P/O D.M.Robinson RAAF.
12th August	C-47A Dakota	42-24176	43 TCS - 315 TCG	Boothby Graffoe	This aircraft was one of 18 aircraft airborne from Spanhoe on a night formation sortie. The formation comprised 2 flights of 3 elements of 3 aircraft in V formation, each flight also being a V formation of 3 elements. During the sortie the formation encountered unexpected bad weather. This aircraft was the lead aircraft of the second element of the second flight. The flight was approaching a weather front at 1500 feet altitude when the leader tried to avoid it by letting down to a lower altitude and turning to the left. During the turn, the flight flew into rain, and the pilot, 2nd Lt Lawson E Perry Jr left the formation as the rain on his windscreen distorted his view of the other aircraft. The aircraft hit the ground whilst Lt Perry was letting down out of the rain before he became aware of how close to the ground he was flying. An altimeter was retrieved from the wreckage reading some 45 feet below the height of the local terrain. The aircraft was destroyed in the crash, pilot 2nd Lt Lawson E Perry Jr, co-pilot 2nd Lt Robert A Ulland, engineer T/Sgt Winston E Brown and radio operator Sgt Bob W Coulon were all killed in the crash.
12th August	C-47A Dakota	42-92849	43 TCS - 315 TCG	Waddington	This aircraft was one of 18 aircraft airborne from Spanhoe on a night formation sortie. The formation comprised 2 flights of 3 elements of 3 aircraft in V formation, each flight also being a V formation of 3 elements. During the sortie the formation encountered unexpected bad weather. This aircraft was the third aircraft of the second element of the lead flight. The flight was approaching a weather front at 1500 feet altitude when the leader tried to avoid it by letting down to a lower altitude and turning to the left. During the turn, the formation leader was caught by turbulence which threw his aircraft into a steep bank to the right. The rest of the formation made a sharp course correction to follow their leader. During this correction the element leader's aircraft, flown by Capt Robert M Davis skidded to the right and collided with this aircraft which was on its starboard side. Minor damage was sustained in the collision to the port wingtip, leading edge deicer boot and propellor mounting bracket. The aircraft landed safely at RAF Waddington with no injuries to the crew - pilot 2nd Lt Vance G Pugh, co-pilot 2nd Lt Albert E Mitchell, engineer Sgt James A Speer and radio operator Cpl Stanley E Thomas.
12th August	C-47A Dakota	43-15251	43 TCS - 315 TCG	Waddington	This aircraft was one of 18 aircraft airborne from Spanhoe on a night formation sortie. The formation comprised 2 flights of 3 elements of 3 aircraft in V formation, each flight also being a V formation of 3 elements. During the sortie the formation encountered unexpected bad weather. This aircraft was the lead aircraft of the second element of the lead flight. The flight was approaching a weather front at 1500 feet altitude when the leader tried to avoid it by letting down to a lower altitude and turning to the left. During the turn, the formation leader was caught by turbulence which threw his aircraft into a steep bank to the right. The rest of the formation made a sharp course correction to follow their leader. During this correction this aircraft, flown by Capt Robert M Davis skidded to the right and collided with the aircraft on its starboard side, flown by 2nd Lt Vance G Pugh. The aircraft was damaged in the collision and Capt Davis made a successful emergency landing at RAF Waddington. Four of the crew were uninjured - pilot Capt Robert M Davis, co-pilot 2nd Lt Keith A Curtiss Jr, navigator Capt Carl R Fittkau, and radio operator S/Sgt Edward D Armitage. The engineer, T/Sgt George W McCarthy sustained a sprained ankle when he bailed out immediately after the collision.
12th August	P-51 Mustang	43-6644	555 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded C7:G, this aircraft was involved in a landing accident at Goxhill on this date, sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. The pilot, 2nd Lt Henry S Sykes was uninjured and returned to duty after the accident.
13th August	P-51 Mustang	42-106659	555 FTS - 496 FTG	nr Horncastle?	Coded C7:V, this aircraft was involved in a taxiing incident apparently near Horncastle on this date, sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. Pilot 1st Lt Roland L Wisdom was unhurt and returned to duty after the accident.
13th August	P-51 Mustang	43-12213	555 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	This aircraft was involved in a taxiing incident at Goxhill on this date, sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. Pilot 1st Lt John W Creamer was unhurt and returned to duty after the accident.
13th August	P-51 Mustang	43-6870	555 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	This aircraft was involved in a taxiing incident at Goxhill on this date, sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. Pilot 2nd Lt William S 'Tiger' Lyons was unhurt and returned to duty after the accident. Lt Lyons survived the war and appeared in the History Channel programme 'Battle Stations'.
14th August	Oxford	DF348	SF	Skellingthorpe	Airborne 1215 for practise flying. At 1230, the aircraft approached the runway and yawed. Whilst correcting the yaw, and trying to overshoot, the pilot found himself flying directly towards a hangar and stalled whilst avoiding it, causing the aircraft to crash.
14th August	Stirling	EE914	1654 HCU	off Sutton-on-Sea	Airborne from Wigsley for an air gunnery sortie. The aircraft was flying at 1000 feet off the coast when the starboard outer engine failed. The pilot ditched 13 miles off the coast at approximately 1600 and all 7 crew were picked up by a merchant vessel "SS Daniel M" and transferred to a second vessel, "SS WH Daniels" before being transferred to RAF HSL2573 at 1745 and returned to Grimsby at 1915. The ditching was observed by a Warwick, which provided the first report of the incident. Location given as 5314N 0030E, the aircraft floated for 13 minutes and then sank.
14th August	P-51 Mustang	43-12149	555 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded C7:B this aircraft was involved in a ground incident at Goxhill on this date, sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. Pilot 1st Lt Roland L Wisdom was unhurt and returned to duty after the accident, his second in as many days.
15th August	Oxford	LX326	17 FTS	Cranwell	Undershot and hit a wall.
16th August	Master II	DM111	7 PAFU	Moulton Chapel	Landed wheels-up after engine failure.
16th August	P-51B Mustang	43-12149	555 FTS - 496 FTG	nr Goxhill	Coded C7:B, this aircraft was returning to Goxhill from a training flight and performed a 'run and break' manoeuvre to join the circuit to land. In turning from the circuit's base leg to finals for the runway, the aircraft stalled whilst in a tight turn. This stall caused the aircraft to enter a spin, from which the pilot, 2nd Lt Robert V Barden, had almost completely recovered when the aircraft hit the ground. The aircraft exploded on impact quarter of a mile east of the airfield perimeter and was destroyed, Lt Barden was killed in the crash.
18th August	Wellington X	HE502	17 OTU	Waltham	Airborne from Turweston for a cross-country flight. At 15000 feet over eastern England, the port engine failed. On diverting to Waltham, the crew discovered that the undercarriage would not lock down and at 1400hrs it collapsed on landing. After the aircraft had slid to a halt, a fire broke out, though all 6 crew escaped unharmed.
18th August	P-51 Mustang	43-12163	554 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded B9:A, this aircraft was involved in a taxiing incident at Goxhill on this date, sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. Pilot 1st Lt Michael E Emery was unhurt and returned to duty after the accident.
19th August	Lancaster I	LM923	No.103 Sqn	Elsham Wolds	Coded PM-? airborne 2229 18th Aug from Elsham wold to bomb an oil depot and fuel storage facility at Ertvelde-Rieme. Crashed 0150 19th Aug on return to base. No injuries reported. P/O K.S.Pearce, F/S J.C.Hartley RAAF, F/S A.I.N.Bates, Sgt L.R.Willis, Sgt W.F.E.Mole, F/S J.D.McCredie, Sgt H.E.Price.
22nd August	C-47A Dakota	42-100967	32 TCS - 314 TCG	nr Boston	This aircraft departed St Mawgan in Cornwall for a flight to North Witham. On arrival above North Witham, the pilot, Capt Dwight D Kroesch was given accurate weather information which he should have been given before departing St Mawgan. His only option was to ditch the aircraft, which he did safely in the mouth of the river Haven (tidal Witham). The crew - pilot Capt Dwight E Kroesch, co-pilot 1st Lt Joseph C MacManus, navigator 1st Lt Leonard F Luck, engineer S/Sgt Joseph F Hamadock, radio operator S/Sgt Don C Shanley, assistant engineer Col Allen Anderson and passengers Cpl John A Barton, Cpl John F Hasel and T/3 Arthur D Steiner were all uninjured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair in the ditching.
23rd August	P-51 Mustang	43-6800	554 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded B9:Q, this aircraft was involved in a landing incident at Goxhill on this date, sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. Pilot 1st Lt Jack D Leon was unhurt and returned to duty after the accident.
25th August	P-51 Mustang	42-106761	555 FTS - 496 FTG	East Kirkby	Coded C7:K, this aircraft was airborne on a low altitude formation sortie. Near RAF East Kirkby, the engine began cutting out repeatedly, eventually failing to restart at all. The pilot, 2nd Lt John R Ryan made a successful wheels-up landing at RAF East Kirkby. The aircraft sustained repairable (cat 3) damage, whilst Lt Ryan was uninjured.
26th August	P-51 Mustang	43-12195	554 FTS - 496 FTG	nr North Killingholme	This aircraft was airborne from Goxhill on a familiarisation flight at 1600hrs when the engine cut out shortly after the aircraft became airborne. Pilot F/O Jesse L Truett Jr was able to safely belly-land the aircraft in a field of wheat near North Killingholme. The pilot was uninjured and the aircraft sustained repairable (cat 3) damage and was returned to service.
27th August	Lancaster III	W5005	No.550 Sqn	off Killingholme	Coded BQ-N. Airborne 2023 26th Aug to Kiel. On return, ditched in the River Humber, approximately. one mile off Killingholme Haven. No injuries reported. F/S R.Hofman RAAF, Sgt A.W.E.Walters, F/S J.K.Sharpe RAAF, F/s G.R.Martin, F/S F.G.Ferguson RAAF, F/S R.E.Sloan RAAF, F/S R.McKenzie RAAF.
27th August	Oxford	ED219	17 FTS	3 miles northeast of Caistor	Control lost after hitting slipstream of another aircraft, crashed, possibly near Riby.
28th August	Lancaster I	W4790	1 LFS	Hemswell	Coded 3C-O, airborne from Hemswell 0245 for night circuit practise. At 0258 the pilot landed off a fast approach. After touchdown, he braked, but was running out of runway so the undercarriage was raised to stop the aircraft overrunning. The pilot reported that he suspected there was a problem with the flap mechanism on the port wing after takeoff, so kept speed up on approach to prevent the aircraft stalling.
29th August	AT-16 Harvard	43-12881	2 GTTF	Goxhill	This aircraft was involved in a landing incident at Goxhill on this date, sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. Pilot 1st Lt Herbert B Howard Jr was unhurt and returned to duty after the accident.
30th August	Wellington X	LN895	21 OTU	East Kirkby	Airborne from Moreton-in-the-Marsh at 2220 as part of a force of 93 aircraft from training units to act as a diversion force tasked to fly out over the North Sea and then turn and return home. The aircraft was hit by 'friendly' flak off Cromer, following which the starboard engine failed. The pilot crash-landed at East Kirkby at 0300 and hit a dispersal hut. 4 of the crew were unhurt, F/S F.G. Lewis RAAF inj, Sgt K.D. Wightman injured.
30th August	Beaufighter X	NE778	No.236 Sqn	off North Coates	Stalled and dived into the sea 2 miles north-east of the airfield.
31st August	P-51 Mustang	42-106869	554 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	This aircraft sustained repairable (cat 3) damage when it caught fire in a ground accident at Goxhill on this date. The aircraft was returned to servoce after the repair, and the pilot Capt Donald B Guthrie completed his transition to fighters after coming from a bomber group and went on to join one of the 8th AF's scouting force squadrons.
31st August	Stirling	LJ637	1660 HCU	Swinderby	Coded -H- , Airborne 0001 for a night conversion exercise with 8 on board. At 0215, whilst turning to starboard with the starboard outer engine stopped and wheels down, the aircraft touched down on the runway, swung violently and crashed, writing the airframe off.

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September

Date	Type	Serial	Unit	Location	Notes
1st September	P-51 Mustang	43-12451	554 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded B9:E, this aircraft was involved in a landing incident at Goxhill on this date, sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. Pilot 2nd Lt Eugene E Sears was unhurt and returned to duty after the accident.
2nd September	C-47A Dakota	42-100821	440 TCG	Fulbeck	Destroyed by the explosion of a 'mine' which fell onto another 'mine' awaiting loading onto an aircraft - unsure of the correctness of terminology here, may have been a landmine?
2nd September	C-47A Dakota	43-15067	440 TCG	Fulbeck	Destroyed by the explosion of a 'mine' which fell onto another 'mine' awaiting loading onto an aircraft - unsure of the correctness of terminology here, may have been a landmine?
2nd September	Halifax II	DT643	1662 HCU	Caenby Corner	Airborne 1120 from Blyton for circuit flying, a local recce and Gee procedures. The starboard outer cut at 900 feet and the crew were unable to feather it. The starboard outer caught fire and the crew force-landed in a field at 1235.
3rd September	Halifax III	MZ758	No.51 Sqn	nr Withern	Coded MH-V, Airborne 1555 3rd Sep from Snaith to bomb Venlo Airfield. On the return flight the crew encountered various difficulties and were subsequently obliged to force-land 1925 near Withern, 2 miles from RAF Strubby. No serious injuries reported; this crew were on the last operation of their first tour. W/O K.O.Potts, Sgt L.McGowan, F/S R.G.Frew, F/S B.A.Hobbs, F/S W.G.Patey, Sgt G.J.Hill, Sgt S.M.Howard, Finn incorrectly quotes the serial as NZ758.
3rd September	Wellington XIII	HZ867	1 AAS	Manby	Retracted undercarriage too early on takeoff.
4th September	P-51B Mustang	43-12172	496 FG	nr Goxhill	Coded C7:N, this aircraft was airborne from Goxhill on a practice sortie to transition the pilot to the aircraft type. Not long after getting airborne the engine began to cut out, finally completely stopping. The pilot, 2nd Lt William H Carnduff attempted to return to Goxhill to make a wheels-down emergency landing but realised that he could not reach the airfield. He raised the undercarriage and made a good belly landing in a field of wheat around 1 mile east of the airfield. The aircraft was written off in the incident.
6th September	Halifax V	DK133	1667 HCU	Crowle	Airborne at 2246 from Sandtoft for night circuit practise. Dived in from approx 200 feet whilst banking to the right 3 minutes after takeoff. F/O J.R. Pound RCAF KIA, Sgt R. Hughes KIA, F/O M.E. Vandekinder RCAF KIA, F/O W.F. Woolgar RCAF KIA, Sgt J.A. Coughtrey KIA, Sgt B.G. Kitchen RCAF KIA, Sgt K.A. Watson RCAF KIA.
6th September	Lancaster I	LL756	No.101 Sqn	Ludford Magna	Coded SR-Q, airborne 1748 3rd Sep from Ludford Magna for an evening attack on the Garrison Defence's at Le Havre and equipped with ABC. Did not bomb, as instructed. On return to base at 2053, over-ran the runway and crashed, no crew injuries. LL756 was SOC 15th Sep. The wreckage off the end of the runway was to result in the damage to the subsequent aircraft to attempt a landing, ND983 sufficient to have it SOC also. F/O G.H.G Harris, Sgt J.A.Wood, F/O G.A.Arthur, Sgt J.Morley, F/O D.Jones, Sgt D.V.Dale, Sgt V.B.Congerton, Sgt J.C.York.
6th September	Lancaster III	ND983	No.101 Sqn	Ludford Magna	Coded SR-B, airborne 1737 6th Sep from Ludford Magna for an evening attack on the garrison defence's at Le Havre and ABC duties. Returned without making an attack. Landed 2055, just two minutes behind LL756 but ran off the end of the runway whereupon the undercarriage was deliberately retracted, possibly to avoid hitting the just wrecked LL756. The crew escaped injury but the Lancaster was damaged beyond repair. F/L Massheder, F/O W.G.Johnson, Sgt L.F.King, Sgt D.S.H.Logan, Sgt A.R.Walker, Sgt G.Hellig (ABC), Sgt I.Gray, Sgt J.J.Gildea.
6th September	Beaufighter X	NE802	No.254 Sqn	North Coates	Hit a wall after engine failure on takeoff.
6th September	P-51 Mustang	43-6870	554 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded B9:U, this aircraft was airborne from Goxhill on a training flight when an unknown mechanical failure occurred. The pilot, Lt Stephen Wasylyk made a wheels-up landing at Goxhill. The aircraft sustained repairable (cat 3) damage and Lt Wasylyk was uninjured.
8th September	P-51 Mustang	43-12154	555 FTS - 496 FTG	Wootton Grange	This aircraft was airborne from Goxhill at 1020hrs on a training flight to transition the pilot to the aircraft type. Part of the sortie was carried out at very low level, during which the pilot 2nd Lt William P Gunninmade a left turn and struck a power line. This impact caused the aircraft to hit a tree, followed by striking the ground, cutting through another tree and finally coming to rest in a ploughed field a quarter of a mile away at Grange Farm, Wootton Grange. Lt Gunnin was killed in the crash and his body was thrown clear of the wreckage of the aircraft by the impact.
8th September	Blenheim V	EH512	12 (P) AFU	Spitalgate	Hit a house whilst overshooting.
8th September	Harvard II	KF164	16 FTS	nr Great Gonerby	Collided during aerobatics with Lancaster PB157 (which survived) and crashed.
8th September	B-17G Fortress	42-31238	511 BS - 351 BG	Langtoft	Named”Devil's Ball”, coded DS-A, this aircraft was airborne from Polebrook bound for Ludwigshafen am Rhein. The aircraft crashed after the pilot lost control due to icing on the airframe which built up during formation assembly in overcast conditions. The aircraft dived into the ground at Langtoft Fen and burned out. Some of the wreckage cuased serious damage to buildings at Crown Lodge Farm. Pilot 2nd Lt John C. Haba, co-pilot 2nd Lt Clinton M. Cavett, navigator 2nd Lt Eugene J. Hooks, bombardier 2nd Lt Robert A. McGlohon, engineer S/Sgt Ernest A. Clinton, radio operator S/Sgt James S. Singleton, left waist gunner Sgt Roy A. Morrison and ball-turret gunner Sgt Raymond T. McCloskey were all killed in the crash. The tail gunner Sgt Donald M. Holihan survived. No right waist gunner was carried on this sortie.
9th September	Lancaster I	LM270	No.626 Sqn	Apley	Coded UM-D2, lost control whilst on a training sortie and crashed, 1 Killed.
9th September	P-51 Mustang	43-25044	555 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded C7:B, this aircraft was involved in a taxiing incident at Goxhill on this date, sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. Pilot Capt Thomas M Hergert was unhurt and returned to duty after the accident. Capt Hergert survived the war and was killed in action over Vietnam in 1964, by which point he had reached the rank of Colonel.
9th September	P-51 Mustang	43-6862	555 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded C7:B(bar), this aircraft was involved in a taxiing incident at Goxhill on this date, sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. Pilot 1st Lt Billy B Booth was unhurt and returned to duty after the accident.
9th September	P-51 Mustang	43-7000	555 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	This aircraft was involved in a taxiing incident at Goxhill on this date, sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. Pilot 1st Lt Jasper E Hargrove was unhurt and returned to duty after the accident. Lt Hargrove survived the war and rose to the rank of Lt Col in the USAF Air reserves, retiring in 1972.
9th September	B-24 Liberator	42-50907	755 BS - 458 BG	Fleet Hall Farm, Crowland	Coded J3:D, this aircraft was airborne from Horsham St Faith for a night-time practice sortie to Shrewsbury. The aircraft was, according to the two survivors, flying at 3800 feet under the control of the C-1 autopilot when it maouevred in a violent manner similar to that seen when an aircraft hits the propwash of one in front of it. This caused the aircraft to enter a spin, and it crashed before the pilot could halt the spin. The crash happened at 3210hrs at Fleet hall Farm, Crowland. Pilot 2nd Lt William R. Frederick, co-pilot 2nd Lt Lawrence L.Doelling, engineer S/Sgt Ulysses G. Seymour, radio operator S/Sgt Jack B. Zonker, gunner Sgt. William D. Nobles, gunner Sgt William F. Casey and gunner Sgt Robert L. Leake were all killed in the crash. Navigator 2nd Lt Glen C Allen and bombardier 2nd Lt Jack R Hibbs both bailed out successfully and survived.
11th September	Blenheim V	AZ930	12 (P) AFU	Harlaxton	Overran on landing and hit a hedge.
11th September	Mosquito II	DZ655	51 OTU	Kirton Lindsey	Overran on landing.
11th September	Master III	W9033	17 SFTS	Carlton-le-Moorland	Collided with LF382, crew not recorded.
11th September	Hurricane IIc	LF382	1690 BDTF	Carlton-le-Moorland	Airborne from Fiskerton 1520 for a fighter affiliation exercise with a Lancaster. On entering the training area, the pilot spotted a Master trainer which appeared reluctant to depart the area and dived in for a mock attack but collided with W9033 and both aircraft spun in. F/S H.W.E. Ramsay KIA.
12th September	Hurricane I	AF986	7 PAFU	Pinchbeck	Hit the ground whilst low-flying, 1 Killed.
12th September	Lancaster III	PB434	No.61 Sqn	nr Skellingthorpe	Coded QR-R, Take-off from Skellingthorpe for Stuttgart. Engine cut on take-off; over-ran the runway on landing and the undercarriage collapsed at Skellingthorpe. No crew injuries F/O J.S.Cooksey, Sgt D.E.Rose, Sgt E.P.Meaker, Sgt T.Stevenson, Sgt S.J.Scarrett, Sgt A.R.Marshall, Sgt N.W.Elliott.
13th September	Lancaster I	LM162	No.50 Sqn	North Greetwell	Coded VN-Z, Airborne 1852 12th Sep from Skellingthorpe for Stuttgart. Returned to base and whilst preparing to land was struck by another aircraft. The collision occurred at 1,200 feet in the Skellingthorpe circuit and the Lancaster crashed 0233 13th Sep at North Greetwell, apx. 3 miles NE from the centre of Lincoln. F/O F.H.Hickling, Sgt J.M.Nash inj, Sgt E.W.Glossop, F/S D.C.Watson, F/S A.C.Thompson, Sgt W.H.Ponton inj, Sgt R.C.McCallum.
14th September	C-47A Dakota	43-15312	59 TCS - 61 TCG	Barkston Heath	This aircraft ground-looped at Barkston Heath on this date, sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. It was returned to service and survived the war, currently being derelict at an airport in Aruba, bearing the civilian registration PT-KUD. The pilot, 1st Lt Robert B Dunwiddie was unhurt in the incident.
15th September	Mosquito VI	PZ295	No.618 Sqn	North Coates	The aircraft swung and belly-landed after engine failure on takeoff.
15th September	P-51 Mustang	42-106448	555 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded C7:C(bar) this aircraft was involved in a landing accident at Goxhill on this date, sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. The pilot, 1st Lt William F Kissel was uninjured and returned to duty after the accident.
16th September	Mosquito XX	KB211	1655 MTU	Moulton Chapel	Airborne 1725 from Warboys for practise bombing, but broke up in mid-air approx 1740 and crashed at Woodgate Farm, Moulton Chapel. F/L A.W. Rutledge KIA, P/O J.K. Evans KIA.
16th September	P-51 Mustang	43-12460	554 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded B9:I, this aircraft was involved in a taxiing incident at Goxhill on this date, sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. The aircraft was being moved by one of the squadron's groundcrew at the time of the accident.
16th September	P-51 Mustang	43-6570	554 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded C7:N, this aircraft was involved in a taxiing incident at Goxhill on this date, sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. The aircraft was being moved by one of the squadron's groundcrew at the time of the accident.
17th September	Spitfire II	P8235	53 OTU	nr Hibaldstow	Force-landed wheels-up 0.5 miles northwest of the airfield following engine failure.
17th September	Beaufighter X	LX806	No.254 Sqn	off North Coates	Ditched following engine failure.
17th September	Beaufighter X	NE223	No.143 Sqn	off North Coates	Ditched following engine failure on takeoff.
17th September	Stirling	LJ523	1661 HCU	Harlaxton	Coded -E- , airborne 1915 from Winthorpe for a night cross-country sortie. On return, crew were unable to raise Winthorpe or their briefed divert airfield, and chose to try to land at Harlaxton, a small grass airfield. On landing, the aircraft was unable to stop inside the airfield and ended up wrecked by one of the airfield's defence posts. Tailgunner Sgt C.E. Dunlop was injured and treated locally.
18th September	Mosquito XII	HK228	No.307 Sqn	Sturgate	Collided with HK194.
18th September	Mosquito XII	HK194	No.307 Sqn	Sturgate	Collided with HK228.pilot was P/O Gasecki PAF, escaped captivity in Germany after being shot down in Wellington HE347 on 21st June 43. Arrived back in the UK Sep 2nd 43. Finn quotes HK194 recorded as mid-aired with KB215 19th Oct, but KB215 recorded as destroyed on Oct 19th when a bomb exploded in the bomb bay over Wainfleet Range.
18th September	Lancaster III	LM683	No.463 Sqn	Bracebridge Heath	Coded JO-?, Airborne 1820 18th Sep from Waddington for Bremerhaven. Crash landed on return at Bracebridge Heath airfield due battle-damage. No one was injured but sadly, most of this crew were killed 6/7 Nov in NG191. F/O J.Austin RAAF, Sgt A.Umpleby, F/O S.Rodgers, Sgt E.R.L.M Ameye, P/O H.V.Ellens RAAF, Sgt D.A.Holmes, Sgt J.Baggaley.
19th September	Lancaster III	PB298	No.106 Sqn	nr Fulbeck	Coded ZN-? Airborne 1900 18th Sep from Metheringham for Bremerhaven. On return to base was obliged to take violent evasive action to avoid a mid-air collision and lost control crash-landing 2315 not far from the airfield at Fulbeck . No injuries. F/L H.B.Barron, Sgt G.McKean, Sgt B.A.Rouse, F/O D.T.Kent, Sgt E.A.Firth, Sgt N.W.Deakins, Sgt E.V.Prince.
20th September	UC-78 Bobcat	43-7415	61 TCG	Barkston Heath	On return to Barkston Heath from an administrative flight to Aldermaston, the pilot Major Thomas C. Cargill mistook items at the end of the runway for the threshold markers at the start of the runway. The aircraft overshot and hit a stone wall on the airfield perimeter sustaining major (cat 4) damage. Major Cargill ans his co-pilot 1st Lt Theodore B Spencer were unhurt in the crash and returned to duty afterwards.
23rd September	P-51 Mustang	43-12451	554 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded B9:E, this aircraft was involved in a landing accident at Goxhill on this date, sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. The pilot, 2nd Lt Wilfred A Pohmer was uninjured and returned to duty after the accident. Lt Pohmer was killed in action on October 12th 1944.
24th September	Master II	DL243	17 FTS	Caythorpe	Stalled whilst overshooting and crashed.
25th September	Lancaster I	R5866	1 LFS	Hemswell	Engine start 0845, ahead of the pupil & crew boarding, instructor pilot F/L W.F. Caldow inadvertently raised the main undercarriage, wrecking the aircraft.
26th September	Blenheim V	AZ898	12 (P) AFU	Spitalgate	Hit on the ground by AZ877 (which was repaired).
26th September	P-51 Mustang	43-6507	554 FTS - 496 FTG	Goxhill	Coded B9:L, this aircraft was involved in a landing accident at Goxhill on this date, sustaining repairable (cat 3) damage. The pilot, 2nd Lt Francis C Clark was uninjured and returned to duty after the accident.
27th September	Spitfire V	W3173	53 OTU	nr Kirton Lindsey	Crashed on takeoff.
27th September	Blenheim V	BA147	12 (P) AFU	Spitalgate	Crashed on overshoot.
27th September	Lancaster III	LM457	No.101 Sqn	Ludford Magna	Coded SR-V2, the aircraft was declared DBR on return from Karlsruhe after being hit by a falling bomb. No record of this in Chorley.
27th September	P-51B Mustang	43-6705	554 FTS - 49 6FTG	Coningsby	Airborne from Goxhill for a high-altitude formation practice flight, this aircraft had been working at 25,000ft altitude for an hour. The formation began descending once the practice work was complete, but at 14000 feet the engine on this aircraft began to cut out. The pilot, 1st Lt Frank J Hoder noticed that his fuel pressure was zero, and suspected that the aircraft's fuel pump had failed. He spotted RAF Coningsby nearby and decided to attempt a forced-landing there. Despite his best efforts, the aircraft was unable to glide far enough to reach the runway and came down in a small field nearby. The undercarriage was torn off in the landing after the aircraft ran through a hedge and across 2 ditches. Further damage was inflicted on the flaps, underside air scoop and propellor. Lt Hoder was unhurt in the crash and returned to duty afterwards. Lt Hoder was a former B-17 bomber pilot.
28th September	Stirling	LJ474	1660 HCU	Swinderby	Coded TV-Q, airborne Swinderby 0001 for high-level bombing, rtb both outer engines stopped and wheels stuck in bays, crashed 0150.
29th September	Stirling	LJ932	No.138 Sqn	Ludford Magna	Coded NF-N. SOE-assigned. Airborne 1936 28th Sep from Tempsford on Operation Tablejam 14/26 and headed for Denmark. Badly shot about by a Ju88 whose fire destroyed the starboard inner engine. On regaining the Lincolnshire coast, the crew headed for RAF Ludford Magna but when established on final approach both port engines failed and the Stirling crash- landed 0235, being wrecked in the process. For his steadfast courage in continuing to carry out his Flight Engineer duties, while wounded, F/O Curtis was awarded an immediate DFC. F/L Riddel had gained his DFM with 61 Sqn. Gazetted 11Feb41. F/L R.W.Read DFC inj, F/O C.K.Curtis inj, F/O R.C.Bryant DFC, F/O P.Casey RCAF, F/L M.A.D.Riddel DFM, F/S W.Waddington, W/O N.R.Hutchins RAAF.

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October

Date	Type	Serial	Unit	Location	Notes
3rd October	Oxford	BG267	12 (P) AFU	Helpringham	Tipped up after engine failure during practised force-landing.
5th October	Stirling	LJ624	1660 HCU	Swinderby	Coded TV-C, airborne 0303 from Swinderby for night training, landed,0423 just off the runway and collided with LK389.
5th October	Stirling	LK389	1660 HCU	Swinderby	Collided with LJ624, slight damage, returned to service.
6th October	Master II	AZ381	7 PAFU	Sutton Bridge	Undercarriage collapsed on landing.
6th October	Blenheim V	AZ946	12 (P) AFU	nr Spitalgate	Collided with NG198 and crashed 1.5 miles northeast of the airfield.
6th October	Lancaster I	NG198	6 FP / 619 Sqn	nr Spitalgate	Collided with AZ946 and crashed 1.5 miles northeast of the airfield - this aircraft was transferred to 619 Sqn on the day of the crash so may have been on a test flight.
8th October	Halifax V	LK642	1667 HCU	Belton village	Airborne from Sandtoft 2030, landed awkwardly 2059, overshot and hit a cottage in Belton Village, all 6 crew injured. F/O G.G. Smith, P/O C.R. Applewhite, Sgt F.W.J. Crouch, Sgt C. Wilson, Sgt H.G.A. Allan, Sgt A.W.J. Enstone.
10th October	Master II	DL888	7 PAFU	Sutton Bridge	Crashed after control lost at night.
10th October	Halifax V	LL501	1667 HCU	mouth of the Trent	Airborne from Sandtoft 1805 on night cross-country, Crashed into riverbank at 2330 whilst trying to ascertain position. Sgt R.W. Christie RCAF inj, Sgt E.F. Gazley KIA, F/O L.E. Cameron RCAF KIA, Sgt C.B. Greer RCAF KIA, Sgt H.R. Latham RCAF KIA, Sgt E.G. Woodward KIA.
10th October	Lancaster II	DS763	1668 HCU	NK	Aircraft crashed - noted in Holmes listing, but no further detail on location. The aircraft was transferred from 426 Sqn to 1668HCU in August 1944.
11th October	L-4H Cub	43-29851	59 LS - 61 LG	Barkston Heath	taxiing accident, pilot John M. Coats.
12th October	B-17G Fortress	42-39973	730 BS - 452 BG	nr Ingham	Named 'Inside Curve' Crashed 2 miles west of Ingham after breaking up in mid-air, possibly due to wake turbulence whilst in formation assembly for mission 148 to Bremen, 2LT Wiliam J. Miller (pilot) KIA, F/O Joseph A. Kayatta (copilot) KIA, 2LT Sidney Solomon (nav) RTD, 2LT Robert H. Brucks (bombardier) KIA, T/SGT Charles A. Bacharach (eng) KIA, T/SGT John J. Wilson (radio) KIA, S/SGT Earl O. Bowen (BTG) KIA, S/SGT Paschel H. Powell (WG) RTD, S/SGT Matt W. Ransom III (TG) KIA.
12th October	Lancaster I	PD227	No.166 Sqn	nr Hemswell	Coded AS-? Airborne from Kirmington with a crew of ten, including five air Gunners for fighter affiliation training. A mid-air collision occurred with Hurricane 11c LF390 of 1687 Flight, flown by W/O N.L.Pretlove and both machines crashed 1240 about 1 mile E of Hemswell airfield. W/O Pretlove is buried in Northampton General Cemetery, while the Lancaster crew are buried in various cemeteries, four of the five Canadian airmen being taken to Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery. P/O L.W.McChesnie RCAF KIA, Sgt G.W.Cundick KIA, F/O J.R.Stoneman RCAF KIA, F/S D.J.Rodgers RCAF KIA, Sgt H.Lewis KIA, Sgt G.R.McWhirter RCAF KIA, F/S A.R.Williamson KIA, Sgt J.Derbyshire RCAF KIA, Sgt J.Fletcher KIA, Sgt C.S.Offord KIA.
12th October	Hurricane II	LF390	1687 BDTF	nr Hemswell	Airborne from Ingham 1240 for a fighter affiliation exercise. Collided with PD227 at approx 1240 approx 1 mile east of Hemswell. W/O N.L. Pretlove KIA.
12th October	Lancaster III	NK	No.61 Sqn	Skellingthorpe	Possibly a minor accident - no recorded loss of an aircraft on this date in Chorley or lostbombers.
14th October	Lancaster I	LL956	No.625 Sqn	Little Grimsby	Coded CF-S. Airborne 0628 from Kelstern for Duisburg? and crashed six minutes later at Bradley's Farm, 4 miles N of Louth. In the last moments of flight, six crew members managed to parachute. The two airmen killed are buried in Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery. F/S Bennett was a graduate from the College of Pharmacy in Toronto. F/O L.A.Hannah RCAF KIA, Sgt D.R.Paige RCAF (P2) Sgt R.B.Bennett F/S K.R.Strachan RCAF F/S L.D.Bennett RCAF KIA, F/s J.Bilan RCAF Sgt K.J.McCrorie F/S J.H.Loughren RCAF.
14th October	Lancaster I	ME788	No.12 Sqn	off Skegness	Coded PH-Q, Airborne 0640 14th Oct from Wickenby. Outbound, ditched 0710 14th Oct due to an engine fire, off the Lincolnshire coast between Mablethorpe and Grimsby. All were picked up, relatively unharmed. F/O C.H.Henry Sgt F.H.Hesketh Sgt G.C.Haywood F/O N.L.V.Chesson F/S J.K.Penrose F/S E.O.Martin Sgt E.W.Kendall. Finn quotes serial as ME778.
15th October	Spitfire V	EP114	57 OTU	Kirton Lindsey	Collided with P7438 whilst taxiing, repaired after the accident.
15th October	Spitfire II	P7438	53 OTU	Kirton Lindsey	Collided with EP114 whilst taxiing.
15th October	Master 2	DM349	7 PAFU	Wrangle	Force-landed wheels up after engine failure.
15th October	Wellington X	HE289	18 OTU	Kelstern	Airborne at 0036 from Finningley for a night practise-bombing sortie with a Polish Air Force crew. One engine failed in flight and the crew tried to jettison the bombload with only partial success. The aircraft landed wheels-up, caught fire and exploded. 5 of the crew escaped unhurt, but Sgt Kulagowski PAF was killed in the blast. He was the last Polish Air Force fatality at 18 OTU.
16th October	Master 2	AZ662	7 PAFU	Sutton Bridge	Overran on landing.
17th October	Oxford	HM603	7 PAFU	Sutton Bridge	Hit by 41-31190 after landing.
17th October	A-35 Vengeance	41-31190	1 TTGS	Sutton Bridge	Struck HM603 which had just landed.
18th October	P-51B Mustang	43-6506	555 FTS / 496 FTG	Goxhill	Damaged in an incident - no further details recorded.
18th October	Beaufighter	?	No.236 Sqn	North Coates	Coded J - Belly landed at the airfield after suffering engine failure on approach, the aircraft then caught fire. Two injuries were reported.
18th October	P-51D Mustang	44-13859	55 F S/ 20 FG	off Skegness	Ditched 1 mile east of Skegness, Walter Mullins KIA (Finn quotes this as being off Chapel st Leonards).
19th October	Mosquito XX	KB215	No.627 Sqn	Wainfleet range	Hancock has this aircraft destroyed over the range when a bomb exploded in the bomb bay, 1 Killed, Finn quotes this a/c as collided with HK194, though that would appear to be HK228.
20th October	Lancaster III	PA993	No.626 Sqn	nr Stainton-by-Langworth	Coded UM-H2. Airborne 1659 19th Oct from Wickenby for Stuttgart. On return to base overshot the runway and crashed 0013 20nd Oct amongst trees near Stainton by lungwort, a village on the Lincoln to Market Rasen railway and just to the N of the main road leading from Lincoln to Horncastle. Sgt Terry died while being treated in Lincoln Hospital, he was taken to his home town for burial. F/O R.S.Clements inj, Sgt R.J.Terry inj, Sgt J.Air inj, Sgt L.T.A.Gardner RCAF inj, Sgt J.M.Hill inj, Sgt R.Richmond RCAF inj, Sgt T.Studney RCAF injured.
24th October	Lancaster I	ME641	No.166 Sqn	nr Market Rasen	Coded AS-B, Airborne 2000 24th Oct from Kirmington but collided in the air with a No.460 Sqn Lancaster (JB547) out of Binbrook, and crashed 2220 near Bully Hill, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire. Sgt Connolly died the next day from his injuries. Along with the other Canadian, he is bured in Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery. P/O A.H.Hullah KIA, Sgt J.Oldfield WO2 G.A.Andrews RCAF KIA, F/O R.J.Barton RCAF Sgt A.J.Wolfe KIA, Sgt T.L.Connolly RCAF inj, Sgt W.P.Martin KIA.
27th October	Mosquito II	DZ256	No.239 Sqn	Stapleford Woods	Coded HB-?, airborne 1105 from West Raynham. The aircraft spun in at approximately 1125. F/L J.H. Roberts KIA, Sgt A.H. Ashcroft KIA.
28th October	Stirling	EE907	1661 HCU	nr Swinderby	Coded -K, Airborne 1950 from Winthorpe on night 3-engine practise. Diversion necessary to Swinderby due to weather. Remaining 3 engines lost power on approach and the aircraft crashed into Horsham Wood at 2320. F/L S.H. Martin inj, F/O R.J. Fairhead inj, F/O J. Robertson DFC KIA, Sgt J.J. Glasgow KIA, F/O A.W. Gayford K (died 31st from injuries), Sgt R. Reed KIA, Sgt J.E. Buckminster inj, Sgt A.W. Coombes injured.
28th October	Halifax III	MZ576	No.10 Sqn	off Immingham	Coded ZA-T. Airborne 1309 28th Oct from Melbourne for Cologne. Outbound, the port outer engine failed and the bomb-load was jettisoned. However, the Halifax continued to lose height and a ditching was carried out at 1437 off Immingham on the Lincolnshire coast. Some five hours later the crew were picked up by HMS Middleton and taken to Portsmouth. F/O C.Bleakley, Sgt H.McHugh, Sgt P.Shelley, F/O W.Hiscott, Sgt E.Blinko, Sgt A.Bennett, Sgt S.Canning.
28th October	Lancaster III	ED860	No.61 Sqn	Skellingthorpe	Coded QR-N, christened 'Nuts'. Attempted take-off 2239 28th Oct from Skellingthorpe to attack the U- boat pens at Bergen but swung off the runway. No injuries reported, but this veteran Lancaster was damaged beyond repair. Struck Off Charge having completed 130 operations with a total of 1,032 hours. F/O L.A.Pearce RAAF, Sgt J.B.Murray, F/S R.B.Pettigrew RAAF, Sgt D.A.Barker, Sgt A.E.Perry, Sgt A.Barker, Sgt R.Gillanders.
29th October	Lancaster III	ND902	No.61 Sqn	Skellingthorpe	Coded QR-R, Airborne 2236 28th Oct from Skellingthorpe to bomb the U-boat Pens at Bergen. Unable to identify the AP and while trying to establish a reference point came under sustained Flak and was badly damaged. As a consequence, most of the bomb load was jettisoned. Landed 0501 29th Oct where the Lancaster was declared Beyond Economical Repair. F/O S.E.Miller, Sgt G.McChrystal, F/S S.Fleet, Sgt R.T.Galloway, F/S G.D.Mummery RAAF, Sgt I.A.Hay, Sgt J.E.Norcutt.
30th October	Stirling	EF212	1660 HCU	Swinderby	Coded TV-U, airborne 2030 from Swinderby for night convex, landed 2355, with another aircraft on the runway. Avoiding action caused undercarriage collapse.
30th October	Halifax V	LL226	1667 HCU	Sandtoft	Airborne 1856 for night cross-country, but turned back early. Approached downwind, overshot and crashed into a bungalow, killing the occupants and a passing cyclist. Crew: P/O L.W. Linklater RAAF KIA, F/S H.J. Kyle RAAF inj, F/S J.E. Brown RAAF inj, remaining 4 crew unhurt, Cyclist LAC T.S. Nixon killed, Bungalow occupants killed: Mr. H. Wraith, Mrs A. Wraith (nee Waite).

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November

Date	Type	Serial	Unit	Location	Notes
1st November	Halifax III	NP954	No.429 Sqn	Spilsby	Hit by swinging Lancaster PD290 which exploded.
1st November	Halifax III	MZ424	No.429 Sqn	Spilsby	Hit by swinging Lancaster PD290 which exploded.
1st November	Halifax III	MZ824	No.429 Sqn	Spilsby	Hit by swinging Lancaster PD290 which exploded.
1st November	Halifax III	MZ880	No.429 Sqn	Spilsby	Hit by swinging Lancaster PD290 which exploded.
1st November	Lancaster I	PD290	No.207 Sqn	Spilsby	Coded EM-N. Started take-off 1345 1st Nov from Spilsby but swung out of control and collided with a parked 429 Sqdn Halifax. In the ensuing fire and explosion, three more Halifaxes were wrecked. The Lancaster crew have been omitted from 107 Sqn ORB, though none were injured. F/O A.T.Loveless. There is an account published in 'RAF and RCAF Aircraft Nose-Art, WW11' whereby PD290 collided with Halifax MZ824 which exploded in mid-air. It is considered worthwhile to add to this record but there is sufficient provenance for the report of the ground collision to be considered correct.
2nd November	Spitfire VC	AR515	53 OTU	Hibaldstow	Swung on takeoff at night, hit a hangar and also EM477.
2nd November	Martinet	EM477	53 OTU	Hibaldstow	Hit by AR515.
3rd November	Beaufighter X	NT946	No.254 Sqn	Donna Nook	Crash-landed after being hit by flak during a convoy attack.
4th November	Lancaster III	NF986	No.166 Sqn	nr Croxton	Coded AS-P, this aircraft was airborne at 1705hrs from Kirmington. On return at 2240hrs, the aircraft was destroyed when it crashed at Croxton, 1 mile north of the airfield, after hitting some trees. F/O A Falconer injured, P/O J McGinn injured, Sgt PF Simpson unhurt, Sgt SW Butler unhurt, F/Sgt JH Jones unhurt, Sgt G Challinor severely injured and died the following day, Sgt WG Taylor injured.
5th November	Stirling	EH977	1660 HCU	Bassingham Fen	Coded -Z, Airborne from Swinderby on night convex. aircraft experienced engine trouble and crashed at 0240 whilst banking to the right. Investigation showed that one engine had failed, but a functioning one had been feathered. F/S R.J. Chambers RAAF KIA, Sgt M.A. Rand KIA, Sgt S.F. Weedon KIA, F/O N.U. Bibb KIA, F/S K.J. Gerathy RAAF KIA, Sgt W.F. Whalley KIA, Sgt W.B. Telford KIA.
6th November	Spitfire	BM258	53OTU	Cabourne wood, nr Caistor	This aircraft was destroyed during a training sortie at 1503hrs when the pilot lost control and dived vertically into the ground. The aircraft caught fire on impact and was completely burned out. The pilot, F/O CG Gavan (Canadian) was killed.
6th November	Mosquito IV	W4066	8 OTU	nr Coningsby	Aircraft lost 3 miles south-east of Coningsby. One engine caught fire, causing the undercarriage to drop. The aircraft rolled over and dived into the ground.
6th November	Oxford	X6795	17 FTS	nr Elsham Wolds	Landed wheels-up following engine failure.
7th November	Beaufighter	?	No.254 Sqn	North Coates	Coded T - Undercariage collapsed on landing at the airfield, after returning from OPs. No injuries were reported.
9th November	Hurricane I	L2087	7 PAFU	nr Crowland	Crashed 2 miles west of Crowland, possibly on Stowgate Farm.
9th November	Master 2	DL949	7 PAFU	Sutton Bridge	Stalled on landing and overturned.
10th November	Anson	NK	NK	Spitalgate	No further details.
10th November	Spitfire VB	W3456	17 FTS	North Rauceby	Dived in at Heath Farm.
11th November	Lancaster I	LM360	No.61 Sqn	Fiskerton	Coded VN-?. Airborne 1644 11th Nov from Skellingthorpe to Harburg. Turned back with failing engines, jettisoning the bomb load into the sea. At base the visibility was poor and no less than three approaches were aborted before the crew diverted to East Kirkby. en route, the engine problem worsened and F/L Hickling decided to land at Fiskerton, but with power rapidly decaying the Lancaster under-shot the runway by some 250 yards, coming to rest at 2027 damaged beyond repair. No crew injuries. F/O E.H.Hickling RAAF, Sgt W.A.Clark, F/S E.W.Glossop, F/S D.C.Watson, F/O A.C.Thompson, F/S G.T.Alcock, Sgt R.C.McCallum. This was the aircraft in which Bill Reid won his VC 3/4 Nov 43.
11th November	Halifax II	JN967	1662 HCU	East Ferry	Airborne from Blyton 1752 for night navigation exercise, at 1800 the aircraft crashed in flames from 3000ft at East Ferry after one starboard engine caught fire. The aircraft was so thoroughly destroyed that the exact cause of the engine fire could not be determined. Sgt L. Milewski PAF KIA, Sgt S. Manek PAF KIA, Sgt S. Babiacki PAF KIA, P/O M.E. Wisniewski PAF KIA, Sgt F. Piwoda PAF KIA, Sgt M. Kozlowski PAF KIA, Sgt J. Rzestelny PAF KIA.
11th November	Lancaster I	PD314	No.626 Sqn	nr Wragby	Coded UM-J2. Airborne 1609 11th Nov from Wickenby to Dortmund. Crashed 2113 on return to base, coming down approximately. 1 mile NNE of the airfield. F/O Dainty is buried in Ilkley Cemetery; F/S Friend is buried at Chingford Mount Cemetery. F/O F.W.Dainty KIA, Sgt V.Oates inj, WO2 V.Werier RCAF inj, F/S J.D.Friend KIA, Sgt A.Emerson inj, Sgt J.Powell inj, Sgt E.Skinner injured.
11th November	Lancaster III	LM648	No.44 Sqn	nr Spilsby	Coded KM-K, Airborne 1633 11th Nov from Spilsby for Harburg. On return to base collided in the circuit with a 207 Sqn Lancaster (See PB428), both aircraft crashing out of control. F/O Grassie is buried in Harrogate (Stonefall Cemetery) but F/S Mitchelll was taken to Cambridge City Cemetery. The others are buried in their home towns. Sgt Routledge is buried in the same Cemetery as his brother Sgt John Newton Routledge killed 13th Jul 40 while flying with 218 Sqn. See Blenheim R3597. F/O P.A.C.Caryer KIA, Sgt R.D.Driscoll KIA, F/O C.R.Grassie RCAF KIA, F/O D.S.Arnett KIA, F/S D.L.Mitchell RAAF KIA, Sgt D.Keen KIA, Sgt J.Routledge KIA.
11th November	Lancaster III	PB428	No.207 Sqn	nr Spilsby	Coded EM-T, Airborne 1624 11th Nov from Spilsby for Harburg. On return to base collided in the circuit with LM648 (44 Sqn), both Lancasters crashing out of control, killing both sets of crew-members. The two Canadian members of this crew are buried at Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery, both australians were taken to Cambridge City Cemetery, while the others are buried in their home towns. F/O W.A.Sparks KIA, F/O A.F.Cullington KIA, P/O W.G.Armour RCAF KIA, F/O J.A.Baker RAAF KIA, P/O A.L.Plowman RAAF KIA, Sgt J.Nugent KIA, F/S G.Rye RCAF KIA.
12th November	Halifax V	LL389	1667 HCU	Sandtoft	Airborne for cross-country sortie. On return at 1615, landed heavily and burst the port tyre. aircraft veered left and snapped undercarriage.
14th November	Lancaster III	PB702	No.83 Sqn	off Skegness	Coded OL-G. On a training flight, aircraft emerged from low cloud in an almost level attitude and crashed onto a sandbank in The Wash. All were brought to safety by a pilot boat and admitted to Boston Hospital, although it is thought their injuries were all of a minor nature. F/O W.A.McNeil inj, Sgt R.W.Stoneman inj, F/O J.W.Hudson inj, Sgt J.O'Leary inj, Sgt J.Hinton inj, F/S G.Lonsdale inj, Sgt A.Bibby injured.
15th November	Beaufighter	?	No.236 Sqn	Donna Nook	Coded R - Belly landed on landing at the airfield, on one engine. The crew were reported OK, but the pilot sustained an ankle injury whilst on OPs.
23rd November	Lancaster I	LL949	No.630 Sqn	in the Humber	Coded LE-E. airborne 1626 22nd Nov from East Kirkby to mark the U-Boat pens at Trondheim. Came down on a sandbank near the N bank of the Humber off Sunk Island. sgt Henley and the three RNZAF airmen are buried in Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery; Sgt Woodward died from his injuries 1st Dec. he is buried in Hampstead Cemetery. F/O G.R.Flood RNZAF KIA, Sgt L.T.Woodward inj, F/S C.Agnew RNZAF KIA, F/S K.J.Aspell KIA, F/S W.R.Ingram RNZAF KIA, Sgt F.Hughes KIA, Sgt M.B.Henley KIA.
23rd November	Blenheim V	AD658	12 (P) AFU	Harlaxton	Landed wheels-up.
26th November	Oxford	N6299	17 FTS	nr Cranwell	Landed wheels-up 1 mile south-southwest of the airfield following engine failure on takeoff. Finn quotes unit as 3 SFTS and location near Spitalgate.
26th November	Lancaster III	PB432	No.49 Sqn	Dry Doddington	Coded EA-O. Airborne 2341 26th Nov from Fulbeck to Munich but three minutes later the Lancaster crashed at Dry Doddington, SE of the airfield and 8 miles NW of Grantham. Sgt Langley is buried at Charlton (st.John The Baptist) Churchyard while Sgt Blake is Buried in Hendon Cemetery. F/O G.H.Le Marquand inj, Sgt W.S.Wade inj, F/S R.E.Ransome inj, Sgt N.Bowers inj, Sgt N.I.Langley KIA, Sgt E.G.Blake KIA, Sgt T.Price injured.
26th November	Halifax II	W7808	1656 HCU	Skellingthorpe	Airborne 1145 from Lindholme on a day training sortie. Outer engines failed in low-level flight at 800 ft and could not be feathered. Pilot sighted an airfield, lowered the undercarriage but after touching down at 1530 aircraft overran and ended up in trees in boggy ground.
29th November	Blenheim V	BA237	12 (P) AFU	Harlaxton	Landed wheels-up.
29th November	Beaufighter	?	No.236 Sqn	Donna Nook	Coded Y - Belly landed at the airfield after suffering undercarriage failure. No injuries were reported.
29th November	Beaufighter	?	No.254 Sqn	Donna Nook	Coded G - Belly landed on one engine. No injuries were reported.

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December

Date	Type	Serial	Unit	Location	Notes
2nd December	Master 2	AZ801	7 PAFU	Sutton Bridge	Undercarriage collapsed on landing.
2nd December	Blenheim V	AZ953	12 (P) AFU	Spitalgate	Landed wheels-up.
3rd December	Lancaster I	NN699	No.625 Sqn	Kelstern	Coded CF-C, Crashed at base on return from Urft Dam at Heimbach. Airborne 0741 from Kelstern for a daylight raid on the Urft Dam. On return to base over-ran the runway and crashed 1159 just beyond the runway. No injuries reported. F/O G.A.Naylor, Sgt L.Sutherland, F/O J.S.Joiner, F/S D.Braden RAAF, F/S R.French RAAF, F/O F.T.Rix, Sgt S.Lavender.
4th December	Stirling	EF186	1661 HCU	nr Grantham	Coded GP-V, airborne at 2030 from Winthorpe to practise recovery from unusual angles of flight. aircraft entered a bank of CuNim cloud at 2055, and crashed onto Breeder hills 4 miles west of Grantham after presumed icing. F/O G.R. Campbell RAAF KIA, F/S D.J. Standring KIA, Sgt L.G. Diggins KIA, Sgt W.L. Howarth KIA, Sgt E.W. Heaton KIA, Sgt A.L. Terry KIA, Sgt A. Winn KIA, Sgt B. Stowe KIA, Sgt K.C. Glinz RCAF KIA.
4th December	Lancaster I	LM176	No.166 Sqn	Brocklesby Park	Coded AS-X, airborne 1624 4th Dec from Kirmington. On return to base, and while preparing to land, spun and crashed 2314 at Brocklesby Park near the airfield. Most are buried in Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery. F/O S.R.Hanna RCAF KIA, Sgt P.Morris KIA, P/O D.S.Howard RCAF KIA, F/O C.W.Macklaier RCAF KIA, WO2 W.P Wynnyk RCAF KIA, F/S W.R.Darling RCAF KIA, F/S C.A.Fowler RCAF KIA.
4th December	Wellington XIII	MF226	EAAS	Great Carlton	Crashed into cottages after engine failure on approach to Manby.
7th December	Lancaster I	PB749	1651 HCU	Langtoft	Airborne 1150 from Woolfox Lodge for practise bombing sortie. Aircraft broke up at 1214 near Langtoft, 7 Killed, first Lancaster accident for 1651 HCU. F/S J. Hall KIA, Sgt M. Carty KIA, Sgt D.J. Taylor KIA, Sgt P.E. Costin KIA, Sgt F.R. Smith KIA, P/O A. Yoxon KIA, Sgt D.G. Mackenzie KIA.
9th December	Halifax III	LL498	1662 HCU	Blyton	Coded D, airborne from Blyton 1040 for bombing practise, returned to the circuit, but fuel low warning showed, aircraft dropped to 700ft and despite increasing power, pilot force-landed wheels up on the airfield at 1245.
12th December	Lancaster III	W4859	1662 HCU	nr Blyton	Airborne 2133 for night circuit practise, bounced on contact with runway at 2141, and crashed from 50ft into a barn by Blyton railway station, catching fire on impact. F/L R.K. Eames KIA, Sgt N.G. Millar KIA, F/L G.R. Gill KIA, Sgt P. Murphy KIA, Sgt E. Booth KIA.
12th December	Lancaster III	JA908	1668 HCU	East Kirkby	Airborne 1014 from Bottesford on a training flight. During the sortie the flametraps on the port outer burned through, and the aircraft tried to land on 3 engines at East Kirkby in poor visibility. The aircraft bounced on touchdown and lost the starboard wheel, causing a forced landing during which the aircraft caught fire. 7 crew injured: F/O L.J. Richer RCAF, Sgt B.C. Terry, P/O L.G. Gilliard, Sgt J.E. Cable, Sgt V. Lenney, P/O R.W. Miller RCAF, P/O E.J. May RCAF, F/O Kissack unhurt.
15th December	Lancaster III	PD201	No.12 Sqn	Holbeach Drove	Coded PH-E. Airborne 1507 15th Dec from Wickenby to Luwigshafen. While returning to base a fire broke out and before anyone could react the Lancaster dived into the ground at 2100, exploding on impact, near Holbeach Drove, 8 miles SSW of Holbeach. Sgt Nicholls was buried at nearby Sutton Bridge (St.Matthew) Churchyard. Both Air Gunners are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, but the others were taken home. It is likely that Sgt Smith's funeral was conducted by his father, the Revd. Arthur Augustus Smith of Hexham. P/O Gillingham's father was RSM James Gillingham of The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. P/O E.T Gillingham KIA, Sgt J.Nicholls KIA, Sgt F.D.M.Smith KIA, Sgt A.Muttock KIA, Sgt J.A.Carter KIA, Sgt F.J.Angus KIA, Sgt J.G.Robinson KIA.
16th December	B-17G Fortress	44-8421	546 BS / 384 BG	North Coates	Landing accident, pilot James D. Brookshire, no further details.
22nd December	Lancaster I	PB688	No.463 Sqn	nr Waddington	Coded JO-M. Airborne 1632 21/22 Dec from Waddington to Politz. Crashed 0246 22 Dec on return to Waddington, crashing about a mile to the N of the airfield. Weather conditions at the time were extremely poor. Of those killed, all were buried in Cambridge City Cemetery. F/O R.H.Halstead RAAF KIA, Sgt B.E.O.Pettigrew KIA, F/O C.J.Greenwood RAAF KIA, F/S J.R.Power RAAF KIA, F/S G.J.Cheyne RAAF KIA, F/S L.E.J.Millar RAAF KIA, F/S T.A.Nation RAAF injured.
22nd December	Lancaster III	PB533	No.83 Sqn	Metheringham	Coded OL-Q. Airborne 1636 21st Dec from Coningsby to bomb Politz. On return to base the crew were instructed to divert to Metheringham which had the FIDO facility. Whilst attempting to land in very bad visibility the Lancaster crashed 0246 22nd Dec. Of those killed F/L Booker was taken to Cambridge City Cemetery while the others were buried in their home towns. S/L Hatcher's father was Major Henry Hatcher, formerly of the Royal Field Artillery. S/L L.Hatcher DFC AFM KIA, F/S H.J.Naldrett KIA, F/L A.J.Booker DFC KIA, P/O E.Marron KIA, W/O R.F.Goodman KIA, F/L C.Summerscales DFC KIA, W/O F.J.Bell KIA, F/L M.F.Ingmire injured.
22nd December	Lancaster I	NG244	No.626 Sqn	Wickenby	Coded UM-E2. Lost on a raid to Koblenz. Airborne 1623 22nd Dec from Wickenby but was obliged to turn back after the failure of the port inner engine. approaching base, the crew were told to divert to Leeming, Yorkshire, but in the circumstances the pilot continued his approach, only to stall and crash. On impact, the Lancaster exploded. all are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. F/P R.R.Preece KIA, Sgt A.F.Liddle KIA, F/S A.G.Mace KIA, F/O F.E.Gurden KIA, Sgt W.T.Stapleton KIA, Sgt P.L.Waldon KIA, Sgt P.Radley KIA.
22nd December	Lancaster I	NG258	No.630 Sqn	Winceby	Coded LE-?. Lost on mission to Politz. Airborne 1658 21st Dec from East Kirkby. Crashed 0250 22nd Dec at Scanfield farm. Those killed were buried in their home towns. F/O Stockill was cremated at Darlington. F/O A.Stockill KIA, Sgt J.Duffett KIA, F/O W.McP James KIA, Sgt R.A.Bruck KIA, Sgt J.S.Bain KIA, Sgt J.Quinlivan KIA, Sgt L.Pooley injured.
22nd December	Lancaster I	ME561	No.617 Sqn	Tealby	Coded KC-T. Airborne 1654 21st Dec from Woodhall Spa. On return to base the crew were diverted to Ludford Magna and land by aid of FIDO, due to fog blanketing the local area. On approach to Ludford, the Lancaster's port wing brushed the ground causing the bomber to crash 0240 22nd Dec at Tealby, 3 miles ENE of Market Rasen. The two airmen killed were taken to their home towns for burial. F/O Walker's DFC was Gazetted 12th Jan 45. F/O A.E.Joplin RNZAF inj, Sgt F.L.Tilley inj, F/S C.B.R.Fish inj, F/O A.J.Walker DFC KIA, F/S R.B.Yates KIA, F/S J.T.Thomson injured.
22nd December	Lancaster I	PD213	No.9 Sqn	nr Bardney	Coded WS-F, Airborne 1633 21st Dec from Bardney for Politz. On return to base visibility was extremely poor and while trying to land this Lancaster collided with a tree and crashed 0235 22nd Dec near the airfield. Sgt White is buried in Thrybergh (St Leonard) Old churchyard. Fellow Yorkshireman F/S Willis is buried at Bradfield (St Nicholas) Churchyard. F/O J.A.Read inj, Sgt E.A.White KIA, Sgt N.F.J.Featherstone inj, F/S V.S.Willis KIA, F/S D.McArdle inj, Sgt H.B.Rothwell inj, Sgt W.J.W.Linaker injured.
26th December	Me109G	NK	NK	Fulbeck	Crash-landed with a defecting pilot after flying from Denmark.
29th December	Mosquito IV	DZ650	No.627 Sqn	Woodhall Spa	Coded AZ-Q, Airborne 1923 29th Dec from Woodhall Spa to lay mines in the River Elbe but swung off the runway, crashing out of control. No injuries reported. F/O H.V.Olliver RNZAF.
30th December	B-17G Fortress	42-97479	92 BG	East Kirkby	Named "Belle of Liberty" Crashed on approach with battle damage from mission 238 against the Bullay railway bridge at Koblenz. Sgt Harold R. Barner KIA, Sgt Wilfred A. Bedard KIA,Sgt Charles H. Chambers KIA, 2nd Lt John E. Cowan KIA, Sgt Arthur R. Estrada KIA, 2nd Lt Edward A. Porter Jr KIA, Sgt Thomas G. Standish Jr KIA, 2nd Lt Joseph Van Stratton KIA, Sgt William D. White KIA.
31st December	Spitfire VC	AR467	53 OTU	Hibaldstow	Overshot landing.
31st December	Spitfire VB	EN861	53 OTU	Nettleton Top	Crashed following loss of control during a tail chase exercise.

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1944 Incident Logs

January

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November

December

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