| Date | Type | Serial | Unit | Location | Notes |
|---|
| 01/01/1945 | Spitfire | BL669 | 53OTU | Ashby nr Scunthorpe | This aircraft was wrecked at 1310hrs after the aircraft stalled and crashed as the pilot was pulling up to avoid trees whilst force-landing after the engine failed in flight. Pilot P/O JF Blatherwick (Canadian) was injured. |
| 01/01/1945 | Lancaster | NG252 | 9sqn | Bardney | Coded WS-R. Airborne at 0747hrs from Bardney to bomb the Dortmund-Ems Canal at Ladbergen. The aircraft was destroyed when it dived into the ground south of Henry Lane in the airfield circuit shortly after becoming airborne due to loss of power on both port engines. F/O C.S.Newton (American) killed, Sgt C.Booth killed, F/SgtP.Grant killed, P/O R.C.Flynn (Canadian) injured, Sgt L.G.Kelly killed, F/SgtE.H.Cooper (Canadian) killed, P/O R.S.Stevens (Canadian) killed. |
| 01/01/1945 | Lancaster | PD368 | 9sqn | Bardney | Coded WS-A. This aircraft was wrecked at 0750hrs whilst taking off from Bardney to attack the Dortmund-Ems Canal at Ladbergen. Halfway doen the runway the port fuel warning lights came on. The flight engineer changed fuel tanks but the lights stayed on, and the aircraft began to swing as the port engines lost power. The aircraft came to rest on its belly at the end of the runway. The crew apart from Sgt Dawes were unhurt. F/O J.W.Buckley (Australian), Sgt K.E.Dawes injured, F/O W.C.Shutler F/O A.Nolan F/SgtI.L.Moore (Australian) Sgt R.G.Round Sgt R.A.C.Copperwaite. |
| 01/01/1945 | Spitfire | BR160 | 53OTU | Fiskerton | This aircraft was damaged at 1022hrs when it force-landed wheels-up on the airfield after the engine caught fire in flight. Pilot P/O TG Robinson (Anglo-Indian) was unhurt. |
| 01/01/1945 | Spitfire | EN858 | 53OTU | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was damaged at 1320hrs when it crashed into a hedge on the airfield after landing heavily and swinging. The pilot attempted to get airborne again but ran out of runway. Pilot F/O J Darragh (New Zealander) was unhurt. |
| 01/01/1945 | Lancaster | NG127 | 50sqn | Skellingthorpe | Coded VN-D. Tasked to bomb the Mittelland Kanal near Gravenhorst but swung out of control on take-off after a tyre burst, causing the undercarriage to collapse. No injuries, but the Lancaster was written off in the accident at 0730hrs. Pilot F/O VG Sagar and crew were unhurt. |
| 01/01/1945 | Anson | NK845 | 17 SFTS | Sutton Bridge | Time: 1240 - On returning to the base after completing a navigation training flight, the pilot overshot his landing. This resulted in the aircraft coming to rest after hitting both a gate and earth bank. No injuries were reported to either W/O M.M. Wright or his crew, but the aircraft was deemed a total write-off. |
| 02/01/1945 | Lancaster | LL898 | 100sqn | In the Wash | Coded HW-L, This aircraft was destroyed when it dived into the sea at 1003hrs from 5,500 feet while carrying out bombing practice. F/L V.Weatherley (New Zealander) killed, Sgt J.Dubois killed, F/O W.S.Cameron killed, F/O R.Warwick killed, Sgt P.Share killed, Sgt G.H.Thirkettle killed. |
| 02/01/1945 | P-51 Mustang | 43-24808 | 376FS/361FG | nr Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was destroyed when it crashed after the pilot lost control & spun in 1 mile from the airfield. Pilot Marion C. Kelly baled out unhurt. |
| 02/01/1945 | Lancaster | NG421 | 150sqn | Sudbrooke | Coded IQ-M. This aircraft was lost on its first operation with a total of seven hours. Airborne at 1510hrs from Hemswell for Nuremburg. Homebound, it collided in the air at 2310hrs with a 153 Sqdn Lancaster (PB515), both Lancasters crashing and burning out at Sudbrooke, 3 miles NNE of Lincoln. F/O G.L.Russell killed, Sgt G.Hargreaves killed, F/SgtP.H.Rodwell killed, F/SgtF.Jones killed, Sgt J.G.Hammond killed, Sgt J.T.Frampton killed, Sgt G.E.W.Redmile killed. |
| 02/01/1945 | Lancaster | PB515 | 153sqn | Sudbrooke | Coded P4-N. Airborne at 1455hrs from Scampton. This aircraft was destroyed at 2315hrs when it collided with Lancaster NG421 on return from Nuremburg. It crashed and burned out at Sudbrooke. F/O D.C Reid (Canadian) killed, Sgt R.C Richards (Canadian) killed, Sgt C. R Pogson (Canadian) killed, F/Sgt H.V Durling (Canadian) killed, Sgt R.Taylor killed, Sgt D.D. Hoskins (Canadian) killed, F/SgtA.J Eberle (Canadian) killed. |
| 03/01/1945 | Lancaster | W4376 | 1662HCU | Blyton | Airborne at 1047hrs from Blyton for dual circuit & landing practice. Training went normally for 15 minutes, but whilst performing pre-takeoff checks at 1103hrs, the undercarriage folded and aircraft was wrecked. F/L W.A. Rainey DFC injured, P/O Adamowski and the remaining 3 Polish crew were unhurt. |
| 03/01/1945 | Blenheim | AZ947 | 12(P)AFU | Harlaxton | This aircraft was damaged at 0315hrs whilst parked when it was struck by Blenheim AZ960. |
| 03/01/1945 | Blenheim | AZ960 | 12(P)AFU | Harlaxton | This aircraft was damaged at 0315hrs whilst taxying in a crosswind. The aircraft skidded in mud and struck parked Blenheim AZ947. Pilot F/Sgt NCH Smith (Australian) was unhurt. |
| 03/01/1945 | Spitfire | W3375 | 53OTU | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was damaged at 1320hrs when it tipped ont its nose after the pilot ran the engine up whilst taxying without waiting for 2 airmen to weight the tail down. Pilot Lt JA Mine (French) was unhurt. |
| 03/01/1945 | Spitfire | P8085 | 1FPP | Scampton | This aircraft was damaged at 1320hrs whilst taxying. The aircraft swung off the peritrack in a gusty wind, the port wheel sank into soft ground and the aircraft nosed over. Pilot ATA FO J Aldren was unhurt. |
| 04/01/1945 | Lancaster | NF924 | 101sqn | Ludford Magna | This aircraft was damaged at 1800hrs on landing from a training cross-country flight. The pilot allowed the aircraft to drift whilst landing in poor visibility and the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot F/O HJ West and crew were unhurt. |
| 04/01/1945 | Spitfire | AB904 | 53OTU | North Killingholme | This aircraft was damaged at 1630hrs whilst taxying. The aircraft left the peritrack, one wheel sank into soft ground and the aircraft nosed over. Pilot P/O RG Shropshire (Canadian) was unhurt. |
| 04/01/1945 | P-51 Mustang | 44-15036 | 374FS/361FG | nr Holbeach | This aircraft was badly damaged when it crash-landed, possibly after engine failure in flight. Pilot 2/Lt John R. Wilson Jr was killed, no further details recorded. |
| 04/01/1945 | Spitfire | W3575 | 53OTU | nr Manton Warren | This aircraft was wrecked at 1130hrs when it force-landed wheels-up in a field 800 yards south-west of manton Warren near Messingham after the engine failed in flight. Pilot Sgt MPH Remy (belgian) was unhurt. |
| 04/01/1945 | Master | DM230 | 7FTS | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was damaged at 1240hrs on return from a training flight when it overshot on landing and struck the airfield boundary wall. Pilot Cpl M Brun (French) was unhurt. |
| 05/01/1945 | Lancaster | SW243 | 1668CU | Bottesford | This aircraft was damaged on return from a training flight at 2152hrs when it undershot the runway in poor visibility and struck the airfield boundary hedge. Pilot W/O AC Hulme and crew were unhurt. |
| 05/01/1945 | Lancaster | NN749 | 576sqn | Fiskerton | This aircraft was damaged at 2114hrs on return from a training flight. The aircraft bounced on touchdown, swung off the runway and the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot F/O BH O'Neill and crew were unhurt. |
| 05/01/1945 | Blenheim | AZ993 | 12(P)AFU | nr Harlaxton village | This aircraft was destroyed on a night training sortie when the pilot mistook the reflection of ground lights on the canopy perspex for those of a glider. He dived to avoid a collision, the aircraft struck a tree and crashed to the ground in a copse 800 yards south east of Barrowby Lodge. Instructor F/O JG McGolrick (Canadian) was killed and pupil W/O RC Ford was injured. |
| 05/01/1945 | Lancaster | PB348 | 57sqn | nr Mablethorpe | Coded DX-T, Airborne at 0045hrs from East Kirkby to attack the German garrison at Royan. After becoming airborne, the crew encountered very severe icing and within a few minutes both starboard engines ceased to function. Attempts to feather the two engines were unsuccessful and their plight worsened as the airspeed indicator became affected by the icing. Bombs were jettisoned but after forty- five minutes of flying, the crew abandoned the aircraft. The wreckage of the aircraft was found on the beach between Mablethorpe and Theddlethorpe St.Helen. No injuries reported. F/O A.R.Curran (Australian) Sgt D.Howells Sgt R.Denholme Sgt E.Starmer Sgt N.Ward Sgt H.Terry Sgt F.Gregan. |
| 05/01/1945 | C-47 Dakota | 43-48727 | 48TCS/313TCG | nr Pinchbeck | This aircraft was destroyed when it crashed at 1724hrs 6 1/2 miles north-east of Bourne whilst returning from a flight ferrying personnel. The aircraft was seen flying with flames coming from the tail section, after which it entered a tight spin and hit the ground. Pilot 1/Lt HR Klaus killed, Sgt RL Toms killed, S/Sgt LR Messier killed, passenger 1/Lt J Pinkoson killed. |
| 05/01/1945 | Oxford | HN532 | 12(P)AFU | Spitalgate | This aircraft was damaged at 1950hrs whilst on a circuits and landings practice flight. The aircraft touched down heavily, collapsing the port undercarriage. The aircraft made another circuit and belly-landed on the airfield. Pilots W/O AE Rhodes and F/Lt EJ Savage were uninjured. |
| 06/01/1945 | Lancaster | LL636 | 1668HCU | Bottesford | Airborne at 1010hrs on a training sortie, the aircraft landed safely, but at 1126hrs whilst taxying back to dispersal the starboard inner engine caught fire and damaged the aircraft. The aircraft was not repaired and was eventually struck off charge. Pilots F/O GJ George (Australian), P/O JK Watts (Australian) and crew were unhurt. |
| 07/01/1945 | Lancaster | PB406 | 460sqn | Binbrook | This aircraft was damaged whilst taxying out for an operational flight when it was struck by Lancaster PB522. Pilot F/O ES Mulcahy (Australian) and his crew were unhurt. |
| 07/01/1945 | Lancaster | PB522 | 460sqn | Binbrook | This aircraft was damaged whilst taxying when it struck the rear of Lancaster PB406 which was in front. The aircraft was taxying uphill, the brakes were ineffective on the icy taxiway. Pilot F/O DJ Creeper (Australian) and his crew were unhurt. |
| 07/01/1945 | Beaufighter | NE756 | 236sqn | Donna Nook | This aircraft was wrecked at 0240hrs on return from an operational sortie. On touchdown, the port oleo collapsed. The pilot tried to go around again, but the starboard wing stalled and the pilot force-landed heavily on the starboard wheel, the wing hit the ground and swung the aircraft into a building. Pilot F/Sgt DHW Reeder & his observer were unhurt. |
| 07/01/1945 | Lancaster | PD317 | 630sqn | East Kirkby | Coded LE-G. Airborne at 1645hrs from East Kirkby to Munich but the port engine failed soon after becoming airborne. Bombs were jettisoned and the crew returned to base but on touchdown at 1759hrs the Lancaster bounced and the pilot opened the throttles in an attempt to go round again. However, the port wing tip dropped and the Lancaster cart-wheeled across the airfield. F/O G.E.Billings seriously injured, Sgt S.Harris injured, F/SgtA.Hobson killed, F/O L.Knowles injured, Sgt J.Duncan injured, Sgt D.A.Holloway killed, F/SgtD.Todd (Australian) injured. |
| 07/01/1945 | Lancaster | ME322 | 49sqn | Fulbeck | This aircraft was damaged whilst parked at 1530hrs when a vehicle collided with the port aileron. |
| 07/01/1945 | Lancaster | LM732 | 170sqn | Hemswell | This aircraft was damaged on take-off when the rudder control lever broke on take-off. The rudder had been replaced earlier that day after being struck by a tractor whilst the aircraft was being towed, but this damaged part was not noticed. Pilot F/O J Delancy and crew were unhurt. |
| 07/01/1945 | Spitfire | BL788 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 1828hrs when the pilot undershot the runway on landing and tore the undercarriage off on striking a sand pile at the end of the runway. Pilot F/Sgt EB Graillot (French) was unhurt. |
| 07/01/1945 | Lancaster | ND477 | 1667CU | Sandtoft | This aircraft was damaged at 1735hrs on return from a training flight. The aircraft skidded sidewards onto the grass whilst turning off the runway after landing, causing the port undercarriage to collapse. Pilot P/O WA Taylor and crew were unhurt. |
| 07/01/1945 | Oxford | P8911 | 5SFTS | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was wrecked at 2340hrs when it undershot the airfield, crashed into a field and overturned. Pilot 2/Lt JLH Riviere (French) was injured. |
| 08/01/1945 | Wellington | NC954 | 105OTU | nr Wootton | This aircraft was wrecked at 1320hrs when it crashed after the starboard engine caught fire in flight. Shortly after the fire started, the emergency dinghy released itself from the wing and added to the aircraft's problems. The aircraft would not maintain height on a single engine, so the pilot attempted a forced-landing wheels-up in a field. On approach to his chosen field, he had to make a sharp turn to avoid a house, and the aircraft struck a telegraph pole, crashing in the roadway 1 1/4 miles south-south-west of Wootton village. Pilot F/Lt JF Johnstone was seriously injured in the crash, second pilot W/O D Shaw was unhurt, one other crewmember was also uninjured. F/O PR Armstrong, the wireless operator baled out at 700 feet and was killed when his parachute failed to fully open before he hit the ground. |
| 09/01/1945 | Oxford | NJ282 | Ludford Station Flt | Ludford Magna | This aircraft was damaged at 1620hrs when it collided with a bus parked close to the peritrack whilst taxying. Pilot Gp Capt PJR King was unhurt. |
| 10/01/1945 | Lancaster | LM672 | 100sqn | Grimsby | This aircraft was damaged at 1740hrs on return from a training flight. The aircraft bounced on touchdown and 375 yards further down the runway the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot P/O HC Smith (Canadian) and crew were unhurt. |
| 10/01/1945 | Master | DL238 | 7FTS | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was damaged at 1100hrs whilst attempting to take off for a training flight. Accumulations of frozen snow on the wings prevented the aircraft becoming airborne, and it ran across the airfield out of control, passing between two buildings before it ran into a ditch and tipped onto its nose. Pilot F/Sgt D Aitchison and pupil Cpl M Calcagni (French) were unhurt. |
| 11/01/1945 | Beaufighter | NE751 | 236sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged at 1345hrs whilst taxying out across the grass for a gas trials flight. The tailwheel sank into soft ground at the edge of the preitrack and was torn off on the edge of the concrete. Pilot F/O SW Sills and his observer were unhurt. |
| 11/01/1945 | Lancaster | LM548 | 9sqn | Waddington | This aircraft was involved in an incident whilst being ground-tested. A member of the groundcrew slipped on snow and was struck by a propellor. |
| 11/01/1945 | Lancaster | PD390 | 12sqn | Wickenby | This aircraft was damaged at 1130hrs whilst being run up by groundcrew. The aircraft slid forward and struck an inspection platform after the chocks failed to hold it back on snow-covered ground. LAC Williamson was unhurt. |
| 14/01/1945 | Lancaster | LM590 | 1668CU | Bottesford | This aircraft was damaged at 1850hrs whilst parked on the peritrack when it was struck by a vehicle. |
| 14/01/1945 | Lancaster | ND822 | 460sqn | Ludford Magna | Coded AR-N. Airborne 1903hrs from Binbrook to attack the synthetic-oil plant at Merseburg/Leuna. Heard, faintly, on R/T at 2148hrs and landing instructions were passed. Nothing further was heard and at 2201hrs the Lancaster crashed near Ludford Magna airfield after it flew into the ground whilst flying low to ascertain his position. The starboard inner engine had failed before the crash and was feathered. P/O G.D.Walker (Australian) killed, Sgt J.G.Forrest killed, F/Sgt R.W.Hamilton (Australian) killed, F/Sgt K.Hutchings (Australian) killed, F/Sgt E.R.Winton (Australian) killed, F/Sgt L.R.Barnden (Australian) killed, F/Sgt B.B.Peterson (Australian) injured. F/Sgt Peterson died from his burns 20/Jan/45. |
| 15/01/1945 | Lancaster | PA160 | 300sqn | Goltho Hall | Coded BH-E. Airborne at 1916hrs 14/Jan/45 from Faldingworth to bomb the synthetic oil refinery at Leuna. The aircraft returned successfully to base and was positioning downwind for either Bardney or Wickenby when it hit the ground at 0325hrs near Goltho Hall in the airfield circuit and was destroyed. Four of the crew were injured, one seriously, though none are named in the Squadron Records. F/O M.Kozubski (Polish) Sgt A.Jackowski (Polish) P/O A.Kosciukiewicz (Polish) Sgt E.Micko (Polish) Sgt M.Periak (Polish) Sgt G.Sigall (Polish) Sgt T.Niemied (Polish) |
| 15/01/1945 | Hurricane | LF395 | 1690BDTF | Metheringham | Airborne at 1541hrs from Metheringham for a fighter affiliation sortie. The aircraft was damaged on landing at 1631hrs when it ran for 50 yards normally, then the port undercarriage leg collapsed due to a defect in the locking mechanism. Pilot F/Sgt FP Bratley was unhurt. |
| 15/01/1945 | Wellington | JA144 | EAAS | nr Waltham | This aircraft was damaged at 1435hrs when it force-landed wheels-up in a field at Grove Farm. The pilot had feathered the starboard propellor at 4300 feet as part of a practice drill, but it failed to unfeather. The aircraft would not maintain height on a single engine leaving the pilot with no other option than to force land. Pilot P/O RL Clarke and crew were unhurt. |
| 15/01/1945 | Oxford | V4126 | 7PAFU | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was damaged at 2045hrs when it lost height during a practice overshoot and struck the perimeter barbed wire fence. The port undercarriage buckled and the port wing dug into the ground. Instructor F/Lt WJ White (Canadian) and pupil 2/Lt JLH Riviere (French) were uninjured. |
| 15/01/1945 | Lancaster | LM619 | 1668HCU | Westborough | Airborne 1820 from Bottesford for night bombing practice. The aircraft was destroyed when it crashed in Westborough village on return at 2030hrs after overshooting the airfield. F/O I.V.L. Thompson (Australian) killed, F/SgtJ. Rawlinson killed, Sgt J.G. Hazelden killed, Sgt C.B.C. Mann killed, F/SgtA.B. Thomas (Australian) killed, Sgt D.G. Burn killed, Sgt G.F. Ashby injured. |
| 16/01/1945 | Oxford | PH157 | 12(P)AFU | Spitalgate | This aircraft was damaged at 0100hrs when it struck a tree whilst undershooting the airfield approach. It continued to land with no further damage. Pilot F/Lt J Narewski (Polish) was unhurt. |
| 16/01/1945 | B-24 Liberator | 42-51471 | 855BS/491BG | Stowgate farm, Deeping st James | Force-landed in bad weather, the aircraft stalled whilst trying to land in a ploughed field at 1715hrs on return from a mission to Dresden. Pilot Frank G. Rose, no further crew details recorded, but all unhurt apart from minor injury to one man's arm. |
| 17/01/1945 | Lancaster | NG321 | 189sqn | Fulbeck | This aircraft was damaged at 0130hrs on return from operations. The aircraft had taxied to its dispersal and the engines were being run up prior to shutdown. The aircraft slipped and swung to port, damaging both port propellors on an obstruction. Pilot A/F/Lt ADD Brian and crew were unhurt. |
| 17/01/1945 | Spitfire | BM567 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 1108hrs when it ran off the runway into a patch of soft ground after landing and tipped onto its nose. Pilot F/O Van Der Zee (Dutch) was unhurt. |
| 18/01/1945 | Lancaster | PD437 | 1662CU | Blyton | This aircraft was damaged at 2345hrs when it taxied into unlit parked Lancaster R5609 in heavy rain despite 3 warnings about the location of the aircraft from flying control. Pilot F/Sgt Z Schlichtinger (Polish) and crew were uninjured. |
| 18/01/1945 | Lancaster | R5609 | 1662CU | Blyton | This aircraft was damaged at 2345hrs whilst parked when it was struck by taxying Lancaster PD437. |
| 18/01/1945 | Lancaster | DV298 | 101sqn | Ludford Magna | This aircraft was damaged whilst parked during a gale when it jumped its chocks, the control lock was broken and both wing trailing edges were damaged. |
| 19/01/1945 | Lancaster | PB187 | 460sqn | Binbrook | This aircraft was damaged by gale-force winds at 0400hrs whilst parked. |
| 19/01/1945 | Lancaster | PB157 | 97sqn | Coningsby | During inspection at 0800hrs this aircraft was found to have been extensively damaged by gale force winds whilst parked. |
| 19/01/1945 | Lancaster | PB844 | 49sqn | Fulbeck | This aircraft sustained damage to the port side and rudder when it struck a maintenance platform at 0330hrs after being swung round by gale-force winds whilst parked. |
| 19/01/1945 | Spitfire | AB524 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 1225hrs whilst taxying fast on an icy peritrack. The aircraft skidded off the track into a wire fence. Pilot F/O JR Dickinson (American) was unhurt. |
| 19/01/1945 | Spitfire | BL259 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 1300hrs whilst taxying. The aircraft swung off the peritrack in a gusty wind, one wheel sank into soft ground and the aircraft nosed over. Pilot Sgt PT Scott was unhurt. |
| 19/01/1945 | Hurricane | LF332 | 1690BDTF | Metheringham | This aircraft was damaged at 2030hrs when it struck a fuel bowser on the airfield. The bowser was unlit due to its engine having stalled. Pilot S/Ldr JL Munro DSO,DFC (New Zealander) was unhurt in the incident. |
| 19/01/1945 | Beaufighter | NV118 | 254sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was destroyed at 1410hrs on a ferry flight. The pilot overshot the airfield, retracted the undercarriage and flew into a snowstorm. He turned to return to the airfield, lost control and crashed on the foreshore 500 yeards from the airfield. Pilot F/Sgt RJ Rothwell, F/Sgt GA Boyd and F/Sgt JS Robinson were all killed in this accident. |
| 19/01/1945 | Lancaster | W4154 | 1667HCU | Sandtoft | Airborne at 2055hrs for circuits and practice bombing. On return at 2110hrs the aircraft bounced onto the grass. The pilot tried to get back onto the runway, but the starboard wheel hit a ditch 80 yards from the runway collapsing the undercarriage. Pilot P/O WA Taylor and crew were unhurt. |
| 19/01/1945 | Lancaster | JB128 | 61sqn | Skellingthorpe | This aircraft was damaged whilst parked at 0300hrs when it was blown backwards and jumped its chocks in a gale. |
| 21/01/1945 | Oxford | NM509 | 12(P)AFU | Spitalgate | This aircraft was damaged in a heavy single-engined landing at 2210hrs after the starboard engine had cut out due to fuel starvation. The pilot had been flying for 2.5 hours on the main tank which was empty by that point. Pilot Sgt W Brylinski (Polish) was unhurt. |
| 22/01/1945 | Hurricane | PZ804 | 1690BDTF | Metheringham | This aircraft was damaged wat 1900hrs when it struck a snowplough whilst taxying along the peritrack. Pilot F/Sgt FP Bratley was uninjured. |
| 22/01/1945 | Oxford | LX746 | 7FTS | Sutterton | This aircraft was damaged at 1335hrs when it force-landed in a field after the starboard engine failed to restart following a practice forced landing. The aircraft would not maintain height on a single engine. Pilot Sgt J Jouet (French) was unhurt. |
| 24/01/1945 | Oxford | BF937 | 17FTS | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1200hrs whilst landing in thick fog with the windscreen iced up. The undercarriage struck a reel of barbed wire and collapsed. Instructor F/O PG Lord, pupil F/Sgt W Shuttleworth and their 2 passengers were unhurt. |
| 28/01/1945 | Stirling | LK400 | 1660HCU | Morton nr Swinderby | Airborne at 1605hrs from Swinderby for a conversion training exercise. Shortly before 1730hrs both inner engines failed at 1400ft due to fuel starvation, and the aircraft was wrecked when it made a forced landing wheels-up in a field near Morton. Pilot F/Sgt FGM Khan and crew were unhurt. This was the last serious Bomber Command HCU Stirling incident of the war. |
| 29/01/1945 | Harvard | KF296 | 17FTS | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1450hrs when it belly-landed on the airfield after breaking one of the undercarriage legs when it swung and struck a sodium flare on take-off. Instructor F/O KW Parrott and pupil F/Sgt L Cambrisson (French) were uninjured. |
| 29/01/1945 | C-47 Dakota | 42-25342 | 32TCS/314TCG | Harlaxton | This aircraft was severely damaged in a landing accident at night in a snowstorm. The pilot mistook Harlaxton for Saltby and approached to land, but came in from the wrong direction and put down whilst trying to avoid the other aircraft. Both wings were damaged beyond repair when the aircraft struck buildings, and the starboard engine was also damaged. No injuries to pilot 1st Lt Wallace R Johnson and his crew. |
| 29/01/1945 | Beaufighter | NV421 | 236sqn | nr North Coates | This aircraft was damaged at 1020hrs on return from an operational sortie. The starboard engine had failed in flight, the undercarriage failed to lock down or retract, and the port engine cut out on approach to land. The pilot force-landed the aircraft in a field 1.25 miles east of Marshchapel. Pilot F/Lt J Chamberlain and his observer were unhurt. |
| Date | Type | Serial | Unit | Location | Notes |
|---|
| 01/02/1945 | Lancaster | NN765 | 57sqn | East Kirkby | This aircraft was damaged whilst being marshalled back into dispersal at 2300hrs on return from operations. The aircraft struck a trestle next to the entrance to the apron. Pilot F/Lt P Shaw and crew were uninjured. |
| 01/02/1945 | Lancaster | JA857 | 103 Sqn | Elsham Wolds | This aircraft was damaged on return from operations when it struck stationary Lancaster PD272 on the peritrack at 2305hrs. Pilot F/O AJ Mosley (Australian) and crew were uninjured. |
| 01/02/1945 | Lancaster | PD272 | 103 Sqn | Elsham Wolds | This aircraft was damaged at 2305hrs on return from operations when it was struck by taxying Lancaster JA857 whilst stationary on the peritrack. Pilot F/Lt JE Holland and crew were unhurt. |
| 01/02/1945 | Lancaster | ME302 | 170sqn | Hemswell | Coded TC-U, this aircraft was wrecked at 1529hrs when it swung on take-off for an operational sortie. The pilot overcorrected the swing, the aircraft swung in the opposite direction, overshot the runway and ran across the peritrack into a ditch, causing the undercarriage to collapse. Pilot F/O D Jeavons and crew were unhurt. |
| 01/02/1945 | P-47 Thunderbolt | 42-28810 | 63FS/56FG | nr Bourne? | Collided with unknown aircraft and crashed 12 miles north of Peterborough, pilot Lt Frank M. Ogden III was unhurt. |
| 01/02/1945 | Lancaster | ME373 | 61sqn | Skellingthorpe | This aircraft was damaged at 1543hrs when Lancaster NF912 exploded. |
| 01/02/1945 | Lancaster | NF912 | 61sqn | Skellingthorpe | Coded QR-L. This aircraft was airborne at 1542hrs from Skellingthorpe, but the port outer engine cut as the aircraft became airborne. The pilot flew a very tight circuit and one minute later he crash-landed on the grass of the airfield. As he touched down, the bombload exploded, destroying the aircraft and damaging 3 other Lancasters nearby. S/Ldr H.W.Horsley AFC killed, W/O H.J.Pyke killed, F/Sgt S.Fleet killed, F/Sgt V.D.Merrow killed, F/Sgt L.Chapman CGM killed, F/Sgt A.A.Sherriff DFM killed. Sgt R.T.Hoskisson, the rear gunner, was seriously injured but recovered from his burns. S/L Horsley and Sgt Hoskisson were successful evaders from Lancaster LM718 when it was shot down over Deurne in Holland on 23/Sep/44. |
| 01/02/1945 | Lancaster | NG386 | 61sqn | Skellingthorpe | This aircraft was damaged at 1543hrs when Lancaster NF912 exploded. Pilot F/O KW Ainsworth and crew were uninjured. |
| 01/02/1945 | Lancaster | NG490 | 61sqn | Skellingthorpe | This aircraft was damaged at 1543hrs when Lancaster NF912 exploded. |
| 01/02/1945 | Spitfire | EP766 | 75 Base Flt | Swinderby | this aircraft was damaged at 1445hrs when a tyre burst on take-off, causing the aircraft to swing off the runway into a patch of soft ground and tip onto its nose. Pilot F/Lt EL Prizer (American) was unhurt. |
| 02/02/1945 | Mosquito | PZ245 | 239sqn | Deeping st Nicholas | This aircraft was wrecked at 1700hrs when it force-landed wheels-up in a field belonging to Jordan's Farm and struck a dyke. The starboard engine had been shut down in flight, and when restarted, caught fire. It was extinguished, but the propellor failed to feather, causing the aircraft to lose height. Pilot P/O JP Falconer and navigator P/O WG Armour were unhurt. |
| 02/02/1945 | Halifax | NP757 | 408sqn | North Witham | Coded EQ-B, this aircraft was airborne at 2010hrs from Linton-on-Ouse to bomb the synthetic oil refinery at Wanne-Eichel but whilst outbound the crew experienced engine problems of such severity that at 2110hrs they were forced to abandon the Halifax, leaving it to crash and burn out at North Witham. Two of the crew sustained quite serious injuries and a third was less seriously hurt. Their names are not identified in Squadron records. F/O J.D.Baird (Canadian) was seriously injured, Sgt P.J.A.O'Connell F/O J.M.Black (Canadian) F/O E.A.Kapanuik (Canadian) WO2 W.G.Hudson (Canadian) F/SgtR.G.Hughes (Canadian) F/SgtW.J.Baty (Canadian) |
| 03/02/1945 | Oxford | DF468 | 17FTS | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged on landing at 1020hrs when the aircraft swung off the runway and ran into a ploughed field, tipping onto its nose. Instructor F/Sgt DJR Clarke and pupil AC1 F Bootle were unhurt. |
| 03/02/1945 | Spitfire | AR427 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 1300hrs whilst parked at dispersal when it was struck by taxying Spitfire EP759. |
| 03/02/1945 | Spitfire | BM572 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 0935hrs when it tipped onto its nose after the pilot opened the throttle and applied the starboard brake harshly whilst turning. Pilot Sgt JWF DeGraaf (Dutch) was unhurt. |
| 03/02/1945 | Spitfire | EP759 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 1300hrs when it collided with parked Spitfire AR427 whilst taxying fast through the dispersal area. Pilot Sgt LAA Allo (French) was unhurt. |
| 03/02/1945 | Lancaster | PB457 | 101sqn | Ludford Magna | Coded SR-V, this aircraft was damaged at 1410hrs when a waste petrol drum caught fire inside a hangar during removal of a fuel filter from the aircraft. |
| 03/02/1945 | Beaufighter | LZ226 | 236sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged in a heavy landing at 1925hrs. The port brake failed, the aircraft overshot the runway and the undercarriage collapsed after hitting an obstruction. Pilot F/O AS Ross and his observer were uninjured. |
| 04/02/1945 | Wellington | NC861 | EAAS | Manby | This aircraft was damaged at 1145hrs whilst taking off in gusty wind conditions. The pilot retracted the undercarriage immediately after becoming airborne, but the port wing dropped, causing the wheels to touch the runway while retracting. The undercarriage then collapsed on landing. Pilot P/O HH Wastell and crew were unhurt. |
| 04/02/1945 | Spitfire | W3231 | 1687BDTF | Scampton | This aircraft was damaged at 1012hrs whilst taxying. The aircraft swung off the peritrack in a gusty wind, one wheel sank into soft ground and the aircraft nosed over. Pilot P/O I Dyre-Mathews was unhurt. |
| 04/02/1945 | Lancaster | ND792 | 619sqn | Strubby | Coded PG-R, this aircraft was wrecked on return from an air testflight with 2 engines feathered. The aircraft overshot but the pilot was unable to go around again. He landed off the runway and the undercarriage collapsed when the aircraft struck a ditch. Pilot F/O GM Proctor (New Zealander) and crew were uninjured. |
| 04/02/1945 | Hurricane | PG605 | 75 Base Flight | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged at 2115hrs when it ran off the peritrack into an unmarked hole that had been dug by contractors. Pilot F/Lt GL Preyer (Canadian) was unhurt. |
| 04/02/1945 | Harvard | FX331 | 17FTS | Wellingore | This aircraft was damaged at 1055hrs whilst taxying. The pilot turned using the throttle and brakes too harshly, causing the aircraft to tip onto its nose. Pilot Lt M Acksavas (Turkish) was unhurt. |
| 05/02/1945 | Spitfire | AA916 | 53OTU | Kirton Lindsey | this aircraft was damaged when it overran the runway at 1705hrs due to insufficient brake pressure during a flapless landing. Pilot Sgt DJ Scott was unhurt. |
| 05/02/1945 | Beaufighter | LZ155 | 236sqn | nr North Coates | This aircraft was damaged on return from an operational flight at 1305hrs when the starboard propeller unfeathered on approach at 400 feet. The pilot was unable to maintain heightand force-landed in a field 3 miles north west of North Coates. Pilot W/O PJ Newman and his 2 crew were unhurt in the accident. |
| 05/02/1945 | Harvard | KF228 | 17FTS | Wellingore | This aircraft was wrecked at 2315hrs whilst being flown by the second pilot. He did not see the glidepath indicators on approach, undershot the airfield and struck a small building. Pilots F/O JW Stewart and F/O RG Bothell were both injured. |
| 06/02/1945 | Spitfire | AB490 | 53OTU | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was damaged at 1120hrs when the aircraft belly-landed on the airfield after tearing off the port undercarriage leg when the aircraft landed with drift on the previous circuit. Pilot F/Sgt T Jeffery was unhurt. |
| 07/02/1945 | Lancaster | JA684 | 1668HCU | Bottesford | Airborne at 2158hrs from Bottesford for night dual circuits & landings. During a 3-engined overshoot, the pilot inadvertently raised the flaps too early and the aircraft hit the ground beyond the runway at 2208hrs, running into straw stacks in a field and catching fire. F/O J.L. Walker DFC injured, F/O F.G. Wilkinson (Canadian) injured, Sgt C.M.L. Thomson injured, remaining 4 crew unhurt. |
| 07/02/1945 | Mosquito | KB362 | 627sqn | Woodhall Spa | This aircraft was damaged at 1616hrs on landing from an air test. The tailwheel collapsed after a normal landing - the secon instance of the same issue on this aircraft. Pilot W/O RW Player (New Zealander) and his navigator P/O CB Heath were unhurt. |
| 08/02/1945 | Spitfire | AB790 | 53OTU | Barton-on-Humber | This aircraft was damaged at 1500hrs when it force-landed wheels-up in a field near Field House, south of Barton-on Humber after the engine failed in flight. Pilot F/Sgt P Steel (New Zealander) was unhurt. |
| 08/02/1945 | Lancaster | NG254 | 166sqn | Kirmington | This aircraft was damaged shortly after take-off for operations at 1945hrs when it caught the slipstream of the aircraft ahead whilst climbing out of the airfield. Before the pilot could regain control, the aircraft struck HT cables near the airfield. The pilot managed to land the damaged aircraft safely back at Kirmington. Pilot F/Lt IG Nicklin (New Zealander) and crew were uninjured. |
| 09/02/1945 | Lancaster | NG453 | 83sqn | Coningsby | Coded OL-M. This aircraft was destroyed at 1225hrs when a bomb detonated after falling from its trolley prior to being loaded on the aircraft. Lancasters PB470 & PB478 were also destroyed in this accident. Two groundcrew, LAC TB Graves (MiD) and AC2 RA Mures were killed in the accident. |
| 09/02/1945 | Lancaster | PB470 | 83sqn | Coningsby | Coded OL-F, this aircraft is recorded as damaged at 1225hrs when a bomb exploded during loading of Lancaster NG453. |
| 09/02/1945 | Lancaster | PB478 | 83sqn | Coningsby | Coded OL-E. This aircraft was wrecked at 1225hrs when a bomb exploded during loading of Lancaster NG453. |
| 09/02/1945 | Spitfire | P8324 | 17FTS | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged on take-off at 1350hrs when the pilot allowed the tail to rise too much, causing the propellor tips to strike the ground. Pilot Sgt Guerin (French) was unhurt. |
| 09/02/1945 | Wellington | MF310 | EAAS | Manby | This aircraft was wrecked at 1627hrs whilst making a single-engined landing from an air test flight after one engine failed due to fitters forgetting to fit a blanking plate after a new oil cooler had been installed. The undercarriage and flaps would not lower normally or by emergency methods, the aircraft came in fast and the pilot attempted to swing it to prevent it overrunning the runway, but the aircraft skidded through the airfield boundary fence. Pilot F/Sgt W Smedley and crew were unhurt. |
| 10/02/1945 | Lancaster | PB812 | 460sqn | Caythorpe | Coded AR-?. This aircraft was destroyed at 1545hrs when it dived to the ground near Caythorpe railway station and exploded. The aircraft had been seen to be on fire in the air, with the enquiry stating that the most likely cause for the crash was loss of control in cumulus cloud, with the aircraft catching fire whilst inverted. The crew were on a cross-country training flight prior to being assigned their first operation. Pilot F/Sgt RG Miller (Australian), F/Sgt FAC Nesbit-Bell, F/Sgt RL Pope (Australian), F/O JJ Downing (Australian), F/Sgt GM Dockery (Australian) and F/Sgt AG Robinson (Australian) were all killed in the crash. The bomb aimer was not on the flight as he had been hospitalised at the time. |
| 10/02/1945 | Spitfire | AR608 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged on landing at 1515hrs when the port wing dropped and touched the ground 120 yards on from a normal touchdown. The aircraft swung to port and tipped onto its nose. Pilot F/Sgt V Cottrell (Canadian) was unhurt. |
| 10/02/1945 | Spitfire | EN615 | EAAS | Manby | This aircraft was damaged at 1700hrs when it struck a bowser whilst taxying out of dispersal. All 4 propellor tips were damaged. Pilot P/O DF Blundell was unhurt. |
| 10/02/1945 | Mosquito | HR178 | 2GSU | New York | This aircraft was destroyed at 1853hrs whilst low-flying at 300 feet in a heavy sleet shower. The pilot saw the runway lights for RAF Coningsby and made a sharp turn to port to join the circuit. He lost control of the aircraft, which struck a barn at Oaklands Farm and burned out. Pilot F/Lt JD Holdsworth killed, navigator W/O A Folwell killed. Also injured was farmer John W Houlden who was rescued from the barn by F/Lt WC Fitch DFM but died later in hospital in Boston. F/Lt Fitch was awarded the George Medal for his rescue of mr Houlden. |
| 10/02/1945 | Lancaster | PB146 | 189sqn | Seacroft, nr Skegness | This aircraft was damaged at 1101hrs after it collided with Hurricane PZ744 at the end of a fighter affiliation sortie. The pilot ordered the crew to bale out, and all 6 complied. 5 landed safely, but the navigator, F/Sgt WT Gothard, was killed when he fell out of his incorrectly secured parachute harness. The pilot , F/O DA Smith was able to land the damaged aircraft safely at Coningsby. |
| 10/02/1945 | Hurricane | PZ744 | 1690BDTF | Seacroft, nr Skegness | This aircraft was airborne from Metheringham at 1016hrs. It was destroyed after it collided with Lancaster PB146 of 189sqn at the end of a fighter affiliation exercise after turning below the Lancaster. The aircraft was abandoned & crashed near Seacroft station at 1101hrs. Pilot F/Lt I.H. Hanlon (New Zealander) was injured. |
| 11/02/1945 | Spitfire | BL734 | 17FTS | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1150hrs when it overshot after landing too fast, ran into a ploughed field and tipped onto its nose. Pilot Lt De La Fourniere (French) was unhurt. |
| 11/02/1945 | Harvard | FX306 | 17FTS | Wellingore | This aircraft was damaged at 1340hrs when it overshot the airfield boundary after landing too fast in light snow on return from a navigation exercise. Pilot Lt Yalcin (Turkish) was unhurt. |
| 13/02/1945 | Lancaster | NF932 | 550sqn | Apley | Coded BQ-B2, this aircraft was airborne at 2139hrs from North Killingholme on Operation Thunderclap (Dresden), but twenty minutes after departure it collided at 8000 feet with a 300 Sqdn Lancaster (PA185) also en-route to Dresden, and exploded. Both aircraft fell at Stotts farm, Apley, 3 miles SW of Wragby. The bodies of the two Air Gunners were found but the rest of the crew could not be identified and they are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. At 42, Sgt Smith was one of the oldest airmen to have been killed, on Bomber Command Operations in WW2. F/Lt ES Allen killed, Sgt ET Smith killed, F/Sgt GA Dennison killed, F/Sgt GA Maginley killed, P/O JR Byrne killed, Sgt RG Crump killed, F/O JE Murray-Shirreff killed. |
| 13/02/1945 | Lancaster | PA185 | 300sqn | Apley | Coded QR-V, this aircraft was airborne at 2147hrs from Faldingworth for Operation Thunderclap (Dresden). it took off later than planned due to technical issues with the aircraft. Twelve minutes later, at 8000 feet in the climb, it collided at 90 degrees with a 550 Sqdn Lancaster (NF932). Both aircraft exploded and fell at Stotts farm, Apley, 3 miles SW of Wragby. Only three bodies could be identified. W/O M.Mykietyn (Polish) killed, Sgt A.Jameliniec (Polish) killed, W/O J.Placzek (Polish) killed, F/SgtM.F.Ogorzal (Polish) killed, Sgt A.Kacmarz (Polish) killed, F/SgtB.Nizinski (Polish) killed, Sgt L.S Goldowski (Polish) killed, |
| 13/02/1945 | Spitfire | AA842 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 1225hrs when it tipped onto its nose after the pilot failed to line up correctly on the runway and the aircraft ran into a patch of soft ground. Pilot F/Sgt P Steel (New Zealander) was unhurt. |
| 13/02/1945 | Spitfire | AD386 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was wrecked on landing at 1920hrs when the pilot landed 200 yards short of the airfield after mistaking the peritrack lights for runway lights. The aircraft flipped onto its back then back onto its belly. Pilot F/Sgt SP Neulinger (Belgian) was injured in the crash. |
| 13/02/1945 | Lancaster | NG195 | 44sqn | Spilsby | This aircraft was damaged at 1807hrs on take-off for operations when it swung and ran off the runway. It eventually came to a halt with damage to the undercarriage and airframe from trees on the airfield. Pilot F/O TW Craig and crew were unhurt. |
| 14/02/1945 | Oxford | HM619 | 17FTS | Coleby Grange | This aircraft was damaged at 1945hrs whilst taxying into dispersal. The brakes were faulty and the aircraft struck parked Oxford V4128. Pilot F/Sgt GE Fisher was unhurt. |
| 14/02/1945 | Oxford | V4128 | 17FTS | Coleby Grange | This aircraft was damaged whilst parked at 1945hrs when it was struck by Oxford HM619. |
| 14/02/1945 | Halifax | RG438 | 10sqn | Coningsby | This aircraft was damaged at 0233hrs on return from operations. The pilot selected undercarriage down on approach to the airfield, but the port wheel failed to lower. The tailwheel had also fallen off in flight. The pilot held the aircraft level on the starboard wheel for as long as possible, but as the speed fell, the port wing dropped and hit the runway. Pilot F/O R Thorne (Australian) and his crew were unhurt. |
| 16/02/1945 | Anson | EG237 | 17 SFTS | Sutton Bridge | Time: 1515 - During take-off for an air acceptance flight, the pilot got the tail to high causing the tip of the prop blades to hit the ground. No injuries were reported to either F/O C.K. Cooke or his crew, but the aircraft had to be sent off-site for repair by a maintenance unit/contractor. |
| 16/02/1945 | B-17 Fortress | 43-38779 | 615BS/401BG | Wispington | Coded IY-O, named “Rough But Right” Flak damaged on mission 209 to Gelsenkirchen, the pilot 1st Lt George W. McKay reported that he was only able to fly straight & level, the control cables were tied together with heater cord to repair them. The aircraft was abandoned with no injuries to the crew & crashed at Glebe farm, Wispington at approx 1845hrs. The crew were collected and taken to RAF Bardney. 1/Lt GW McKay, 2/Lt W Higgs, T/Sgt M Elston jr, 2/Lt JL Reiney, T/Sgt WH Butler IV, T/Sgt ST Richardson, T/Sgt R Luther, S/Sgt WT Brunson, S/Sgt RJ Cannizzaro. |
| 17/02/1945 | Lancaster | SW243 | 1668CU | Bottesford | This aircraft was damaged at 1500hrs when it was being lifted by TrackJack equipment after becoming bogged down on the airfield whilst taxying. |
| 19/02/1945 | Lancaster | ED779 | 1662CU | Blyton | This aircraft was damaged at 0029hrs on landing from a training flight. The aircraft floated along the runway for a distance before touching down. The pilot swung the aircraft to prevent it overshooting the runway and the port undercarriage collapsed. Pilot F/Sgt WJ Karpinski (Polish) and crew were unhurt. |
| 19/02/1945 | Oxford | LW813 | 17FTS | Coleby Grange | This aircraft was damaged at 0050hrs when it struck a building on the airfield whilst overshooting on a night training sortie after approaching too fast. Pilot F/O EB Cheeseborough was unhurt. |
| 19/02/1945 | Harvard | FX306 | 17FTS | Metheringham | This aircraft was damaged at 0206hrs when the pilot belly-landed the aircraft downwind on the airfield after the engine cut out in flight. The pilot was dazzled by the airfield Drem lights - he had done most of his flying in Canada and had only encountered this type of lighting a week before. Instructor F/O JB Marshall and pupil Lt Ozaydin (Turkish) were unhurt. |
| 19/02/1945 | Lancaster | PB874 | 207sqn | Spilsby | This aircraft was damaged at 2335hrs whilst taxying along the peritrack to the runway for an operational sortie. The aircraft struck Lancaster PB787 as it emerged from dispersal. Pilot F/Lt HC Seeming and crew were unhurt. |
| 19/02/1945 | Lancaster | PB878 | 207sqn | Spilsby | This aircraft was damaged at 2335hrs when it was struck by taxying Lancaster PB874 as it left dispersal. Pilot F/O SS Hoard (Canadian) and crew were unhurt. |
| 19/02/1945 | P-51 Mustang | 44-14915 | 436FS/479FG | Sutton Bridge | Coded 9B-G This aircraft was wrecked when it crashed into a hangar on the airfield at 1400hrs after making a wheels-up forced landing. 2 Oxfords in the hangar, LX333 and MP278, were wrecked in the incident. Pilot Lt Richard C. Morton was unhurt. |
| 19/02/1945 | Oxford | LX333 | 7FTS | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was wrecked whilst parked in a hangar at 1400hrs when it was struck by P-51 44-14915 which was making a forced landing on the airfield. |
| 19/02/1945 | Oxford | MP278 | 7FTS | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was wrecked whilst parked in a hangar at 1400hrs when it was struck by P-51 44-14915 which was making a forced landing on the airfield. |
| 20/02/1945 | Spitfire | AR396 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was wrecked at 2330hrs when the pilot retracted flaps instead of undercarriage on being given a red flare on approach due to an aircraft being too close in front of him. The aircraft sank to the ground and crashed. Pilot Sgt PH Lavergne (French) was injured in the crash. |
| 20/02/1945 | Spitfire | W3640 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was wrecked at 2255hrs whilst the pilot was overshooting after an approach. He put his head outside the cockpit to see more clearly and caught a particle in his eye. Whilst his eye was shut, he flew into the ground. Pilot W/O DW Campbell (Canadian) was unhurt. |
| 20/02/1945 | Spitfire | AB275 | 53OTU | nr Nettleton Top | this aircraft was damaged whilst low flying when it struck a tree at 1300hrs 1/2 mile west of Nettleton Top. Pilot Lt JCP Riqaud (French) was unhurt. |
| 21/02/1945 | Oxford | HN371 | 17FTS | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 2100hrs when it struck parked Oxford NM690 whilst taxying too fast. Pilot Lt A Ozsu (Turkish) was unhurt but was suspended from training. |
| 21/02/1945 | Oxford | NM690 | 17FTS | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 2100hrs when it was struck by taxying Oxford HN371 whilst stationary. Pilot F/Sgt KTA Holloway was unhurt. |
| 21/02/1945 | Lancaster | LM582 | 57sqn | East Kirkby | This aircraft was damaged on return from operations at 0411hrs when it overshot the runway and crashed through the boundary fence after the pilot approached too fast and was dazzled by the glare of the sodium flares. The aircraft was carrying a full bombload at the time which may have contributed to the accident. Pilot F/O J Howard (Australian) and crew were unhurt. |
| 21/02/1945 | Spitfire | AB212 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged o landing at 1540hrs when the aircraft swung and ran into a patch of soft ground, tipping onto its nose. Pilot P/O AM Fraser (Canadian) was unhurt. |
| 21/02/1945 | Beaufighter | LX980 | 236sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was struck whilst taxying by Beaufighter NV425 at 0646hrs, damaging the starboard wing and engine. Pilot W/O HG Payne and his observer were unhurt. |
| 21/02/1945 | Beaufighter | NT917 | 236sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged at 2215hrs shortly after takeoff for an operational sortie. The navigator's cupola flew off in the air due to not having been secured correctly. Pilot F/Sgt DHW Reeder and his observer were unhurt. |
| 21/02/1945 | Beaufighter | NV425 | 236sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged at 0646hrs when it struck taxying Beaufighter LX980 whilst leaving dispersal. The pilot was distracted by a rocket fired by flying control and misinterpreted his marshaller's signals. The port wing and engine were damaged in the collision. Pilot W/O J Gregg and his observer were uninjured in the accident. |
| 21/02/1945 | Lancaster | MD862 | 1661CU | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged at 0412hrs on landing from a night training sortie. The pupil pilot landed on the right hand edge of the runway, overcorrected, ran off the left side of the runway onto the grass, then overcorrected once again to starboard. The instructor took over, but as he was doing so, the port undercarriage gave way under the strain. Instructor F/O D Paul, pupil F/O JA Simmonds (Australian) and the crew were unhurt. |
| 22/02/1945 | Harvard | FT426 | 17FTS | 1/4 mile south of Wellingore | This aircraft was damaged at 1430hrs when the engine cut out at 75 feet over the airfield boundary on take-off. The pilot force-landed wheels-up in a field just outside the airfield. Pilot W/O LF Green was unhurt. |
| 22/02/1945 | Tiger Moth | EM749 | Cranwell Stn Flt | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1250hrs when it undershot the runway, damaged its undercarriage on an unpainted obstruction marker and tipped onto its nose. Pilot S/Ldr RSM Marston was unhurt. |
| 22/02/1945 | Lancaster | NG490 | 61sqn | Skellingthorpe | This aircraft was damaged whilst being towed along the peritrack when it was struck by a passing vehicle, damaging the port fin and rudder. |
| 22/02/1945 | Lancaster | PD330 | 463sqn | Waddington | This aircraft was damaged at 1615hrs on return from a training flight when it accelerated too much whilst taxying off the runway to avoid another aircraft landing behind. The aircraft swung to port and the starboard undercarriage collapsed after becoming stuck in soft ground at the end of the runway. Pilot F/O LG Menzies (Australian) and crew were unhurt in the incident. |
| 24/02/1945 | Spitfire | BM348 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 1100hrs when it failed to stop in time whilst taxying and ran into the rear of Spitfire BM537 which was stationary in front of it. Pilot F/Lt ARM Campbell was unhurt. |
| 24/02/1945 | Spitfire | BM537 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 1100hrs whilst stationary on the peritrack when it was struck from behind by taxying Spitfire BM348. Pilot S/Ldr JHS Broughton was unhurt. |
| 24/02/1945 | Hurricane | LF374 | 1690BDTF | Metheringham | This aircraft was damaged at 1530hrs when the undercarriage collapsed on take-off for a fighter affiliation exercise. Pilot F/Lt FRST Mitchell was unhurt. |
| 24/02/1945 | Lancaster | ME439 | 61sqn | Skellingthorpe | This aircraft was damaged by the explosion of Lancaster RF137 on the ground at 1846hrs. |
| 24/02/1945 | Lancaster | NG367 | 61sqn | Skellingthorpe | This aircraft was damaged by the explosion of Lancaster RF137 on the ground at 1846hrs. |
| 24/02/1945 | Lancaster | NG490 | 61sqn | Skellingthorpe | This aircraft was damaged by the explosion of Lancaster RF137 on the ground at 1846hrs. |
| 24/02/1945 | Lancaster | RF137 | 61sqn | Skellingthorpe | Coded QR-E. This aircraft was destroyd when it exploded 1846hrs on its dispersal pan. Earlier in the day RF137 had been involved in an aborted raid on the Dortmund- Ems canal and had dropped some bombs to bring the aircraft landing weight down to a safe level. A test flight after the accident revealed that the remaining bombs on the aircraft had probably armed themselves in flight whilst the bomb doors were open to jettison other bombs, as the safety clips were found to be faulty as they allowed the arming vanes to turn. LAC B.Burnell killed, LAC C.H.Higgins killed, LAC H.G.Wilson killed. LAC Higgins was aged 41. Fourteen other airmen were injured in this accident. |
| 24/02/1945 | Lancaster | SW277 | 61sqn | Skellingthorpe | Coded QR-? This aircraft was damaged beyond repair when Lancaster RF137 exploded on the ground. |
| 24/02/1945 | Lancaster | NG130 | 195sqn | Spitalgate | This aircraft was damaged at 1515hrs when the starboard tyre burst on landing. The aircraft swung and the starboard undercarriage collapsed. Pilot S/Ldr EW Talbot and crew were unhurt. |
| 25/02/1945 | Oxford | EB743 | 17FTS | Coleby Grange | This aircraft was damaged at 2230hrs when it was struck whilst parked by Oxford L4601. |
| 25/02/1945 | Oxford | L4601 | 17FTS | Coleby Grange | This aircraft was damaged at 2230hrs when it struck parked Oxford EB743. The pilot left the engines running and departed the aircraft, telling an airman to stand by the pilot's seat. The airman felt the aircraft move but did not close the throttles in time to prevent the collision. Pilot S/Ldr BHA Playford and the unnamed airman were unhurt. |
| 25/02/1945 | Spitfire | AD352 | 17FTS | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1220hrs whilst taxying downwind back to dispersal. The pilot overestimated the amount of throttle needed to correct a swing that had developed in the strong wind and the aircraft tipped onto its nose. Pilot F/O WP Swaby was unhurt. |
| 25/02/1945 | Beaufighter | NE428 | 254sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged at 1450hrs shortly after takeoff for an air test sortie. The navigator's cupola flew open in the air due to not having been secured correctly and damaged it and the starboard side of the aircraft. Pilot P/O KF Chapman and his observer were unhurt. |
| 25/02/1945 | Lancaster | ME490 | 1660HCU | Swinderby | This aircraft was airborne at 1505hrs to demonstrate 3 engined landings. The aircraft crashed at 1515hrs from 300ft in a turn to port with the port outer engine feathered. The aircraft burned out on the ground. F/O J.E.Gibberd DFC (Australian) killed, S/Ldr J.B.Sayers AFC MID killed, F/Sgt H. Hayes killed, F/Sgt D.W. Dunthorpe killed, W/O H.B. Jones killed, W/O H.W. Bennett killed, F/Sgt T.V.W. Rigby injured. |
| 26/02/1945 | Lancaster | DS838 | 1668HCU | Bottesford | Taxying at 1420hrs to take off for his first solo on type, the pilot overused his brakes, missed the turn onto the runway and ran off into soft ground, severely damaging the propellers as he tried to power onto a firmer surface. Pilot P/O KW Mackenzie (Canadian) and crew were unhurt. |
| 26/02/1945 | Lancaster | LL666 | 1668CU | Bottesford | This aircraft was damaged shortly after take-off for a fighter affiliation exercise at 0840hrs when it struck a flock of birds. The forward cupola and starboard propellor were damaged. Pilot F/O Petfield and crew were unhurt and landed safely. |
| 26/02/1945 | Harvard | FX347 | 17FTS | Leverton | This aircraft was damaged at 1415hrs when it was force-landed wheels-up in a field during a training flight. The pilot noticed thick smoke around his feet from behind the instrument panel, which was caused by the engine starter circuit overheating due to a defective switch. Pilot P/O DV Beadon was injured in the incident. |
| 26/02/1945 | Lancaster | PB243 | 12sqn | Stainton-le-Vale | Coded PH-D. This aircraft was destroyed whilst on a training flight at 1438hrs. The aircraft was seen nose-down and turning slightly to port at an altitude of 1000 feet, after which it crashed into a field port wing first. The enquiry suggested that the autopilot may have inadvertently been engaged whilst turning to port. Pilot P/O KRH Lindley killed, F/Sgt RC Abbs killed, Sgt CB Douglas killed, F/Sgt EJD Stone killed, Sgt SA Bragg killed, Sgt EG Andrews killed. |
| 27/02/1945 | Lancaster | MK752 | 1662CU | Blyton | This aircraft was damaged at 1145hrs when it struck an engine stand by the side of its dispersal apron whilst taxying in from a training flight. Pilot P/O WH Morgan and crew were unhurt. |
| 27/02/1945 | Spitfire | AA839 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged whilst taxying at 1330hrs when it struck Spitfire BM567 which was stationary off the peritrack. The pilot had been concentrating on the aircraft in front and had not spotted BM567. Pilot Sgt BAH Fleveau (French) was unhurt but was sent to the Aircrew Reselection Centre at Norton after this incident. |
| 27/02/1945 | Spitfire | BM567 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged whilst stationary at 1330hrs when it was struck by taxying Spitfire AA839. Pilot Sgt AG Hamers (Dutch) was unhurt. |
| 27/02/1945 | Harvard | FT386 | 21gp Comms Flt | Spitalgate | This aircraft was damaged at 1620hrs when the starboard undercarriage retracted whilst the aircraft was taxying after landing. Pilot F/O Byrne and his passenger P/O Wooldridge were unhurt. |
| 27/02/1945 | Lancaster | PD289 | 12sqn | Wickenby | This aircraft was damaged at 1628hrs over a local air-air firing range when bullets from the mid-upper guns pierced and set fire to the port wing and #2 fuel tank after the turret's interruptor gear failed. The fire was extinguished and the aircraft returned to base damaged. Pilot F/Lt WJ Large and crew were unhurt. |
| 28/02/1945 | Lancaster | RF158 | 166sqn | Kirmington | This aircraft was damaged at 1030hrs on return from operations when it landed tail-first with a full bombload on board. The tailwheel broke off, the aircraft bounced and skidded to a halt. Pilot S/Ldr R Waters and crew were unhurt. |
| Date | Type | Serial | Unit | Location | Notes |
|---|
| 01/03/1945 | Lancaster | NG395 | 57sqn | East Kirkby | This aircraft was damaged at 2330hrs whilst being marshalled out of its dispersal ahead of a training flight. The aircraft struck Lancaster NG410 which had been left on the track connecting both dispersal aprons as its own was obstructed by a bomb trolley. Pilot F/O FM Haworth and crew were unhurt. |
| 01/03/1945 | Lancaster | NG410 | 57sqn | East Kirkby | This aircraft was damaged whilst parked at 2330hrs when it was struck by taxying Lancaster NG395. NG410 had been left parked on the track connecting two dispersal aprons as its own apron was obstructed by a bomb trolley. |
| 01/03/1945 | Lancaster | LL800 | 1660CU | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged at 0930hrs when it taxied into stationary Lancaster ME476 on the peritrack. Pilots P/O L Creed, F/Lt W Strachan and their crew were unhurt. |
| 01/03/1945 | Lancaster | ME476 | 1660CU | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged whilst stationary on the peritrack at 0930hrs when it was struck by taxying Lancaster LL800. Pilots F/O D Brady, W/O HA Buchan (Canadian) and their crew were unhurt. |
| 01/03/1945 | Spitfire | W3373 | 75 Base Flt | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged at 1030hrs whilst taxying in a strong crosswind. The aircraft left the peritrack on a cambered road crossing it, swung off the track where one wheel sank into soft ground and the aircraft nosed over. Pilot NH Bright (New Zealander) was unhurt. |
| 02/03/1945 | Spitfire | W3313 | 53OTU | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was damaged at 1245hrs when the starboard wing touched the ground whilst landing in a strong crosswind. Pilot Sgt G Delbecq (Belgian) was unhurt. |
| 02/03/1945 | Lancaster | ME473 | 207sqn | Ruskington Fen | Coded EM-M. This aircraft was destroyed at 0118hrs in a mid-air collision with Lancaster ND572. ME473 had just completed a fighter affiliation exercise with a Hurricane and was leaving the training area when it collided with ND572 which was running in to commence a similar exercise with the same Hurricane. Both aircraft crashed at Fen Farm. Pilot F/Lt E McM lawson (Australian) killed, Sgt GW Flitt killed, F/O WW Lord killed, F/Sgt A Henderson killed, Sgt R Richardson killed, Sgt G Wilkinson killed, Sgt RC Banks killed, LAC J Morrison killed. |
| 02/03/1945 | Lancaster | ND572 | 57sqn | Ruskington Fen | Coded DX-F. This aircraft was destroyed at 0118hrs when it collided with Lancaster ME473 whilst engaged in a fighter affiliation exercise. The pilot had contacted the Hurricane involved and was just turning in to commence training when the collision occurred. ME473 had just finished the same exercise with the same aircraft. Both aircraft came down at Fen Farm. Pilot F/O RJ Anscomb killed, Sgt GE Dandy killed, Sgt D Whitefoot killed, F/Sgt CJ Waters killed, Sgt CW Watts killed, Sgt FD Leahy killed, Sgt E Davis killed, AC2 HM Aitken killed. |
| 03/03/1945 | Oxford | V4260 | 20PAFU | Brampton nr Torksey | This aircraft was destroyed at 1240hrs whilst on an instrument flying sortie. The aircraft was seen t dive into the ground inverted before crashing and catching fire. Pilots F/O J Coyle (Canadian) and W/O S Godfrey were both killed in the crash. |
| 03/03/1945 | Spitfire | BM645 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was destroyed when it crashed near Hibaldstow village during a night-flying exercise. Pilot F/O Van Der Zee (Dutch) was killed in the crash. |
| 03/03/1945 | Spitfire | BL729 | 75 Base Flt | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged at 1325hrs when it belly-landed on the airfield after the pilot forgot to lower the undercarriage on landing. The airfield control post had fired a red flare to warn the pilot but this was not heeded. Pilot F/Lt EL Prizer (American) was unhurt. |
| 03/03/1945 | Lancaster | NN809 | 1660HCU | Swinderby | Airborne at 0015hrs from Swinderby for night conversion training. On landing at 0030hrs, the aircraft was wrecked when the starboard tyre burst, the aircraft swung violently and departed the runway, causing the undercarriage to collapse. Pilot F/Sgt S Goodall (New Zealander) and crew were unhurt. |
| 04/03/1945 | Lancaster | ND387 | 1651HCU | 3miles N of Woolfox Lodge | Coded BS-K, Airborne from Woolfox Lodge on a diversionary force op supporting main force. Shot down by an intruder at approx 0100hrs. F/Sgt A.Howard killed, Sgt A.W.Darling killed, Sgt W.J.Pullan killed, F/O K.C.Millar killed, F/Sgt R.B.Wilson (New Zealander) killed, Sgt A.W.Taylor killed, Sgt J.Thompson injured. |
| 04/03/1945 | Halifax | NA680 | 347sqn | Anwick Grange | Coded L8-H. This aircraft was lost returning from a mission to Kamen. Airborne at 1812hrs 3/Mar/45 from Elvington, on return it was shot up by an intruder aircraft over Sleaford and crashed about 0105hrs at Anwick Grange. Five crew, as ordered, baled out, but Sgt Le Masson, the Flight Engineer was wounded and unable to help himself. Cpt Laucou, without hesitation, remained at the controls and made a desperate, but unsuccessful, attempt at a forced-landing. Cpt P.Laucou (French) killed, Sgt P.le Masson (French) killed, Asp L.Viel (French) S/Lt H.Giroud (French) Sgt C.Pochont (French) Sgt M.Hemery (French) Sgt P.Charriere baled out successfully. |
| 04/03/1945 | Lancaster | ME323 | 12sqn | between East Stockwith & Blyton | Coded PH-P, this aircraft was shot down by an intruder during a night training flight and crashed 0110hrs between east Stockwith and Blyton. P/O A.G.Thomas killed, F/Sgt T.McCaffray killed, F/Sgt E.L.Horstmann (Australian) killed, F/Sgt W.N.Pridmore (Australian) killed, F/Sgt G.E.Davis (Australian) killed, F/Sgt A.Cryer (Australian) killed, F/Sgt A.H.Weston (Australian) killed. |
| 04/03/1945 | Lancaster | ME442 | 44sqn | Brocklesby Park | Coded KM-V. This aircraft was airborne at 1842hrs 3/Mar/45 from Spilsby to attack the Dortmund-Ems Canal at Ladbergen. Homebound and in UK airspace, it was picked up by an intruder and shot down at 0100hrs, crashing amongst trees in Grannington Park on the Brocklesby Estate. F/O J.J.F.Ryan (Australian) killed, Sgt T.H.Jarman killed, F/Sgt R.R.Russell killed, F/Sgt H.J.Terry killed, Sgt H.Birch killed, Sgt H.Payne killed, Sgt W.H.Rogan killed. |
| 04/03/1945 | Ju88-G6 | C9+RR | 7/NJG5 | Hackthorn Rd, Welton | ROC Observer J.P.Kelway was killed when this Ju88 shot up his car on the Welton to Spridlington road. Moments later, the enemy intruder crashed, killing its crew, after flying into telegraph wires and trees. The aircraft hit the ground at a shallow angle, disintegrated and the wreckage was spread over a wide area. Fw H Conze killed, Uffz R Schere killed, Obergefr W Nollau killed, Uffz A Altenkirch killed. They were buried a few days later in Scampton (St.John The Baptist) Churchyard. |
| 04/03/1945 | Spitfire | W3375 | 53OTU | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was wrecked on take-off at 1130hrs when the port tyre burst, causing the propellor and port wingtip to dig into the ground. The aircraft turned over. Pilot Lt G Reby (French) was unhurt. |
| 04/03/1945 | Lancaster | NG502 | 460sqn | Langworth | Coded AR-J. At around 0130hrs this aircraft was shot down by a Ju88 flown by Fw Heinrich Conse of 7./NJG5 and crashed, burning, into fields near the Barfield House, LangworthF/O W.B.Warren Sgt A Streatfield killed, F/Sgt S.Gannon F/Sgt F.D.Kelly F/Sgt R.E. Davey (Australian) killed, F/L R.D.Grinter Sgt R.J.Jackson. |
| 04/03/1945 | Halifax | MZ680 | 76sqn | nr Cadney | Coded MP-R, this aircraft was airborne at 1823hrs on 3/Mar/43 from Holme-on-Spalding Moor for Kamen. On return, while positioning to join the circuit, it was attacked from below by an intruder aircraft whose fire set light to the starboard outer engine and fuel tanks. All of the crew baled out at about 0115hrs, some getting clear from less than 600 feet and landing in the vicinity of Cadney. Most sustained injuries of a minor nature, but Sgt Shearman was very badly hurt and was destined to spend many months undergoing hospital treatment. P/O H.Bertenshaw injured, Sgt H.Wood F/Sgt G.Austin F/Sgt G.F.H.French F/Sgt D.Skilton Sgt M.Shearman injured, Sgt L.Sporne |
| 04/03/1945 | Lancaster | LM478 | 1654CU | Stapleford | Coded UG-H, this aircraft was airborne from Wigsley on a diversionary raid. On return, it was shot down and destroyed at 0105hrs by an intruder aircraft, crashing 250 yeards east of the village. P/O AE Lutz (Australian) killed, F/Sgt HF Cox killed, F/O JAC Chapman killed, Sgt S Shaw killed, Sgt AF Warbey killed, Sgt H Frost killed, Sgt AC Davy killed. The impact was so great the the bodies of F/O Chapman, Sgt Shaw and Sgt Davy either could not be found or could not be positively identified. |
| 04/03/1945 | Lancaster | NN808 | 1660HCU | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged at 2330hrs whilst stationary on the peritrack. Hurricane PG601 taxied into the rear of the aircraft. Pilots F/O JC Lumsden, F/O G Taylor and crew were uninjured. |
| 04/03/1945 | Hurricane | PG601 | 75 Base Flight | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged at 2330hrs whilst taxying out for a fighter affiliation exercise when it struck parked Lancaster NN808 of 1660CU. Pilot P/O JR Evans (Australian) was unhurt. |
| 04/03/1945 | Lancaster | PB476 | 12sqn | Ulceby Cross | Coded PH-C, this aircraft was shot down on a training sortie by an intruder, crashing at 0029hrs at Weekly Cross on the A16, near Alford, where four of the crew were buried in the local cemetery. F/O N.A.Ansdell killed, Sgt R.F.D.Shafer killed, F/O A.Hunter killed, F/O A.G.Heath killed, Sgt R.O.Parry killed, Sgt A.H.Walker killed, Sgt W.Mellor killed. |
| 04/03/1945 | Halifax | NR250 | 466sqn | Yawlingate, Friskney | Coded HD-N, airborne from Driffield at 1843hrs for Kamen, which was bombed at 2205hrs.On return, the aircraft was shot up by an intruder at approximately 0040hrs. The crew baled out over Waddington, aircraft crashed into a cottage at Friskney killing Mehetable Severs and her daughter Ruth. George Severs was also in the cottage but was rescued and recovered from his injuries. Pilot P/O AE Schrank, Sgt. JW Hodgson, F/Sgt JW Tobin, F/Sgt JA Todd, F/Sgt NA Hadlington, and Sgt JW Kernaghan were all unhurt, mid-upper gunner Sgt P Stewart was injured by shell splinters in the fighter attack. |
| 05/03/1945 | Lancaster | LM233 | 467sqn | Waddington | This aircraft was damaged at 1700hrs on take-off for operations. The aircraft swung and was corrected, then swung again and ran off the runway, crossed the peritrack and burst a tyre. The undercarriage and fuselage centre section were severely strained in the incident. Pilot F/O K Coffey (Australian) and crew were uninjured. |
| 06/03/1945 | Lancaster | ME386 | 207sqn | Boston | Coded EM-G, this aircraft was airborne at 1734hrs 5/Mar/45 from Spilsby to attack the synthetic-oil plant at Bohlen. The aircraft was damaged by flak over the target and returned on 3 engines with a number of the crew injured. On return, it crashed in the River Haven near Boston. F/O A.H.Wakeling killed, F/Sgt G.L.Dickenson killed, Sgt D.J.Browne killed, Sgt W.T.G.Cobden killed, Sgt T.Beattie injured, Sgt J.E.L.Brett injured, Sgt A.J.P.Clark injured. |
| 06/03/1945 | Lancaster | LM216 | 630sqn | East Kirkby | This aircraft was damaged at 0300hrs whilst parked after landing from operations. The airman parking the aircraft had been dazzled by the landing lights of another Lancaster and left LM216 in a position where it was struck by Lancaster RF122 as it taxied in to the dispersal. The pan was set up for 3 aircraft, but LM216 was the 4th parked there. |
| 06/03/1945 | Lancaster | RF122 | 630sqn | East Kirkby | This aircraft was damaged at 0300hrs on return from operations as it was being marshalled into its dispersal pan. The pan was designed for 3 aircraft, but 4 were already parked there. The pilot mistook the marshaller's 'cut engines' signal as being a 'come forward' one, and struck parked Lancaster LM216 which had been left badly parked. Pilot F/O DA Clifford and crew were unhurt. |
| 06/03/1945 | Beaufighter | NV185 | 254sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was lost at 1550hrs whilst practising single-engined flying. The starboard engine failed to unfeather, the pilot overshot the airfield and raised the undercarriage at too low an altitude to raise the flaps. The aircraft failed to maintain height on one engine and force-landed undercarriage-up on the beach 400 yards north-north-east of the airfield. Pilot P/O AW Burborough and his observer escaped uninjured, though the aircraft later sank in the mud. |
| 06/03/1945 | Lancaster | ME295 | 463sqn | Waddington | This aircraft was damaged on return from operations at 0230hrs when it landed heavily, bounced and settled back onto 3 wheels, breaking off the tailwheel. Pilot P/O FE Hyland (Australian) and crew were unhurt. |
| 07/03/1945 | Oxford | PH413 | 7FTS | Crowland Falls | This aircraft was wrecked at 1415hrs when the aircraft flew through a flock of birds. The starboard propeller was shattered by birdstrike, became uncontrollable and spiral-dived into the ground from 500 feet, catching fire on impact east of Eldreth's Farm. Instructor F/Sgt JE Vaudrey and pupil matelot JF Frenehard (French) were both seriously injured in the crash. |
| 07/03/1945 | Martinet | MS691 | 1690BDTF | Spilsby | This aircraft was damaged when the engine failed on take-off for a target-towing flight at 0915hrs. Pilot W/O E Broadbent was unhurt. |
| 10/03/1945 | Lancaster | JB228 | 1668HCU | Fiskerton | Airborne at 1115hrs from Bottesford for a cross-country sortie. In flight, the port outer engine failed. The pilot feathered the engine but was unable to trim sufficiently to stop the aircraft turning to port. At 1150hrs the aircraft landed at Fiskerton and swung off the runway, crashing and burning out on the ground. Pilot F/Sgt JP Paddison and 5 of the crew were unhurt. Sgt H.L. D'arcy and Sgt L.A. Mitchell were injured. |
| 10/03/1945 | Master | DM171 | 7FTS | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was damaged at 1025hrs on return from a training flight when it force-landed wheels-up in a field 200 yards short of the airfield boundary after the engine cut out on approach. Pilot Cpl P Box (French) was unhurt. |
| 11/03/1945 | Lancaster | LM130 | 463sqn | Blankney | Coded JO-N. Christened 'Nick the Nazi Neutralizer'. This aircraft was lost on a night-time fighter affiliation sortiewhen it collided with Hurricane PZ740. A memorial to this crew has been erected near the crash site at Ash Holt Wood, Blankney, by family members of the crew on 23/Sep/14. P/O N.H. Orchard (Australian) killed, F/Sgt R.F. Neale killed, Sgt D.A. Charles killed, Sgt H. Rollins killed, Sgt W.F.H. Elcome killed, Sgt B.J. Patch killed, Sgt H. Shaw killed. |
| 11/03/1945 | Hurricane | PZ740 | 1690BDTF | Blankney | This aircraft was airborne at 2043hrs from Metheringham for a night fighter affiliation sortie with lancaster LM130 (named 'Nick the Nazi Neutralizer'). It collided with LM130 at around 2100hrs after the Lancaster failed to switch on its navigation lights for safety as requested. The aircraft crashed in a field between Hall Farm and Catton's Holt, Blankney. F/O S.F. Parlato DFC (New Zealander) was killed in the crash. A memorial to both aircraft was erected near the site of the Lancaster crash and a plaque commemorating the crews was presented to the RAF Waddington Heritage Centre. |
| 11/03/1945 | Beaufighter | NE218 | 254sqn | nr Binbrook | This aircraft was destroyed on a transit flight at 2100hrs when it flew into the ground 0.75 miles south-east of Binbrook airfield and exploded on impact. The aircraft's instrument panel may have failed as it had been fitted with a new one but not air-tested with it. Pilot F/Sgt RB Stewart and observer F/Sgt ECP Langley were killed in the crash. |
| 12/03/1945 | Lancaster | LM131 | 103 Sqn | Elsham village | Coded PM-V, This aircraft was airborne at 1303hrs from Elsham Wolds. Over the target, it was struck by a bomb which became embedded in the mainplanes. On regaining the Lincolnshire coast, the crew baled out leaving the aircraft to fall near Elsham, village. Sgt Carter's body was found nearby, his parachute having failed to deploy. F/O B.F.Wright (Canadian) Sgt F.E.Carter killed, W/O J.Coulson F/Sgt G.R.Tracey (Canadian) Sgt B.heath F/Sgt K.Coleman F/Sgt A.J.Bocinfuso (Canadian) |
| 12/03/1945 | Spitfire | W3373 | 75 Base Flt | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged at 1630hrs when heat from the brakes caused the port tyre to burst while the aircraft was taxying back to dispersal. The aircraft tipped onto its nose as a result. Pilot F/O SM Grant (Australian) was unhurt. |
| 13/03/1945 | Wellington | LP402 | 29OTU | nr Goxhill | Airborne at 1140hrs from Bruntingthorpe for a cross-country sortie. The port engine failed in flight, and the pilot made a single-engined forced landing in a ploughed field near Shawbriggs Farm. To avoid overshooting the field, he retracted the undercarriage. The aircraft was wrecked in this incident. Pilot F/O KE Holt (Australian) and crew were unhurt in the accident. |
| 14/03/1945 | Spitfire | W3574 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 0930hrs when it tipped on its nose as the groundcrew were doing an engine run. Fitter Sgt McRath was unhurt. |
| 16/03/1945 | Lancaster | HK749 | 1662HCU | Blyton | Airborne from Blyton at 1615hrs for dual circuit training. At 1650hrs the instructor demonstrated a 3-engined overshoot, but selected the wrong flap setting. The aircraft climbed to 100ft, turned 180 degrees, crashed and caught fire. F/O A.C. Blackie injured, F/Sgt R.J. Scott (New Zealander) injured, F/Sgt L.A. Potter injured, F/O L.V. Scott injured, Sgt T.B. Browne (New Zealander) injured, Sgt I.E. Peate injured, Sgt J. Ellerby killed. |
| 16/03/1945 | Spitfire | AB904 | 53OTU | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was wrecked at 1615hrs when the pilot attempted to taxy after the aircraft landed with a flat tyre. Pilot F/Sgt R Beaugourgdon (French) was unhurt. |
| 16/03/1945 | Hurricane | PG586 | 1687BDTF | Ludford Magna | This aircraft was airborne at 2140hrs from Scampton for a fighter affiliation sortie. Whilst heading for Ludford Magna, the engine failed and the aircraft force-landed wheels-up in a field near to the airfield at 2230hrs. Pilot F/O Gumbrell was unhurt. |
| 16/03/1945 | Lancaster | ND869 | 44sqn | off Skegness | Coded KM-M, this aircraft was airborne at 1743hrs from Spilsby for Wurzburg but crashed eighteen minutes later into the sea off Skegness. The aircraft had been seen flying with bomb doors open and rocking from side to side as if trying to shake free hung-up bombs or jettison its bombload. The aircraft then made a controlled ditching tail-first into the sea, which went perfectly until the aircraft's nose hit the water, at which point the bombload exploded. The bodies of F/L Shephard and Sgt Mitchell were recovered, the latter being found some 300 yards off the town's pier. The others are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. F/Lt W.H.Shephard killed, Sgt A.W.Beauchamp killed, F/Sgt J.Allan killed, F/Sgt R.B.Judge killed, Sgt D.F.Brown killed, Sgt R.D.Snape killed, Sgt R.F.G.Mitchell killed. |
| 16/03/1945 | Lancaster | PB251 | 44sqn | Spilsby | This aircraft returned from operations at 0210hrs having sustained damage in a mid-air collision with Lancaster PB746 of 44sqn. Pilot F/Sgt T Spencer and crew were unhurt. |
| 17/03/1945 | Spitfire | EP447 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 1657hrs when the starboard undercarriage collapsed on touchdown and the aircraft swung off the runway. This was the pilot's first solo on type and he had not checked that the undercarriage was locked in place before landing. Pilot 2/Lt JLC Cudenet (French) was unhurt. |
| 17/03/1945 | Mosquito | ML906 | 627sqn | Woodhall Spa | Coded AZ-?, this aircraft was airborne at 1530hrs from Woodhall Spa for a navigation exercise. In flight, the starboard constant speed unit failed, resulting in the propellor being feathered. On return to base at 1715hrs, with wheels down and full flap lowered, the port throttle lever jammed whilst the pilot was trying to slow down. The lever eventually released but the aircraft overshot into a field. No injuries reported to Pilot F/O AM McLellan (Australian) or his navigator F/O Philips (Australian) were unhurt. |
| 18/03/1945 | Spitfire | W3835 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged when the pilot left the peritrack whilst taxying after failing to negotiate a bend and struck a petrol bowser. This was the pilot's first solo on type. Pilot Sgt MPM Casanave (French) was unhurt. |
| 18/03/1945 | Mosquito | HJ926 | 410sqn | Holbeach st Marks | This aircraft was damaged when it force-landed wheels-up in a field near Christie House at 1345hrs after the port engine failed in flight. Pilot F/O RA Hazell (Canadian) and his navigator were unhurt. |
| 19/03/1945 | Lancaster | PB155 | 460sqn | nr Kelstern | Coded AR-K “K-Kripes”. This aircraft was airborne at 0052hrs from Binbrook. On return from operations, it crashed at 0812hrs 1/4 mile north-west of Kelstern village while attempting an approach to Kelstern airfield. At the time of the crash, a 300 foot cloudbase had reduced visibility and Kelstern were trying to home the crew towards the runway. The aircraft broke cloud very fast with the undercarriage still retracted, flew straight into the ground and burned out. P/O G.S.Browne (Australian) killed, Sgt J.N.David killed, F/Sgt L.W.Grant (Australian) killed, W/O G.T.McBryde (Australian) killed, F/Sgt J.Stacey (Australian) killed, W/O A.E.Moss (Australian) killed, F/Sgt R.C.Schodde (Australian) killed. |
| 20/03/1945 | Lancaster | RA530 | 57sqn | Fen Side, Stickney | Coded DX-Y. Airborne at 2345hrs from East Kirkby to bomb the synthetic-oil plant at Bohlen but on take-off, the port inner engine caught fire at 250 feet and could not be feathered. Two minutes later, the Lancaster ploughed into a house at Fen Side, between Stickford and Stickney. F/O C.A.Cobern (Australian) killed, Sgt K.C.Ashun killed, F/O W.F.Calderbank killed, F/Sgt W.S.Searby injured, Sgt R.Bates injured, Sgt E.Lawrence injured, Sgt A.Ramsbottom killed. F/Sgt Searby died from his injuries 1/Apr/45. The house was occupied by the Chapman family. No account of civilian injuries. |
| 20/03/1945 | Spitfire | EN959 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 1545hrs whilst taxying in a strong crosswind. The pilot tried to avoid a lorry but was unable to brake sufficiently and the aircraft struck a petrol bowser. Pilot Sgt MR Auret (French) was unhurt. |
| 20/03/1945 | Spitfire | EP487 | 1687BDTF | Scampton | This aircraft was damaged at 1035hrs whilst taxying behind another aircraft when it struck a stalled tractor on the peritrack. Pilot F/Lt FC Sturman was unhurt. |
| 20/03/1945 | Spitfire | AR395 | 1653HCU | Witham on the hill | Airborne from North Luffenham for fighter affiliation exercise. Collided with Dominie NF889 from Cranwell after breaking off an attack run on a Lancaster at 1107hrs at 5000ft. F/O L.W. Marshall DFC (Australian) killed. |
| 20/03/1945 | Dominie | NF889 | 1RS | Witham on the Hill | Airborne from Cranwell on a training sortie, this aircraft was destroyed when it collided in mid-air at 1107hrs with Spitfire AR395 which was taking part in a fighter affiliation exercise nearby. The Dominie crashed and burned out on the ground. F/SgtC.S. Jones killed, W/O W.E.Durber killed, AC2 H.Price killed, AC2 C.J. Russell killed, AC2 F. Salkead killed, AC2 G.H. Sargent killed |
| 21/03/1945 | Lancaster | NF954 | 101sqn | 1 mile east-north-east of Ludford Magna | Coded SR-W, this aircraft was wrecked on return from operations at 0424hrs when the pilot lost control whilst overshooting on 3 engines. The port outer engine had failed in flight due to its control cable being pulled out of its adapter. The aircraft began to turn to port and crashed in a field. Pilot P?O J Kerr was injured in the accident. of the rest of the crew, 2 others were injured, 2 were seriously injured and 2 were uninjured. |
| 21/03/1945 | Lancaster | PB285 | 460sqn | Binbrook | This aircraft was damaged at 0045hrs on return from operations. Whilst taxying quickly on a downhill section of the peritrack back to its dispersal, it was struck by Lancaster RA525 which was taxying out from its dispersal. Pilot S/Ldr JR Henderson (Australian) and crew were unhurt. |
| 21/03/1945 | Lancaster | RA525 | 460sqn | Binbrook | This aircraft was damaged at 0045hrs whilst taxying out from its dispersal when it struck Lancaster PB285 which was moving along the peritrack back to dispersal. |
| 21/03/1945 | Spitfire | AB524 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 1145hrs whilst taxying along the peritrack. The aircraft struck an armourer's handcart which had been pushed onto the track. Pilot Lt PPM Coucheron (French) was unhurt. Lt Coucheron is recorded as Norwegian in the OTU's ORB. |
| 21/03/1945 | Lancaster | ND496 | 44sqn | North Sea | On return from operations, this aircraft was damaged when it flew so low over the North Sea that the H2S blister was torn from the aircraft's underside by a wave.Pilot F/O KH Walker (New Zealander) and crew were unhurt. |
| 21/03/1945 | Spitfire | AR552 | 53OTU | Redbourne | This aircraft was wrecked at 0849hrs when it belly-landed in a field 3 fields away from the runway end after the engine failed on take-off. The aircraft hit trees whilst landing. Pilot F/O A Poxon was slightly injured and taken to Scunthorpe hospital. |
| 22/03/1945 | Lancaster | HK740 | 1662CU | Blyton | This aircraft was damaged at 2125hrs whilst taxying out for night circuits and landings. The aircraft taxied too fast to the take-off point and struck parked Lancaster HK743. Pilot F/Sgt AWE Biggs and crew were uninjured. |
| 22/03/1945 | Lancaster | HK743 | 1662CU | Blyton | This aircraft was damaged at 2125hrs whilst stationary awaiting its turn to take off. It was struck and damaged by Lancaster HK740 which taxied up behind it too quickly. Pilot P/O EJ North and crew were unhurt. |
| 22/03/1945 | Spitfire | AA931 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged on landing at 2020hrs when it overran the runway into a patch of soft ground and tipped on its nose. Pilot Sgt ML Creuser (French) was unhurt. |
| 22/03/1945 | Lancaster | PD384 | 166sqn | nr Kirmington | On return from operations this aircraft was damaged at 1640hrs when it made a forced landing in a field just north of Greenland Farm after the starboard outer engine caught fire and could not be extinguished. Pilot F/Lt AG Mason and crew were all uninjured. |
| 24/03/1945 | Spitfire | BM351 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 1400hrs whilst taxying ion a stron wind on a narrow road between dispersal and the hangars. A gust of wind swung the aircraft into a barbed wire fence. Pilot F/O J Downer (New Zealander) was unhurt. |
| 25/03/1945 | B-17 Fortress | 42-97395 | 614BS/401BG | Denton hill top | Coded IW-F, named “Chute the Works” The aircraft was severely damaged by Flak on it's 111th mission (Mission 236 against airfields near Rheine in support of operation Varsity, the allied crossing of the Rhine) Crash-landed after the crew successfully abandoned the aircraft on return. The aircraft was burned out, and 8 of the 10 bombs on board exploded in the fire. 2Lt DH Stauffer, 2Lt EC Haake, 2Lt TE Burns, S/Sgt WP Eipemiller, S/Sgt H Tuchin, S/Sgt HJ Smith, S/Sgt WJ Dobson, S/Sgt AL Wright, S/Sgt EB Grasela all unhurt. |
| 25/03/1945 | Lancaster | NG439 | 463sqn | nr Scopwick | Coded JO-O This aircraft was wrecked in a forced landing at 1535hrs whilst testing single-engine handling on the port inner engine. The remaining 3 engines failed to restart and the pilot made a forced landing in a field just off the Nocton - Scopwick road. Pilot F/Lt SR Hicks (Australian) and crew were unhurt. |
| 27/03/1945 | P-51 Mustang | 44-11189 | 504FS/339FG | Kingerby | Crashed at Croft Farm whilst on a training flight, pilot 1st Lt Kenneth V. Berguson killed. |
| 27/03/1945 | Spitfire | AB904 | 53OTU | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was damaged at 1400hrs when the pilot taxied into a patch of soft ground off the peritrack and the aircraft tipped onto its nose. Pilot S/Lt J Horvath (French) was unhurt. |
| 27/03/1945 | Beaufighter | LZ223 | 254sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged at 2014hrs on takeoff for an operational sortie. The starboard tyre burst causing the aircraft to swing off the runway and the port undercarriage collapsed. Pilot W/O W Grant and his observer were uninjured. |
| 27/03/1945 | Beaufighter | NE408 | 236sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged at 0938hrs on return from an operational sortie. The aircraft swung on landing, narrowly missed a Nissen hut and struck a ditch, collapsing the undercarriage. The pilot was unable to control the starboard engine due to a control rod becoming disconnected. Pilot F/O HL Worley and his observer were uninjured. |
| 27/03/1945 | Master | DK918 | 7FTS | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was reported damaged on this date when the undercarriage collapsed on landing. No further details recorded. |
| 27/03/1945 | Lancaster | ND918 | 1660CU | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged at 1340hrs whilst taxying back across the grass to its dispersal after an air-test flight. The underside of the aircraft hit an trolley accumulator and damaged the H2S blister. Pilot S/Ldr GD Lace and crew were unhurt. |
| 29/03/1945 | Spitfire | BL767 | 527sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged at 1205hrs on return from an army co-operation exercise when it belly-landed on the airfield after the pilot forgot to lower the undercarriage. Pilot S/Ldr RP Potgieter was unhurt. |
| 29/03/1945 | Spitfire | BL862 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was wrecked at 1715hrs whilst taxying in a strong wind. The pilot made a 90 degree turn and a gust blew the aircraft off the peritrack. The pilot corrected but the aircraft taxied into an obstruction 30 yards from the airfield perimeter. Pilot Sgt LAL Abbas (French) was unhurt. |
| 29/03/1945 | Wellington | HZ765 | EAAS | Manby | This aircraft was damaged on landing at 1241hrs when it crashed into a field on the airfield boundary whilst trying to overshoot to avoid an airman walking on the runway. The pilot had openened the throttles to go around again, but the ailerons caught in a barbed wire fence, the port wing dropped and the aircraft struck a pole, causing it to crash. Pilot W/O Winterbotham and crew are not recorded as being injured. |
| 29/03/1945 | Wellington | NC962 | EAAS | Manby | This aircraft was damaged whilst parked at 1615hrs when it was blown into a stationary vehicle by strong winds, damaging the starboard wingtip. |
| 30/03/1945 | Lancaster | PB911 | 635sqn | Swayfield | Coded F2-A, this aircraft was destroyed at 1110hrs whilst on a training flight. The aircraft had been simulating blind bombing runs at between 15-18000 feet when it was seen to come out of cloud in a steep dive, from which it did not recover. The aircraft crashed 3/4 mile north-west of Swayfield church. icing from a cumulo-nimbus cloud was suspected as being the cause of loss of control. Pilot F/O D Dixon killed, Sgt SE Robinson killed, F/Sgt SA Pimm killed, F/Sgt R Goddard killed, F/Sgt N Davis killed, F/Sgt JGW Harcourt killed, F/Sgt R McL Wilson killed. |
| 31/03/1945 | Martinet | MS833 | EAAS | Manby | This aircraft was damaged at 0900hrs whilst taxying when it struck a fuel bowser. Pilot W/O D Brooks was unhurt. |
| 31/03/1945 | Beaufighter | NE441 | 236sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged at 1555hrs when the starboard wing hit the ground whilst landing in a gusty wind. Pilot F/Sgt JW Holmes and his observer were unhurt. |
| 31/03/1945 | Beaufighter | NV542 | 236sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged on landing from a training flight in strong winds at 1550hrs. The pilot stalled the aircraft onto the runway tail-first and collapsed the tailwheel. Pilot W/O LP Penny and his observer were uninjured. |
| Date | Type | Serial | Unit | Location | Notes |
|---|
| 01/04/1945 | Spitfire | AB986 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 0940hrs whilst taxying downwind. Both tyres burst under heavy braking and the aircraft tipped onto its nose. Pilot Sgt MM Michel (French) was unhurt. |
| 01/04/1945 | A-35 Vengeance | 41-31397 | 3GTF/359FG | nr Old Bolingbroke | Crash-landed 1 mile southeast of Old Bolingbroke after engine failure, pilot Lt Karl H. Kirek survived. |
| 02/04/1945 | Lancaster | HK655 | 1651HCU | Fiskerton | Coded BS-F, airborne at 0850hrs from Woolfox Lodge on a familiarisation flight. The aircraft was destroyed when it stalled from approx 50ft at 0920hrs & hit a building on the Fiskerton approach. The pilot was making an emergency landing after all 4 engines cut out in flight. F/Lt F.E Sheppard DFC killed, F/O B.J. Wallis killed, Sgt W.G. Cooley killed, F/Sgt G.A. Flindall killed, Sgt H.G. Allan killed, F/O G.A. Outterson killed, F/Sgt R.L.T. Knight killed, Sgt H.A. Johnson killed, Sgt H.A. Lunt injured. |
| 03/04/1945 | Hurricane | LF419 | 1690BDTF | Metheringham | This aircraft was damaged when it force-landed on the airfield at 1115hrs after the engine failed in flight due to coolant loss. Pilot F/O WA Bland was unhurt. |
| 03/04/1945 | Lancaster | ND501 | 106sqn | Metheringham | Coded ZN-K, This aircraft was wrecked at 0230hrs on return from a night training flight. The aircraft swung on landing, ran off the runway and the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot F/O K Smythe (Australian) and crew were unhurt. |
| 05/04/1945 | Lancaster | LM289 | 166sqn | Barnetby | Coded AS-Y. Airborne at 2116hrs 4/Apr/45 from Kirmington to bomb the Wintershall synthetic-oil plant at Lutzkendorf. On return, the aircraft crashed at 0536hrs near Mill Farm, Barnetby le Wold, on the west side of Kirmington Airfield, whilst in the circuit to land. The pilot dived from 800 feet to avoid Lancaster RF211 which the rear gunner had spotter just above them. The aircraft flew into the ground and caught fire. Both Kirmington and Elsham Wolds circuits were crowded with aircraft flying at the same heights on return from operations due to the poor weather. F/O R.A.Ayton (New Zealander) injured, Sgt K.H.Butcher killed, Sgt A.G.S.Laidlaw killed, F/Sgt R.J.McL Bell (New Zealander) killed, Sgt A.Nicholson killed, Sgt D.J.Barlow killed, Sgt J.Benson injured. |
| 05/04/1945 | Lancaster | ND639 | 1667HCU | Crowle | Airborne at 2200hrs from Sandtoft for a Bullseye exercise. The aircraft crashed and burned out near Windsor Lane, Crowle at 0258hrs after presumed loss of control due to icing. P/O J.E. Grayson (Australian) killed, Sgt S.J. Crawhall killed, F/Sgt M.B. Kilsby (Australian) killed, W/O E.J. Castor (Australian) killed, F/Sgt W.S.Bennett (Australian) killed, F/Sgt T. Evans (Australian) killed, F/Sgt D.L. Hayes (Australian) killed. |
| 05/04/1945 | Lancaster | RF196 | 460sqn | Rothwell Top | Coded AR-E. This aircraft was lost on its first operation with a total of 6 hours. Airborne at 2120hrs 4/Apr/45 from Binbrook to attack the Wintershall synthetic oil plant at Lutzkendorf. On return, at 0511hrs the Lancaster crashed on high ground at Rothwell Top after breaking cloud at 400 feet and flying into high ground. F/L W.Langcake (Australian), P/O B.J.Vogt (Australian) (P2), Sgt J.Scoular, F/Sgt A.Albans, Sgt B.Gavin, F/Sgt J.P.Lillis (Australian) injured, Sgt D.Hopkinson, Sgt J.Hankey. F/Sgt Lillis was thrown forward on impact and sustained a broken nose. The rest escaped uninjured. |
| 06/04/1945 | Wellington | ME946 | EAAS | Manby | This aircraft was damaged at 1110hrs when the pilot taxied into an obstruction on the airfield whilst trying to avoid running into a patch of rough ground. The port wing was damaged in this accident. Pilot W/O ML Roe and crew were unhurt. |
| 06/04/1945 | Lancaster | NG271 | 50sqn | nr Waddington village | This aircraft was wrecked at 0848hrs 3/4 mile south-west of Waddington village after the port outer engine failed on take-off for operations. The pilot was unable to maintain height on 3 engines with a fully-loaded aircraft and opened the bomb doors to jettison 12 of his 14 bombs. The extra drag from the open bomb doors caused the aircraft to lose height rapidly, and it crashed and burned out. Pilot F/O RW Turrell (Canadian), F/Sgt AJ Gibbins, P/O T Illingworth, F/O A Petts (Canadian), Sgt A Dobson, F/Sgt JA Edwards (Canadian) were all unhurt. Rear gunner F/Sgt EFC Heacock (Canadian) was injured. |
| 06/04/1945 | Hurricane | PZ747 | 75 Base Flight | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged at 0945hrs on return from a fighter affiliation exercise when the starboard undercarriage partially collapsed when the pilot landed the aircraft with drift from a curved approach. Pilot F/Lt PE Zouchin was unhurt. |
| 08/04/1945 | Lancaster | HK741 | 1668CU | Bottesford | This aircraft was damaged at 0035hrs whilst taxying when it struck a stationary lorry on the peritrack after mistaking its rear light for an airfield light. The lorry was waiting for a signal to allow it to cross the runway. Pilots F/O WE Woods (Australian), P/O A Wolfe and crew were unhurt. |
| 08/04/1945 | Martinet | MS746 | 1687BDTF | Hemswell | This aircraft was damaged at 1540hrs on return from a target-towing flight. The undercarriage failed to lower and the pilot was forced to belly-land the aircraft on the airfield. Pilot W/O GR Pearce was unhurt. |
| 08/04/1945 | Spitfire | BM203 | 53OTU | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was damaged at 1320hrs when it struck a barbed wire fence after landing at 20 degrees to the line of the runway. Pilot Sgt R Conti (French) was uninjured. |
| 09/04/1945 | Lancaster | ND909 | 1668CU | Bottesford | This aircraft was damaged at 1415hrs on take-off for a training flight. The port tyre burst, causing the aircraft to swing, ground-loop, and the undercarriage to collapse. Pilot F/O JV Turner and his crew were uninjured. |
| 09/04/1945 | Lancaster | DV165 | 1667HCU | Sandtoft | This aircraft was wrecked whilst attempting to take off at 1535hrs for a cross-country flight. The aircraft swung to port, the pilot corrected and swung the aircraft to starboard to avoid a hedge, but the undercarriage collapsed & the aircraft caught fire.Pilot S/Ldr LD Wood and crew escaped unhurt. |
| 11/04/1945 | Lancaster | PB133 | 97sqn | Coningsby | This aircraft was damaged whilst taxying back from a training flight. A van on the peritrack pulled onto the grass to let the aircraft pass, but misjudged the timing of pulling back onto the peritrack and struck the aircraft. Pilot F/Lt CW Eaton and crew were unhurt. |
| 11/04/1945 | Lancaster | PA217 | 103 Sqn | Sandtoft | Coded PM-Z, this aircraft was damaged at 0320hrs on return from operations. The aircraft had stopped in the position indicated by the marshaller, the engines had been shut down, most of the crew had disembarked and the pilot was about to switch off the aircraft lights when it was struck by taxying Lancaster RF193. Pilot F/O ED Candler and 5 of his crew were unhurt, however the rear gunner, F/O B Mayers was killed in the incident. |
| 11/04/1945 | Lancaster | RF193 | 103 Sqn | Sandtoft | Coded PM-G, this aircraft was damaged at 0320hrs on return from operations when it taxied into the rear of parked Lancaster PA217. Pilot F/Sgt W Boklaschuk (Canadian) and crew were uninjured. |
| 12/04/1945 | Spitfire | AR393 | 17FTS | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1640hrs when it belly-landed on the airfield after the starboard undercarriage leg failed to lower. Pilot Lt A Yetkin (Turkish) was unhurt. |
| 12/04/1945 | Beaufighter | NV181 | 236sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged at 1857hrs when the pilot overshot on landing from a transit flgiht anfter touching down very late. The aircraft crashed through the boundary hedge and ran into a dyke. Pilot F/Sgt J Holmes and his unnamed observer were both injured. The accident was attributed to the pilot's fatigue - he had been without rest for 16 hours at the time of the accident. |
| 12/04/1945 | Mosquito | DZ631 | 627sqn | Woodhall Spa | This aircraft was damaged beyond repair on the ground on this date, no further details are recorded. |
| 13/04/1945 | Lancaster | HK739 | 1668CU | Bottesford | This aircraft was damaged at 2005hrs whilst parked at dispersal when it was struck by taxying Lancaster L7580. |
| 13/04/1945 | Lancaster | L7580 | 1668CU | Bottesford | This aircraft was damaged at 2005hrs when it struck parked Lancaster HK739 whilst taxying during a practice circuits and landings exercise. Pilot F/Sgt KN Dhonau and crew were uninjured. |
| 13/04/1945 | Spitfire | AB986 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 1240hrs when the starboard tyre burst on landing, causing the aircraft to swing off the runway and tip onto its nose. Pilot Sgt HH Hoyberben (Belgian) was unhurt. |
| 14/04/1945 | Lancaster | JB309 | 1668CU | Bottesford | This aircraft was damaged at 0325hrs when it overshot by 50 yards whilst taxying off the end of the runway and struck a barbed wire fence. Pilot F/Lt LG Gratton and crew were unhurt. |
| 14/04/1945 | Spitfire | AA738 | 53OTU | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was damaged at 1153hrs when it developed engine trouble on take-off. The pilot checked his instruments, the aircraft hit the slipstream of the aircraft in front, swerved, bounced, and the propellor struck the ground. Pilot F/Sgt GF Lebryay (Belgian) was unhurt. |
| 15/04/1945 | Lancaster | LM271 | 150sqn | Hemswell | This aircraft was damaged at 0245hrs on return from operations. It was taxying back to dispersal when the marshaller halted the aircraft and went to the rear turret to pass a message to the pilot via the rear gunner to move forward as the aircraft was obstructing the peritrack Before the marshaller could get back to the front of the aircraft to direct it, the pilot moved the aircraft forward and struck an engine stand at the edge of the dispersal with the atarboard propellor. Pilot F/Lt GE Dury and crew were unhurt. |
| 15/04/1945 | Oxford | HM676 | 18PAFU | Market Deeping | This aircraft was wrecked at 1110hrs when it crashed and burned out after flying into HT cables near Towngate. PilotsF/Sgt RD Fishbourne and Sgt L Ward were both killed in the crash. |
| 15/04/1945 | Lancaster | PB565 | 1667HCU | nr Owston Ferry | Airborne at 1455hrs from Sandtoft on a cross-country flight. At 1525hrs the aircraft was observed in level flight at 3000 feet, after which it noded over and entered a steep dive to the ground, breaking up in flight. It crashed approx 1000 yards north of Thornholme Farm, south of Owston Ferry and caught fire on the ground. P/O H.P. Speed killed, F/Sgt R. Ollerton killed, F/Sgt J.W. Hamilton (Australian) killed, F/O B.A. Savage killed, F/O E.B. Carss killed, Sgt S.J. Kingdon killed, Sgt R.B.R. Cook killed, Sgt E.H.J. Martin killed. |
| 16/04/1945 | Spitfire | W3835 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 1540hrs whilst taxying. The pilot's oxygen tube became caught in his parachute harness, hindering movement of his arm. The aircraft swerved and collided with a concrete air-raid shelter on the airfield. Pilot F/O PG Waelbaeck (Belgian) was unhurt. |
| 16/04/1945 | Lancaster | NG414 | 106sqn | Metheringham | Coded ZN-K. This aircraft was destroyed in an incident as it was taking off for an operational flight to Pilsen at 2336hrs. The aircraft swung on take-off, the undercarriage collapsed and the aircraft caught fire, being totally destroyed a short time later when the bombload exploded. Pilot F/O A Dean and his crew all escaped the aircraft unhurt. |
| 17/04/1945 | Lancaster | ED371 | 57sqn | East Kirkby | This aircraft was damaged by bomb splinters and shrapnel at 1745hrs when Lancaster PB360 exploded. |
| 17/04/1945 | Lancaster | LL940 | 57sqn | East Kirkby | This aircraft was damaged by bomb splinters and shrapnel at 1745hrs when Lancaster PB360 exploded. |
| 17/04/1945 | Lancaster | LM114 | 57sqn | East Kirkby | This aircraft was damaged by bomb splinters and shrapnel at 1745hrs when Lancaster PB360 exploded. |
| 17/04/1945 | Lancaster | LM186 | 57sqn | East Kirkby | This aircraft was damaged by bomb splinters and shrapnel at 1745hrs when Lancaster PB360 exploded. |
| 17/04/1945 | Lancaster | LM582 | 57sqn | East Kirkby | This aircraft was damaged by bomb splinters and shrapnel at 1745hrs when Lancaster PB360 exploded. |
| 17/04/1945 | Lancaster | LM673 | 57sqn | East Kirkby | Coded DX-U, one of six 57 Squadron Lancasters destroyed when PB360 blew up at 1745hrs. |
| 17/04/1945 | Lancaster | ND472 | 57sqn | East Kirkby | Coded DX-I, one of six 57 Squadron Lancasters destroyed when PB360 blew up at 1745hrs. |
| 17/04/1945 | Lancaster | NG225 | 57sqn | East Kirkby | This aircraft was damaged by bomb splinters and shrapnel at 1745hrs when Lancaster PB360 exploded. |
| 17/04/1945 | Lancaster | NG325 | 57sqn | East Kirkby | This aircraft was damaged by bomb splinters and shrapnel at 1745hrs when Lancaster PB360 exploded. |
| 17/04/1945 | Lancaster | NN765 | 57sqn | East Kirkby | Coded DX-X, one of six 57 Squadron Lancasters destroyed when PB360 blew up at 1745hrs. |
| 17/04/1945 | Lancaster | NN769 | 57sqn | East Kirkby | This aircraft was damaged by bomb splinters and shrapnel at 1745hrs when Lancaster PB360 exploded. |
| 17/04/1945 | Lancaster | NX580 | 57sqn | East Kirkby | This aircraft was damaged by bomb splinters and shrapnel at 1745hrs when Lancaster PB360 exploded. |
| 17/04/1945 | Lancaster | PB360 | 57sqn | East Kirkby | Coded DX-N, this aircraft was destroyed on the ground at East Kirkby by its own bombs exploding at 1745hrs, subsequently 5 other Lancasters were destroyed by sympathetic explosions and a further 14 were damaged. 4 Servicemen were killed and a further 14 injured. Cpl TS Dixon killed, LAC A Price killed, Cpl GW Johnson killed, Cpl M Bulmer (Army) killed. |
| 17/04/1945 | Lancaster | PB784 | 630sqn | East Kirkby | This aircraft was damaged by bomb splinters and shrapnel at 1745hrs when Lancaster PB360 exploded. |
| 17/04/1945 | Lancaster | PD253 | 630sqn | East Kirkby | This aircraft was damaged by bomb splinters and shrapnel at 1745hrs when Lancaster PB360 exploded. |
| 17/04/1945 | Lancaster | PD282 | 57sqn | East Kirkby | This aircraft was damaged by bomb splinters and shrapnel at 1745hrs when Lancaster PB360 exploded. |
| 17/04/1945 | Lancaster | PD347 | 57sqn | East Kirkby | Coded DX-P, one of six 57 Squadron Lancasters destroyed when PB360 blew up at 1745hrs. |
| 17/04/1945 | Lancaster | RF195 | 57sqn | East Kirkby | Coded DX-F, one of six 57 Squadron Lancasters destroyed when PB360 blew up at 1745hrs. |
| 17/04/1945 | Lancaster | RF202 | 57sqn | East Kirkby | This aircraft was damaged by bomb splinters and shrapnel at 1745hrs when Lancaster PB360 exploded. |
| 17/04/1945 | Lancaster | SW256 | 57sqn | East Kirkby | This aircraft was damaged by bomb splinters and shrapnel at 1745hrs when Lancaster PB360 exploded. |
| 17/04/1945 | Spitfire | AD295 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 1050hrs whilst taxying on the peritrack. The aircraft struck Magister W9072 which had just stopped in front of it. Pilot Sgt DS Banjee (Indian) was unhurt. |
| 17/04/1945 | Master | W9072 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 1050hrs when it was struck whilst stationary by Spitfire AD295, damaging the tail unit. Pilot F/O HC Payne was unhurt. |
| 18/04/1945 | Spitfire | AB509 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 1600hrs when it swung and nose-tipped after landing with a flat tyre. The tyre had burst on take-off. Pilot F/Lt BI Hillman (Canadian) was unhurt. |
| 18/04/1945 | Beaufighter | RD464 | 254sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged at 0130hrs on return from an operational sortie. The aircraft was being marshalled into its dispersal when it struck parked Beaufighter RD502. Pilot F/Sgt SM McCracken and his observer were unhurt. F/Sgt McCracken was sent to the Aircrew Reselection Centre in Sheffield. |
| 18/04/1945 | Beaufighter | RD502 | 254sqn | North Coates | This aircraft suffered damage to its tailplane, fin and rudder whilst parked when it was struck by taxying Beaufighter RD464 at 0130hrs. |
| 18/04/1945 | Lancaster | NG196 | 467sqn | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged at 1536hrs when the port outer engine caught fire whilst the aircraft was on an air-test flight. As the pilot was already on approach to Swinderby, he elected to land. The undercarriage was lowered but did not have time to fully lock into position and collapsed on touchdown. Pilot F/O Pilkington and crew were unhurt. |
| 19/04/1945 | Mosquito | KB345 | 627sqn | Coningsby | This aircraft was damaged at 0645hrs on return from operations after acting as bomber controller. On landing in thick mist, the aircraft swung to starboard, the pilot over-corrected and the undercarriage collapsed in the subsequent violent swing to port. Pilot W/Cdr DR Stubbs and his navigator were unhurt. |
| 19/04/1945 | Spitfire | EP584 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged on landing at 0125hrs when the pilot landed too fast and burned the brakes out. The aircraft overran the runway. Pilot F/O RL Follett (Canadian) was unhurt. |
| 19/04/1945 | Wellington | ME949 | EAAS | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged at 1600hrs when both propellors and the starboard engine were damaged after the aircraft flew too low over the sea, allowing the propellors to strike the water. The aircraft landed safely on just the port engine. Pilot F/O G Whitlock (Canadian) and crew were unhurt. |
| 19/04/1945 | Blenheim | DJ702 | 17FTS | North Rauceby Heath | This aircraft was damaged at 0930hrs when it force-landed wheels-up in a field 800 yards south of Ermine Street House on North Rauceby Heath after the starboard engine cut out at 100 feet on takeoff. The aircraft was unable to make a complete circuit of the airfield. Instructor F/O DS Clarke and pupil Lt M Verdioglu (Turkish) were uninjured. |
| 19/04/1945 | Lancaster | ME357 | 49sqn | off Skegness | Coded EA-C. This aircraft was destroyed at 1300hrs whilst on an air to sea firing exercise 5 miles east of Skegness. The pilot lost consciousness whilst the aircraft was flying at 200 feet to release a marker to be used as a target by the gunners, and the aircraft crashed into the sea. All crew had boarded the dinghy when the aircraft sank. The pilot may have passed out due to lack of food as he had been unwell recently. Pilot F/O DI Hytch, Sgt J Dodgson, F/Sgt TM Harrison, Sgt K Read, Sgt K Scott, Sgt L Broadbent, F/Sgt RH Williams (Canadian) and LAC LF Tyler all uninjured. |
| 20/04/1945 | Lancaster | JA962 | 1668CU | Bottesford | This aircraft was damaged at 1025hrs during a circuits and landings exercise. The aircraft landed normally and all cockpit checks were successfully completed. Towards the end of the runway, the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot W/O KR Jones and crew were unhurt. |
| 20/04/1945 | Lancaster | HK958 | 1660HCU | Claypole | Airborne from Swinderby at 1515hrs for night bombing practice. The aircraft was destroyed when it crashed near Claypole at 1650hrs due to engine failure. P/O J.B. Kram injured, Sgt C.E. Brenton (Canadian) injured, F/Sgt F.T. Thompson (Canadian) injured, F/Sgt R.T. Bridger (Canadian) killed, WO1 R.C. Fleming (Canadian) injured, F/Sgt F.C.M. Robitaille (Canadian) killed, F/Sgt G.P. Charlebois (Canadian) killed. |
| 20/04/1945 | Harvard | FX373 | 17FTS | Coleby Grange | This aircraft was damaged at 0055hrs when the undercarriage collapsed on landing. The undercarriage lever was found in the 'up' position after the incident. Instructor W/O IF Campbell and pupil F/Lt DF Campfield were unhurt. |
| 20/04/1945 | Blenheim | AZ937 | 17FTS | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1230hrs when it belly-landed on the airfield after the pilot forgot to lower the undercarriage before landing. Pilot Lt Shahroki (Iranian) was uninjured. |
| 20/04/1945 | Lancaster | ME494 | 101sqn | Ludford Magna | This aircraft was damaged at 1730hrs whilst parked at dispersal when it was struck with some force by an airfield tractor. The aircraft was turned 90 degrees by the impact , and the tail assembly struck engine stands at the side of the dispersal. The tractor driver was never traced. |
| 21/04/1945 | Harvard | FT215 | 17FTS | Coleby Grange | This aircraft was damaged at 0255hrs whilst taxying when it struck stationary Harvard FT369 after the pilot mistook marhalling signals intended for another aircraft as being for him. Pilot F/O DPR Long was unhurt. |
| 21/04/1945 | Harvard | FT369 | 17FTS | Coleby Grange | This aircraft was damaged at 0255hrs whilst stationary on the ground when it was struck by taxying Harvard FT215. Pilot F/Lt J Budd was unhurt. |
| 21/04/1945 | Spitfire | BM198 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged in flight at 0030hrs when the canopy hood came loose after takeoff and detached, damaging the fin. Pilot F/O RL Follett (Canadian) was unhurt. |
| 21/04/1945 | Spitfire | P8038 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 2335hrs when it ran into soft ground and nose-tipped after landing too fast and overrunning the runway. Pilot F/O RJD Waterkeyn was unhurt. |
| 22/04/1945 | Lancaster | PB463 | 49sqn | Fulbeck | Coded EA-Y . Airborne at 0955 to fly to Syerston as part of a squadron move. The aircraft made a low, diving pass across the airfield from which the pilot did not recover, hitting buildings on the airfield at 0957hrs. Debris hit a parade of personnel from 5015 Airfield Construction Unit. 10 were killed immediately, 5 others died from their injuries in following days, LAC Moor being the last on 8/May/45. F/O G.F.Elkington killed, F/Sg tC.I.Walker killed, F/Sgt L.W.Evans killed, F/O H.Macaulay killed, F/Sgt M.J.C.Garrett killed, F/L G.Wimpenny BSc AMICE killed, Sgt C.L.Hammond killed, Cpl H.S.Hancox killed, LAC J.H.Davies (died), LAC J.Griffin (died), LAC L.R.Hassan injured, LAC J.E.Lambourn injured, LAC T.McKie (died), LAC L.Masterman killed, LAC S.Mellows (died), LAC P.Moor (died), LAC F.Plumtree killed, LAC J.W.Rogers MiD killed, LAC T.Starling injured, LAC W.Wright killed, AC1 R.J.Clewley killed, AC1 J.Weston injured, AC2 G.H.Brenchley killed. |
| 23/04/1945 | Wellington | NC861 | EAAS | Manby | This aircraft was damaged on landing at 0930hrs after the brake levers jammed in the 'off' position, causing the aircraft to overshoot the runway. Pilot W/O RP Teague and crew were unhurt. |
| 24/04/1945 | Spitfire | BL748 | 17FTS | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1510hrs when it approached too fast, overran the runway into a soft field and nose-tipped. Pilot Lt I Yanboga (Turkish) was unhurt. |
| 24/04/1945 | Spitfire | AR529 | 53OTU | nr Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was wrecked at 0930hrs when it force-landed wheels-up in a field west of the airfield after the engine failed at 50 feet on take-off. The aircraft turned over and broke up on landing. Pilot F/O EA McCann was slightly injured. |
| 25/04/1945 | P-51 Mustang | 43-6322 | 354FS/355FG | Holbeach st Marks | This aircraft was seriously damaged when it force-landed due to engine failure in flight at Bingham Lodge, Bowser Farm, Holbeach st Marks. Pilot Lt Charles R. Burns survived the incident. |
| 25/04/1945 | Lancaster | PB420 | 1660CU | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged at 1325hrs when it sank back onto the runway after doing a touch-and-go approach. The flaps were retracted too soon after the aircraft became airborne. Pilots F/Lt JA Hinwood, Sgt WS Green and crew were unhurt. |
| 26/04/1945 | Spitfire | W3718 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was wrecked at 0335hrs when it crashed 50 yards short of the runway after the pilot approached to land too slowly and the aircraft stalled. Pilot S/Lt JLC Cudenet (French) was injured. |
| 26/04/1945 | B-17 Fortress | 44-8687 | 486BG | Lutton Marsh | Crashed after colliding with B-17 44-38859 (which survived). At 11,700 feet #859, piloted by Lt Dobbins, collided with #687, running into the tail section killing the observation officer, LT Olson, instantly. Three crewmen managed to bail out from #687; however, John Hill jumped too low and his chute failed to open completely. Shortly after starting a shallow left turn, aircraft 859 collided with aircraft 687. The props chewed into the tail section of 687 from above and cut off the tail empennage. After colliding, both aircraft peeled up and out of formation, 859 returned to base on three engines, 687 went out of control, spun down through cloud and crashed into the ground.1st Lt Clyde E. Simmons killed, 1st Lt Donald L. Williamson killed, 1st Lt James G. Olson killed, 2nd Lt Vincent T. Colletti injured, 2nd Lt Robert F. Bradley injured, Sgt John J. Hill killed, Sgt Robert L. West killed, Sgt Edward G. Geron killed. |
| 27/04/1945 | Spitfire | AA916 | 53OTU | Metheringham Fen | This aircraft was damaged at 1401hrs when it force-landed wheels-up in a grass field near Ash House Farm after the engine failed in flight. Pilot Sgt Casanave (French) was unhurt. |
| 28/04/1945 | Lancaster | DV166 | 1660HCU | Hemswell | Airborne at 2102hrs 27/Apr/45 from Swinderby for a high-altitude night flying exercise. Oxygen levels ran low, forcing the pilot to descend. During descent the engines were subjected to severe icing and the aircraft crash-landed wheels-up on Hemswell airfield at 0312hrs. Pilot F/Sgt WC Newman and crew were unhurt. |
| 28/04/1945 | Lancaster | LM719 | 1653CU | nr Stoke Rochford hall | This aircraft was airborne from North Luffenham on a training cross-country sortie. On return, it encountered a heavy snowstorm, and the pilot was told to orbit base until the weather cleared enough to allow him to land. Communication to the aircraft was lost, and the pilot failed to see the airfield despite rockets being fired. At 0314hrs the aircraft crashed after diving to the ground and hitting trees following loss of control, possibly due to icing. The aircraft crashed in the grounds of Stoke Rochford Hall. Pilot F/O NW Guy (Canadian) killed, Sgt HW Jones killed, F/O RK Ouram (Canadian) killed, F/Sgt DR Wilson (Canadian) killed, F/O JD Travis (Canadian) killed, Sgt VE Cline (American) killed, Sgt JR Williams (Canadian) killed. |
| 30/04/1945 | Spitfire | BM583 | 17FTS | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1250hrs when it landed heavily, causing the starboard undercarriage to collapse. The aircraf then tipped onto its nose. Pilot Lt Kadayifcioglu (Turkish) was unhurt. |
| Date | Type | Serial | Unit | Location | Notes |
|---|
| 02/05/1945 | Spitfire | BL809 | 17FTS | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1435hrs when the undercarriage collapsed after the pilot held off too high on landing, stalling the aircraft heavily onto the runway. Pilot Lt Kadayifcioglu was injured in the crash and was taken off Spitfire training after this incident, his second in 3 days. |
| 03/05/1945 | Wellington | NB934 | 612sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged at 1411hrs whilst trying to take off with 19 people on board. The aircraft swung starboard then violently to port and crashed at the end of the runway, coming to rest in a ditch. Casualty names are not recorded but 5 were injured, 1 seriously injured and 13 were unhurt. Pilots W/O A Bywood and F/Sgt JD Ryder were amongst the injured. |
| 03/05/1945 | Mosquito | PZ300 | 254sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was wrecked at 2255hrs on return from an armed recce sortie. The port tyre burst on landing causing the aircraft to swing to port. Both undercarriage legs collapsed. Pilot F/Lt RA Davis and his observer Sgt W Buckley were unhurt. |
| 03/05/1945 | Lancaster | NG245 | 207sqn | nr Croft | Coded EM-R, this aircraft was damaged at 1523hrs when it force-landed in a field near Fern Farm, 200 yards north of Croft church from a training flight. The aircraft was in stabilised yaw to starboard after the starboard outer engine had been feathered as part of a drill. The flight engineer mistakenly switched off fuel to the starboard inner engine. The pilot did not realise this and made a frced landing due to the aircraft losing height. Pilots F/O AT Loveless, F/Lt WH Adams and 4 of the crew were unhurt, the remaining 2 were injured in the crash. |
| 04/05/1945 | Oxford | EB743 | 17FTS | Coleby Grange | This aircraft was damaged at 0040hrs when it ran into a ditch whilst avoiding another aircraft as it taxied. Pilot F/O F Dunn was unhurt. |
| 04/05/1945 | Mosquito | NT427 | 125sqn | Hackthorn | This aircraft was destroyed at 1600hrs whilst on an air test sortie. The pilot appears to have lost control of the aircraft in cumulo-nimbus cloud and the aircraft broke up in a high-speed dive. The starboard engine, centre section, cockpit and fuselage were seen to dive out of cloud and crash into the ground. Pilot F/Lt EF Higham and navigator Sgt KH Humphries were both killed in the crash. |
| 04/05/1945 | Harvard | KF251 | 17FTS | Spitalgate | This aircraft was damaged at 1200hrs when the port tyre burst on landing, causing the aircraft to swing and damaging the undercarriage and wing. Pilot Lt Dincer (Turkish) was unhurt. |
| 05/05/1945 | Spitfire | BM354 | 53OTU | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was damaged at 1430hrs when it nose-tipped after the pilot braked too hard whilst taxying. Pilot Sgt LAA Allo (French) was unhurt but was sent for reselection as he was deemed unsuited to flying fighters. |
| 05/05/1945 | Mosquito | PZ301 | 254sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged at 1200hrs on landing from an armed recce sortie. The pilot made a normal landing but but touched down on an unmarked patch of soft ground, twisting the undercarriage after the aircraft bounced. Pilot F/Lt RA Davis and his observer were unhurt. |
| 05/05/1945 | Mosquito | KB625 | 627sqn | Woodhall Spa | Coded AZ-L, whilst on take-off run at 1047hrs the aircraft swung to starboard. Overcorrection caused a 180 degree swing to port after which the undercarriage collapsed. The aircraft was written off. Pilot F/Lt DJ Moore (Canadian) and his navigator were unhurt. |
| 06/05/1945 | Oxford | LX275 | 17FTS | Coleby Grange | This aircraft was damaged at 1415hrs when the undercarriage collapsed as the starboard engine was being started on the ground. Pilot F/Sgt F Charlesworth was unhurt. |
| 06/05/1945 | Spitfire | AB790 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 1500hrs when it nose-tipped on the runway after the pilot braked too hard whilst taxying in an attempt to avoid overshooting the end of the runway. Pilot S/LT HM Lemoine (French) was unhurt. |
| 07/05/1945 | Spitfire | AR504 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 1125hrs when the pilot ran out of runway after trying to go around again after the aircraft swung on landing. The pilot realised his situation, throttled back and ground-looped the aircraft to avoid running through the airfield hedge. This caused the undercarriage to collapse. Pilot F/Sgt FOH Smissaert (Belgian) was unhurt. |
| 07/05/1945 | Lancaster | HK751 | 1667HCU | Sandtoft | Airborne at 2155hrs 6/May/45 for a night navigation exercise, the aircraft returned at 0150hrs and bounced on landing. The pilot attempted to go around, but confusion in the cockpit resulted in the pilot being unable to open the throttles sufficiently, causing the Lancaster to hit the runway a second time with sufficient force to break the undercarriage. Pilot F/Sgt JD Kirby was injured in the accident, the rest of the crew were unhurt. |
| 08/05/1945 | Lancaster | NN806 | 576sqn | Fiskerton | Coded UL-M - Operation Manna flight to drop food supplies in the vicinity of Rotterdam: The aircraft swung off the runway at Fiskerton on departure at 1208hrs, causing the undercarriage to collapse. Sufficient damage was caused to write the aircraft off. F/O Cross sustained a sprained wrist. No other crew injuries. F/O G.L.Scott Sgt H.W.Batchelor Sgt A.F.Marshall F/O G.R.Cross injured, Sgt s.Hoskin F/SgtJ.A.McDougall Sgt C.G.Rayner. This was the last Lancaster accident in Lincolnshire before VE Day. |
| 10/05/1945 | Master | DK808 | 7FTS | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1100hrs when it force-landed wheels-up in a field south of Cliff House, South Rauceby after the engine failed in flight whilst the aircraft was doing aerobatics. Instructor F/O RF Smyth (Australian) and pupil Cpl Dukgue (French) were unhurt. |
| 10/05/1945 | Blenheim | AZ991 | 17FTS | Grantham | This aircraft was damaged at 1630hrs when it collided in flight with Blenheim BA146 whilst on a formation training flight. Pilot Lt Tatoglu (Turkish) was unhurt. |
| 10/05/1945 | Blenheim | BA146 | 17FTS | Grantham | This aircraft was damaged when it was struck in flight by Blenheim AZ991, suffering a damaged rudder in the collision. Pilot Lt Eziler (Turkish) was unhurt in the accident. |
| 10/05/1945 | Spitfire | AD317 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 1545hrs when the undercarriage collapsed after the aircraft developed a slight swing at 10mph after landing. The aircraft came to rest on its nose. Pilot F/Sgt A Tesky-King was unhurt. |
| 10/05/1945 | Spitfire | EN948 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 2230hrs when the undercarriage collapsed after a heavy landing. Pilot F/Sgt JP Michon (French) was unhurt. |
| 10/05/1945 | Spitfire | EP250 | 7FTS | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was damaged on landing at 1455hrs when the pilot applied starboard rudder to correct drift. The aircraft swung sharply to starboard, ground-looped and the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot Lt I Dincer (Turkish) was injured. |
| 11/05/1945 | Lancaster | PB438 | 83sqn | Coningsby | Coded OL-?, this aircraft was damaged when it belly-landed at 1915hrs on return from an Operation Exodus flight. The port tyre had burst shortly after take-off, no injuries reported to pilot F/Lt RN Pereira, his 5 crew or the 24 passengers. |
| 11/05/1945 | Spitfire | AR378 | 53OTU | Kirton Lindsey | this aircraft was involved in an incident whilst taxying at 1125hrs when it struck and damaged Martinet HP495 which was stationary at the time. Pilot W/O RJ Pollock (Australian) was an instructor on 53OTU. |
| 11/05/1945 | Martinet | HP495 | 53OTU | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was damaged at 1125hrs whilst parked when it was struck by taxying Spitfire AR378. |
| 11/05/1945 | Wellington | LN653 | 1AGS | off the coast | "Missing on delivery flight from Pembrey to Manby, presumed crashed off the coast while descending through fog to get to visual flight conditions as the pilot's body was recovered from the sea some 10 miles north of Manby. The pilot had apparently taken off with no WT aids, having failed to collect the appropriate radio crystals for the TR1196 radio set. There are two confirmed occupants: F/Sgt V.W.F. Townsend (pilot), Section Officer Natalie C. Rees-Price (WAAF). F/Sgt L.D. Horton and LAC J.C. Fowler were also believed to have been aboard. |
| 11/05/1945 | Lancaster | PA276 | 619sqn | Strubby | This aircraft was damaged at 0040hrs on return from an Operation Exodus flight, when it struck parked Lancaster PA277 whilst taxying. Pilot F/O JG Taylor and crew were uninjured. |
| 11/05/1945 | Lancaster | PA277 | 619sqn | Strubby | Coded PG-Z, this aircraft was damaged at 0040hrs when it was struck by taxying Lancaster PA276 whilst parked on dispersal. |
| 13/05/1945 | Oxford | NJ307 | 17FTS | Coleby Grange | This aircraft was damaged at 0245hrs when it struck an unmarked glidepath indicator whilst taxying to take off. Pilots W/O AS Kirk and W/O J Rutledge were unhurt. |
| 17/05/1945 | Spitfire | W3262 | 17FTS | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was damaged at 0825hrs when it struck a parked truck whilst taxying. Pilot Lt Yanboga (Turkish) was uninjured but was deemed unsuitable for Spitfire flying. This was his second accident on type. |
| 18/05/1945 | Lancaster | HK739 | 1668HCU | Bottesford | Coded J9-K, this aircraft attempted takeoff at 1054hrs, failed to become airborne, and crashed through perimeter hedge after a series of swings & was wrecked. Pilots F/O GS Sanders, P/O HH Pickett and crew were unhurt. |
| 18/05/1945 | Beaufighter | RD507 | 254sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged at the end of its landing run at 1650hrs when the port undercarriage collapsed due to a defect. Pilot F/Sgt E Hawkesford and his observer were unhurt in the accident. |
| 18/05/1945 | Oxford | P4418 | 7FTS | Wingland marsh | This aircraft was damaged at 1430hrs when the pilot made a forced-landing wheels-down in a field after the starboard engine failed at 400 feet after takeoff. Pilot Cpl R Parmentier (French) was unhurt, this was only his second solo flight on the type. |
| 21/05/1945 | Lancaster | LL952 | 100sqn | off Donna Nook | Coded HW-W2, this aircraft was destroyed when it crashed into the sea 2 miles east of Donna Nook whilst on an air gunnery exercise. F/O M.P. Jones killed, Sgt I.J. Calverley killed, F/Sgt MA. Chalmers (Australian) killed, F/Sgt J.W. Montague killed, F/Sgt W.P. Gibson killed, Sgt P. Gapper killed, Sgt F.A. Padmore killed. Only the bodies of F/Sgt Chalmers and Sgt Padmore were recovered. |
| 21/05/1945 | Mosquito | KB265 | 627sqn | Woodhall Spa | This aircraft was damaged as a result of an engine failure on take-off for a training flight. Pilot F/Lt WR Brooks and his navigator were unhurt. No further information recorded. |
| 24/05/1945 | Oxford | R5952 | 17FTS | nr Aswarby | this aircraft was damaged at 1430hrs whilst practising forced landings. The pilot was about to go around again when the starboard engine failed at 500 feet. The pilot force-landed the aircraft wheels-up in a field near Aswarby Thorns. Pilot W/O JH Stewart was unhurt. |
| 25/05/1945 | Lancaster | PD432 | 626sqn | nr Bardney | Coded UM-E2, the aircraft was airborne on a formation practice flight. The starboard outer engine caught fire after an overshoot and could not be extinguished. The crew baled out, leaving the aircraft to crash near the Bardney Causeway at 1310hrs. No injuries were reported to pilot F/Sgt SAL Howes and crew though the bomb aimer was reported to have been rescued from a tree near Southrey after his parachute became caught on the way down. |
| 25/05/1945 | Tiger Moth | N5480 | 19SFTS | Wellingore | This aircraft was wrecked on landing at 1510hrs when it stalled and overturned after bouncing heavily on landing. Pilot AC2 FR Beach was unhurt. |
| 26/05/1945 | Spitfire | MK480 | 130sqn | nr Winteringham | This aircraft was wrecked at 1650hrs when it force-landed wheels-up in a field at Marsh Farm after the fuel pressure warning light came on and the engine lost power during a ferry flight. Pilot Sgt RV Ashman was injured in the accident. |
| 28/05/1945 | Tiger Moth | NL829 | 442sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged at 0945hrs when it overturned whilst taxying after the pilot opened the throttle too rapidly as the aircraft was turning. Pilot F/O CG Anderson (Canadian) was unhurt. |
| 31/05/1945 | Tiger Moth | EM727 | 19FTS | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1100hrs when it collided with a parked aircraft (identity not recorded, but undamaged in the incident) whilst taxying. Instructor F/Sgt FH Bird and pupil AC2 PJ Prior were unhurt. |
| Date | Type | Serial | Unit | Location | Notes |
|---|
| 01/06/1945 | Martinet | MS832 | EAAS | Manby | This aircraft was damaged at 1145hrs whilst taxying when it struck a marked fire extinguisher trolley, causing the starboard undercarriage to collapse. Pilot F/O AS Mason was unhurt. |
| 04/06/1945 | Spitfire | AB467 | 1656CU | Sandtoft | This aircraft was damaged at 1625hrs when it nose-tipped after the port undercarriage collapsed following a swing developing on landing. There was a 60 degree crosswind at the time which contributed to the accident. Pilot F/Sgt OO Silvester was unhurt. |
| 05/06/1945 | Lancaster | PB876 | 1660CU | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged at 1200hrs whilst taxying along a grass strip. The tailwheel penetrated a covered drain causing excess damage t the rear fuselage. Pilots F/O KW Wright, F/Lt BR Baker and crew were unhurt. |
| 07/06/1945 | Lancaster | RF205 | 153sqn | Mablethorpe range | This aircraft was damaged at 1250hrs whilst in a turn at 800 feet on a gunnery sortie over the range. The mid-upper guns fired and rounds pierced the starboard wing. Pilot P/O RC Gaskell and crew were unhurt. |
| 08/06/1945 | Harvard | FX433 | 7FTS | Little London | This aircraft was destroyed when it crashed whilst the pilot attempted to recover from a spin after pulling out from a manouevre in unauthorised mock combat with another Harvard. Instructor W/O KN Doyle (Australian) and pupil Cpt JV Pontinie (French) were killed in the crash. |
| 08/06/1945 | Hurricane | PG605 | 75 Base Flight | nr Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged at 1205hrs when it belly-landed downwind on the airfield after the engine failed at 300 feet on take-off due to a coolant leak. Pilot F/O JR Hendry was unhurt. |
| 11/06/1945 | Harvard | FS847 | 19FTS | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1600hrs when the port wing struck the ground whilst the aircraft was opening up to go around after bouncing on landing. Pilot LAC PE Clarke was unhurt. |
| 12/06/1945 | Magister | N3882 | EAAS | Manby | This aircraft was damaged at 1600hrs whilst taxying back to dispersal after local flying. The starboard wheel was damaged when it struck a large yellow concrete Drem lighting box. Pilot F/Lt CFG Parsons was uninjured. |
| 13/06/1945 | Beaufighter | RD540 | 254sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged during a cannon firing demonstration when it slipped briefly under the formation leader's aircraft and was hit by spent cannon shell cases. Pilot F/Sgt PCB Sharman and one passenger were unhurt but his observer is recorded as being injured. |
| 14/06/1945 | Lancaster | PB696 | 9sqn | Bardney | This aircraft was damaged at 1625hrs on return from a training flight when it struck a starter trolley whilst taxying in to dispersal. Pilot F/O LA Coxill and crew were uninjured. |
| 14/06/1945 | Spitfire | BL748 | 17FTS | Harlaxton | This aircraft was damaged on take-off when the propellor tips struck the ground due to a combination of rough airfield surface making the aircraft bounce and the pilot holding the tail up too high. Pilot F/O GR Townsend was unhurt. |
| 15/06/1945 | Harvard | FX288 | 17FTS | Harlaxton | This aircraft was damaged at 1655hrs when the pilot inadvertently applied the brakes shortly after touchdown, causing the aircraft to tip on its nose. Pilot AC2 CA Bom (Dutch) was unhurt. |
| 15/06/1945 | Wellington | PF964 | 11OTU | Kirmington | This aircraft was damaged on landing at 1354hrs after the pilot mistook normal engine fluctuations for signs of engine failure. He used the emergency system to lower the undercarriage, but misjudged his approach and overshot the runway, causing the tailwheel to collapse on landing. Pilot F/Sgt DN Fitten (New Zealander) and crew were unhurt, but F/Sgt Fitten was withdrawn from Wellington training. |
| 15/06/1945 | Mosquito | DZ418 | 627sqn | Woodhall Spa | Coded AZ-B, this aircraft was damaged at 0057hrs on return from a night cross-country sortie. The port undercarriage collapsed on touchdown and the port wing struck the ground. Pilot W/O NK Shannon and his navigator were unhurt. |
| 17/06/1945 | Lancaster | PB254 | 150sqn | Hemswell | This aircraft was damaged at 02315hrs on return from a training flight. The pilot landed fast, and to rpevent the aircraft overshooting, he swung it at the end of the runway, causing the starboard undercarriage to collapse. Pilot F/O N Dale and crew were unhurt. |
| 18/06/1945 | Tiger Moth | T7148 | 19FTS | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1010hrs whilst taxying downhill in a strong wind. The aircraft collided with parked Wellington MP688 (undamaged). Pilot AC2 ES Jones was unhurt. |
| 18/06/1945 | Lancaster | ME786 | 12sqn | Wickenby | This aircraft was damaged during a fighter affiliation exercise near the airfield at 1530hrs. The pilot pulled out of a corkscrew manoeuvre too violently, shearing the #3 fuel tank cover panel and cracking the skin on both mainplanes. Pilot F/O HJ Davies and crew were unhurt. |
| 19/06/1945 | Lancaster | JB306 | 1667HCU | nr Sandtoft | Coded LR-E, this aircraft was severely damaged when it belly-landed in a field 0.25 miles north of the airfield at 1101hrs after both port engines failed on return from a cross-country flight. Pilots F/Lt EM Beattie, F/Sgt JGH Pearce and their crew were unhurt. |
| 20/06/1945 | Lancaster | NN808 | 1660HCU | nr Swinderby | Airborne at 1411hrs from Swinderby on a conversion training sortie with 9 onboard. At approx 1710hrs, whilst on approach with the port outer feathered, the port inner feathered itself. The port wing dropped until it was vertical, the nose dropped and the aircraft crashed from a height of 50 feet and caught fire, killing 7 of the 9 onboard. S/L H.R.Pooley DFC killed, F/Lt T Clay killed, Sgt K.E. Terry killed, F/Lt L. Green killed, F/O H. Signey killed, F/O G.M. Eden killed, Sgt J.B.R. Brazier injured, but died in hospital, F/O B.W. Alford injured, Sgt E. Such injured. |
| 21/06/1945 | Harvard | FX352 | 17FTS | Harlaxton | This aircraft was damaged at 1030hrs when it belly-landed on the airfield due to the pilot forgetting to lower the undercarriage after practising forced landings. Pilot F/O A Egerton was unhurt. |
| 22/06/1945 | Beaufighter | MM883 | 1668CU | Bottesford | This aircraft was damaged on landing at 1542hrs when the starboard tyre burst, followed by the port tyre, resulting in the port undercarriage collapsing. Pilot F/O DF Gillman and one of his 2 crew were injured, the third was unhurt. |
| 22/06/1945 | Martinet | HP407 | 2APC | Skellingthorpe | This aircraft was damaged at 1440hrs in a landing accident. The port wing dropped, the pilot corrected it, then the starboard wing dropped, and the undercarriage collapsed in the subsequent swing on the runway. Pilot F/O W Walpole was unhurt. |
| 22/06/1945 | Mosquito | DZ415 | 627sqn | Woodhall Spa | This aircraft was damaged in a single-engined landing at 1634hrs following failure of the starboard engine in flight. Pilot W/O PP Hennessey and his navigator were uninjured. |
| 26/06/1945 | Tiger Moth | DE990 | 19FTS | Coningsby | This aircraft was damaged at 1215hrs when it was blown onto its back by the propellor wash from a Lancaster which was about to take off. The pilot had been signalled to taxy behind the lancaster by the airfield control post. Pilot AC2 NGH Clarke was unhurt in the incident. |
| 27/06/1945 | Hurricane | LF423 | 75 Base Flight | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged at 0245hrs when it belly-landed on the runway after the undercarriage selector switch returned to the neutral position after the pilot had selected wheels down in the circuit. Pilot F/O H Kelly was unhurt. |
| 27/06/1945 | Harvard | FT423 | 19FTS | Wellingore | This aircraft was damaged at 0950hrs when the pilot held off too high and stalled the starboard wing, casuing it to hit the ground. Pilot AC2 EGH Wareing was unhurt. |
| 28/06/1945 | Oxford | EB795 | 17FTS | Coleby Grange | This aircraft was damaged at 1335hrs when the undercarriage collapsed on engine start. This was due to the undercarriage lever being in the 'up' position rather than the 'neutral'. Pilots F/O RR Chipzs (Polish) and Sgt EP Phillips were unhurt. |
| 28/06/1945 | Lancaster | ME394 | 44sqn | Spilsby | Coded KM-X, the aircraft was taking off for a fighter affiliation sortie when the undercarriage collapsed after the aircraft swung on takeoff. Pilot W/O R Grange and crew were unhurt. |
| 28/06/1945 | Mosquito | DZ645 | 627sqn | Woodhall Spa | This aircraft was damaged at 1056hrs when it force-landed on the airfield following failure of the port engine in flight. Pilot W/O PP Hennessey and his navigator were unhurt. |
| Date | Type | Serial | Unit | Location | Notes |
|---|
| 01/07/1945 | Lancaster | NX583 | 150sqn | Hemswell | Coded IQ-T, airborne at 1205hrs from Hemswell en-route to Flensburg to test captured German radar systems. One engine failed en-route for Germany, the aircraft overran on return and crashed into a hangar at 1445hrs. F/O L. Plane killed, F/Sgt S. Smith killed, Sgt GB Forrest killed & 1 injured, on the ground. |
| 03/07/1945 | Mosquito | KB416 | 627sqn | Woodhall Spa | Coded AZ-P, airborne at 1450hrs from Woodhall Spa, but during the flight the port engine failed. On return, the crew were not sure that the undercarriage was locked, and the aircraft bounced back into the air after a hard touchdown, followed by a crash landing, when the aircraft caught fire. The fire section NCO, Cpl Stephen Cogger entered the aircraft and freed the navigator, but was burned and beaten back by the heat when he returned to free the pilot, who was knocked unconscious in the crash. He received the George Medal for this. Pilot F/Lt D.N. Johnson killed, navigator P/O J.D. Findlayson injured. |
| 05/07/1945 | Mustang | FB184 | 441sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged at 1420hrs when the pilot retracted the undercarriage on take-off before the aircraft was fully airborne. It sank back onto the runway and came to rest on its belly. Pilot P/O RH Sabel (American) was unhurt. |
| 06/07/1945 | Lancaster | PB376 | 97sqn | Coningsby | This aircraft was damaged at 0015hrs on take-off for a fighter affiliation sortie. The aircraft swung slightly to port, the pilot over-corrected and the aircraft swung to starboard. The undercarriage was strained in this incident. Pilot F/O W Laycock and crew were uninjured. |
| 09/07/1945 | Lancaster | PB752 | 170sqn | Hemswell | This aircraft was damaged at 1155hrs on return from a fighter affiliation sortie. The starboard inner engine failed in flight and could not be feathered. Due to the extra drag of the propellor windmilling in the slipstream, the aircraft was unable to maintain height on 3 engines and belly-landed on the airfield. Pilots F/O WA Collins, F/Sgt J Howitt and crew were uninjured. |
| 09/07/1945 | P-51 Mustang | 44-14406 | 435FS/479FG | in the Wash | This aircraft was damaged by a birdstrike over the Wash. Pilot Lt Sylvan R. Routh was unhurt and returned the aircraft safely to base. |
| 13/07/1945 | Wellington | LN844 | 11OTU | Bottesford | This aircraft was wrecked at 0025hrs during a cross-country flight. Both engines failed in flight, the pilot began to make a crosswind approach but was baulked by another aircraft. The pilot crash-landed wheels-up in a field, the aircraft caught fire and burned out. PIlot F/O JW Heames and rear gunner Sgt HR Grant were unhurt, but the other members of the crew, F/O P Smith, F/O SE Jones, P/O RG Nelson, F/O CW Tiplady and W/O L Wild were all injured. |
| 13/07/1945 | Lancaster | PB133 | 97sqn | Coningsby | Coded OF-E, this aircraft returned to Coningsby early from a cross-country sortie. The aircraft touched down too fast halfway down the 2000 yard runway after making a 3-engined approach following failure of the starboard inner engine in flight. The aircraft overran the runway on landing, ran across 2 ditches, ripping the undercarriage and port outer engine off. The aircraft caught fire and was destroyed. Pilot F/O AR Taylor and crew were unhurt. |
| 13/07/1945 | Lancaster | PB422 | 97sqn | Coningsby | Coded OF-P, airborne at 1123hrs from Coningsby for a bombing exercise. The port outer engine caught fire on takeoff. The aircraft made a climbing turn to port, stalled and crashed into trees, burning out on the ground. F/O R.W. Wright killed, F/Sgt A.J. Molyneux killed, F/O J.L. Bendix DFC killed, F/Sgt J. Eastwood killed. |
| 13/07/1945 | Lancaster | PA232 | 106sqn | Metheringham | This aircraft was damaged on return from a circuits and landings sortie at 0019hrs. The port tyre had burst in flight, and on landing the port undercarriage collapsed, the wing dropped, hit the ground and the port inner engine caught fire. Pilot F/O BR Marks and 4 of his crew were unhurt, a sixth member was injured in the accident. |
| 14/07/1945 | Lancaster | NG404 | 460sqn | nr Kirton Lindsey | Coded AR-H, this aircraft was abandoned after catching fire in the air during a fighter affiliation exercise,possibly as a result of the explosion of a 10lb flash bomb in the bomb bay. It crashed near the cement works on the Gainsthorpe Road. F/lt MC Nottle (Australian) injured, F/Sgt RK Sloan, P/O C.E. Johnson (Australian) killed, F/O WJ Narrow, W/O K.B. Quinn (Australian) killed, F/Sgt R.J. Rogers (Australian) killed. All of the crew except P/O Johnson and W/O Quinn baled out successfully, but F/Sgt Rogers fell into a deep lake in the cement workings and was drowned before he could be rescued. These were the last RAAF deaths in Bomber Command during WW2. |
| 16/07/1945 | Mustang | FB353 | 43Gp DA | Bicker | This aircraft was damaged at 1630hrs when it force-landed wheels-up in a field by the side of the A52 800 yards east of Bicker after the engine failed whilst the aircraft was on a delivery flight. Pilot F/O R Palmer was unhurt. |
| 17/07/1945 | Spitfire | BL968 | 17FTS | Harlaxton | This aircraft was damaged at 1440hrs when it belly-landed on the airfield due to the undercarriage failing to lock down. Pilot F/Lt BR Hazell was unhurt. |
| 17/07/1945 | Lancaster | ND616 | 106sqn | nr Metheringham | Coded ZN-J, this aircraft was wrecked at 1319hrs when it belly-landed on the airfield. On a practice overshoot, the aircraft swung to port. By the time control was regained, the aircraft had turned through 180 degrees and was very low. The pilot was unable to gain height, and made a belly-landing. Pilot F/O M Johnson (New Zealander) and crew were unhurt. |
| 18/07/1945 | Harvard | KF271 | 19FTS | Coleby Grange | This aircraft was damaged at 0935hrs when it force-landed on the airfield after the throttle seized in flight causing the engine to catch fire. Instructor W/O RV Houlton and pupil F/O PD Hatchwell were uninjured. |
| 18/07/1945 | Harvard | KF539 | 19FTS | Coleby Grange | This aircraft was damaged at 0920hrs when it force-landed on the airfield after the throttle seized in flight causing the engine to catch fire. Instructor F/O CTT Winstone and pupil AC2 JL Field were uninjured. |
| 19/07/1945 | Tiger Moth | T6368 | 19FTS | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged when it was blown into another (unrecorded) aircraft in strong winds. The aircraft was blown off its chocks and impact with the other aircraft damaged the rudder. |
| 19/07/1945 | Spitfire | W3231 | 1687BDTF | Hemswell | This aircraft was damaged at 1521hrs on return from a fighter affiliation sortie. The undercarriage failed to fully lower normally and the emergency system was ineffective. The pilot landed with wheels down but unlocked, the aircraft swung on landing and the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot W/O C Hughes was unhurt. |
| 19/07/1945 | Oxford | LB446 | 7FTS | Sutton Bridge | this aircraft was damaged on return from a training flight at 1700hrs. Whilst landing in a gusty wind the starboard wing was damaged when it dropped and hit the ground. Pilot matelot AR Rotin (French) was unhurt. |
| 20/07/1945 | Lancaster | LM287 | 1668CU | Bottesford | This aircraft was damaged whilst parked when it was struck on the starboard fin and rudder by a tractor trying to position to tow the aircraft. |
| 20/07/1945 | Lancaster | L7509 | 1667CU | Sandtoft | This aircraft was damaged at 0105hrs when it struck a starter trolley whilst taxying on its dispersal. Pilot F/Lt GJ Horwick and crew were unhurt. |
| 23/07/1945 | Harvard | FX468 | 19FTS | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1050hrs when it belly-landed on the airfield after the pilot mistook the fuel warning light for the undercarriage warning light and raised the wheels as he thought they had not locked down correctly. Pilot AC2 P Fawkes was unhurt in the incident. |
| 23/07/1945 | Harvard | FH111 | 19FTS | Wellingore | This aircraft was wrecked when it stalled at 100 feet on approach to land and crashed outside the airfield boundary. Instructor F/O JF Nicholas was injured, pupil AC2 AD Seymour was unhurt. |
| 24/07/1945 | Harvard | KF291 | 19FTS | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1145hrs when the pilot misjudged his altitude whilst demonstrating low flying and struck the ground with one wingtip in a turn. Pilot F/O DH Warr was unhurt. |
| 26/07/1945 | Lancaster | ME429 | 50sqn | Sturgate | This aircraft was damaged at 1300hrs when the pilot touched down too far along a short runway, overshot and had to retract the undercarriage to prevent the aircraft running into a pond at the end of the runway. Pilot F/O DL Rolston and crew were unhurt. |
| 28/07/1945 | Mosquito | NT545 | 54OTU | Spitalgate | This aircraft was damaged at 1120hrs when the pilot misjudged his landing following failure of the port engine in flight. The aircraft overran through a hedge and a barbed wire entanglement, straining the undercarriage and damaging the elevators. Pilot F/O EF Moore and his navigator were unhurt. |
| 30/07/1945 | Lancaster | PA236 | 166sqn | nr Kirmington | Coded AS-B2, whilst on approach to land from a ferry flight, one wing dropped, the aircraft stalled and spiral-dived into the ground, crashing and catching fire at Barnetby Wold Farm on the west side of the airfield at 1537hrs. F/O G.L. Willis killed, Sgt J.J. Pattison killed, F/Sgt J.A.Allen killed, F/O L. Roche killed, Sgt H.G. Russell killed, Sgt C.F.M. Saunders killed. |
| 31/07/1945 | Proctor | MX455 | 1RS | Wellingore | This aircraft was damaged at 2255hrs when the pilot landed too far down the flarepath, overshot and struck an obstruction on the airfield boundary, 220 yards past the end of the landing area, with a wingtip. Pilot F/Sgt W Johnston was unhurt. |
