Abbeville

The single engine aircraft departed Toussus-le-Noble Airport in the early morning on a private flight to Fairoaks with two people on board. About 40 minutes into the flight, at an altitude of 18,000 feet, the manifold pressure dropped from 30 to 28 inches of mercury. The pilot increased the engine power when the manifold pressure boosted to 33 inches of mercury then dropped again. Suddenly, a burning smell pervades the cabin. The pilot declared an emergency and elected to divert to Abbeville Airport which was at a distance of 15 NM from his position. While descending, he lowered the landing gear and reduced the engine power. Shortly before reaching FL100, the oil pressure warning light came on, the engine started to vibrate then stopped. At this time, the aircraft was 10 NM from Abbeville Airport, descending in IMC conditions. On short final, at a height of 300 feet, the pilot established a visual contact with the runway but his trajectory was too short. The aircraft crash landed in a field and came to rest 200 metres short of runway 20. Both occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

While approaching Abbeville, the four engine aircraft was attacked by several German Fw.190. Engines number three and four were hit and caught fire. The aircraft lost altitude, dove into the ground and crashed in a field, killing all ten occupants.
Crew (68th Squadron):
1st Lt James D. Du Bard Jr., pilot,
2nd Lt Henry B. Kaitala, copilot,
2nd Lt Richard V. Somerville, navigator,
2nd Lt George A. Crawford, bombardier,
Sgt Charles S. Dick, flight engineer,
Sgt William G. Mears, radio operator,
S/Sgt Paul E. Beverly, assistant engineer,
Sgt Anthony F. Rizzo, assistant radio operator,
Sgt Robert F. Lilley, air gunner,
Sgt Donald M. Smith, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Swinderby at 2145LT on August 29 on an operation to Frankfurt. It crashed in unknown circumstances in Abbeville, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
Sgt John Gordon Procter, pilot,
F/Sgt Leonard Cyril Turner, pilot,
Sgt Robert Victor Urpeth, wireless operator,
Sgt Thomas Henry Willis, wireless operator.

The airplane departed RAF Dishforth on a bombing mission over German positions in Northern France. It was shot down by the German Flak and crashed 6 km north of Abbeville. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Leslie Arthur Keast, pilot,
P/O David Frederick Braham, pilot,
Sgt John Jacob Myers, observer,
Sgt James McDonald Black, wireless operator and air gunner,
LAC Raymond Robin Henry Nuttall, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crashed in unknown circumstances in Abbeville while on a bombing mission over fuel dumbs. A crew was killed and to others were uninjured.
Crew:
P/O J. Percival, pilot,
Sgt K. S. Dodrill, observer,
Sgt John Byatt, air gunner.

Crashed near Abbeville after being shot down by enemy fire. Two crewmen were killed and a third bailed out and survived.
Crew:
P/O Douglas Stewart Dickins, pilot,
Sgt Frank Miller, observer, †
Cpl Benjamin Morgan Harding, wireless operator and air gunner. †

The crew departed RAF Driffield at 2036LT on a bombing mission over Cambrai. While cruising over the area of Abbeville, the airplane was hit by Flak. The Captain attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in a pasture and was damaged beyond repair. All five occupants escaped unhurt.
Crew (77th Squadron):
F/O David Douglas Pryde, pilot,
P/O Andrew Woodrow Dunn, pilot,
Sgt Albert Cuthbert Thompson, observer,
AC1 Thomas Brendon Kenny, wireless operator,
AC1 Frank Crawford, wireless operator and air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Wyton on a positioning flight to Abbeville. While cruising northeast of Le Cateau-Cambrésis, it was shot down by the pilot of a Me.109 and crashed. Two crew members were killed and a third was injured.
Crew:
S/L Hector Yeates Lawrence, pilot, †
Sgt Reginald George Hopkins, observer, †
LAC E. L. H. Thomas, wireless operator and air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Wyton on a positioning flight to Abbeville. While cruising northeast of Le Cateau-Cambrésis, it was shot down by the pilot of a Me.109 and crashed. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O F. D. Dawson-Jones, pilot,
Sgt W. Baxter, observer,
LAC C. G. Watts, wireless operator and air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Wyton on a positioning flight to Abbeville. While cruising northeast of Le Cateau-Cambrésis, it was shot down by the pilot of a Me.109 and crashed. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Paul Geoffrey Chapman, pilot,
Sgt Cecil Ernest Colbourn, observer,
LAC Ernest John Fagg, wireless operator and air gunner.