Church Broughton AFB

The crew departed RAF Church Broughton at 1915LT on January 29 on a night training exercise. At 0059LT, all crews flying in the area were informed about the deterioration of the weather conditions but for unknown reasons, the crew of X3941 did not receive this message. While returning to base in low visibility, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the bomber hit tree tops and crashed in a field located in Gladwins Mark, 5 km north of Matlock. Two crew members were killed and three others were injured.
Crew (27th OTU):
Sgt William Alan Catron, pilot, †
Sgt Kenneth Barton Killeen, air bomber, †
P/O Neil Garrett Traylen, navigator,
Sgt Neil Charles Craigie, wireless operator,
Sgt Thomas Somerville Easton, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Church Broughton on a training mission including landings, circuits and single engine manoeuvre. About 15 minutes into the flight, the pupil pilot went through the drill in readiness to shut down the port engine but inadvertently feathered the starboard propeller, causing a complete loss of power. The airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in an field, bursting into flames. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Ralph Holland Tye, instructor pilot,
Sgt William Raymond Wearne, student pilot,
Sgt Ian Ross McDonald, bomb aimer,
Sgt John Kerr, wireless operator,
Sgt John Stoppard Eccles, air gunner.

The airplane flew into the ground above Upper Hulme. It is reported that prior to this the aircraft had be the subject of a mock attack by two Spitfires, possibly operating from Atcham near Shrewsbury, one of the aircraft had come too close to Z1744 and cut the trailing ariel that the crew were using to communicate with their base. With their primary means of communication cut the crew became disorientated and could not gain a fix on Lichfield. After flying in cloud for some time, the aircraft was seen to pass very low over Upper Hulme before crashing about 1/3 of a mile to the north. The aircraft slewed across a field and entered woodland where it was completely destroyed.
Crew (27th OTU):
Sgt James Robert Barlow, pilot,
F/O Keith Pettiford, observer,
F/O James Love, observer,
Sgt William John Baker, bomb aimer,
Sgt Howell James Buckley, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Kenneth Spencer Cheek, air gunner.
Source:
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/peakdistrict/peakdistrictz1744.htm

The crew was performing a night training exercise when weather conditions deteriorated. All crew were instructed to return to base except this crew. Eventually, the pilot attempted to return to base but on final, he encountered very poor visibility due to fog. On approach, the airplane crashed and exploded, killing all six occupants.
Crew (27th OTU):
F/Lt František Fanta, pilot,
Sgt Josef Hrala, pilot,
P/O Karel Mucha,
P/O Václav Obšil,
Sgt Emil Tufkel,
Sgt Rudolf Jelínek.