Kalundborg

The twin engine aircraft successfully completed three sortie in the morning. With six skydivers on board, the pilot prepared for a fourth mission when, during the takeoff roll, he realized he could not make it. He aborted the takeoff procedure and saw people at the end of the runway so he voluntarily veered off runway to the right. While contacting soft ground, the nose gear collapsed and the aircraft came to rest with its left wing partially torn off. All six passengers were evacuated safely while the pilot was slightly injured.

Before takeoff from Roskilde Airport, the pilot received a weather briefing and was informed about the presence of thunderstorm activity over Denmark. All four passengers, two Directors of the Company and their wifes, were flying to London to go to an Opera. About 15 minutes into the flight, the twin engine aircraft went through clouds when it encountered severe turbulences. One of the wing tip tank detached and out of control, the aircraft entered a dive and crashed in the Great Belt off Kalundborg. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.

The airplane departed RAF Lakenheath at 2137LT on May 17 for operation in the Daffodils region. Passing over Denmark, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the Store Bælt (Grand Belt) some 10 km south of Kalundborg. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Arthur John Frost, pilot,
P/O Gordon Willard Coldwell, pilot,
Sgt James Henry Baillie, flight engineer,
P/O Reginald Philip Gent, observer,
Sgt Alfred Henry Smith, wireless operator,
Sgt William Collins, air gunner,
Sgt John Currie, air gunner.