Lindholme AFB

The airplane, with Sergeant John James Campbell as pilot, took off to carry out a general test prior to an operational trip that night. The flight was to have been for about three hours’ duration. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were favorable. The cloud base was about 3,000 feet and visibility was over 5 miles. Two hours later the aircraft was seen flying at tree-top height near St. Denys Road, Evington. After circling for a few minutes it dived lightly and then levelled out. Immediately afterwards the port mainplane struck the roofs of three houses, demolishing the chimney stacks. A woman standing in the back garden of No. 26 St. Denys Road, was killed by falling debris. After hitting the houses it struck high trees about 40 yards distant and the tail unit and part of the bomb compartment were torn off. It then crashed into the adjoining field and distributed itself over a distance of 120 yards, killing the pilot and the 1st WOp/Air Gunner. Interviewed at the hospital next day, the 2nd WOp/Air Gunner., who was the sole survivor, said that a short while before the crash they had been flying round the telephone exchange at Uppingham. It was later learned that the pilot had, until two days before, been on leave, staying at St. Denys Road, Evington, with a lady friend, who was a telephonist employed at Uppingham Exchange.
Crew:
Sgt John James Campbell, pilot, †
Sgt Leslie Albert Carn, wireless operator, †
Sgt J. E. Kilduff.
The woman killed on the ground was Mrs. Maud Louisa Harris.

The airplane departed RAF Lindholme at 1205LT on an operation to Brest. While flying at an altitude of 500 feet, it entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed into the sea off Scilly Islands. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Ronald Frank Cheesman,
P/O Hugh Murtagh Macrossan,
Sgt John Henry Matthews,
Sgt Frederick Richard Worthington.

The pilot was engaged in a local solo training flight at RAF Lindholme. While taking off, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. The pilot was slightly injured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Sgt John Ratcliffe, pilot.

The airplane departed RAF Lindholme at 1820LT on March 20 on a mine laying operation off Lorient. While returning to base the following night, it crashed on approach at Armthorpe. A crew was injured and three others escaped unhurt.
Crew:
Sgt A. B. Brookes,
P/O T. N. C. Burrough,
P/O P. B. Hodgson,
Sgt D. Russell.

The airplane departed RAF Lindholme at 1904LT on an operation to Hamburg. Lost without trace. Maybe it crashed somewhere in the North Sea. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt John Cameron,
SGt Robert Little Grainger,
Sgt Robert Duncan Watson,
Sgt Robert Edward Frederic Wunderlich.

The airplane departed RAF Lindholme at 2233LT on March 12 on an operation to Berlin. After passing the German border, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in Nordhorn. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Donald Thurston Johnston, pilot,
P/O Lionel Edward Stannard, pilot,
P/O Gordon Samuel Walker, observer,
Sgt Harry Howell, wireless operator,
Sgt William Gordon Williams, wireless operator.

The airplane departed RAF Lindholme at 2015LT on March 1st on an operation to Cologne. While returning to base the following night, it crashed in unknown circumstances in Wold Newton. The pilot was killed and three other crew members were injured.
Crew:
Sgt Leonard Thomas Richards, pilot, †
P/O H. C. Pexton,
Sgt J. H. Tittley,
Sgt D. C. Wheeler.

The airplane departed RAF Lindholme at 1659LT on January 1st to attack oil refinery and food plants in Bremen. While returning to base the following night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with snow and clouds and fog at 600 feet. After touchdown, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance. The crew raised the landing gear, the aircraft overran and came to rest in a snow covered area. All four crew members were rescued.
Crew:
P/O T. N. C. Burrough,
P/O P. B. Hodgson,
Sgt Hobson,
Sgt A. B. Brooks.

The airplane departed RAF Dishforth at 1630LT on an operation to Bremen. While returning to base in the evening, the crew encountered severe icing conditions that affected control of the airplane. The crew decided to bail out and abandoned the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed near RAF Lindholme. A crew was killed and four others were unhurt.
Crew:
Sgt H. A. Davis, pilot.
P/O William Albert Bates, pilot, †
Sgt F. Waldron, observer,
Sgt Eric O. T. Balcomb, wireless operator,
Sgt Ernest A. Grunsell, wireless operator and air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Lindholme to attack docks in Lorient. While approaching the target area, it crashed in Lanester, northeast of Lorient. Three crew members were killed and a fourth became PoW.
Crew:
P/O Douglas Bruce Ainsworth, pilot,
Sgt Edward Hulme Battle, observer, †
Sgt Marchant Hemingway, wireless operator, †
Sgt George Gray Smith, air gunner. †