Syerston AFB

The crew left RAF Swinderby for a local training mission. Enroute, weather conditions worsened and the crew was instructed to divert to RAF Syerston. Few minutes later, the pilot encountered technical problems with the left engine that was shot down and its propeller feathered. On final approach to RAF Syerston, the pilot was forced to make a go around for unknown reason. During its second attempt to land, the aircraft was seen to fly over the airbase at low height with its landing gear down. Suddenly, it bank left and crashed in a field located two miles from the airbase. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed.
Crew (201st Advanced Flying School):
Sgt G. E. Cheesley, pilot,
Sgt P. C. Leach, pilot,
P/O M. W. Clarke, navigator,
Sgt L. J. Herbert, signaller.

While cruising in poor weather conditions, the crew lost radio aids and attempted to make an emergency landing when the twin engine aircraft crashed in a field located near the RAF Syerston. Both occupants were unhurt while the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Shortly after lift off, the aircraft went out of control and crashed on a depot. All six crew members were killed and 15 people on the ground as well.
Crew (49th Squadron):
F/O G. F. Elkington, pilot,
F/S C. I. Walker, flight engineer,
F/S L. W. Evans, navigator,
F/S J. W. Petch, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/O H. Macaulay, bombardier,
F/S M. J. C. Garrett, air gunner.
Those killed on the ground were:
AC2 George Henry Brenchley,
AC1 Robert John Clewley,
F/O George Frank Elkington,
F/S Leonard William Evans,
F/S Maurice John Clive Garrett,
SGT Cyril Lesley Hammond,
CPL Haydn Spencer Hancox,
F/O Hugh Macaulay,
LAC Leonard Masterman,
F/S John William Petch,
LAC Frank Plumtree,
LAC James William Rogers,
F/S Cyril Ivan Walker,
F/L Geoffrey Wimpenny,
LAC William Wright.

The aircraft left RAF Syerston at 1810LT on a bombing mission over Torino. While approaching Lyon, two engines failed. The captain reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing in Valsonne, 30 km northwest of Lyon. By night and in low visibility, the aircraft hit the ground and crashed. Four crew members were killed while four others were injured. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.
Crew (106th Squadron):
Sgt D. L. Thompson, pilot,
Sgt Norman Burt Johnstone, flight engineer,
F/S Frank Lawrence Darlington, navigator,
F/O George Roland Powell, bombardier,
Sgt Wilfrid Eric Baker, radio operator,
Sgt R. P. Sutton, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt J. Picken, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt P. Ward, bombardier.

The airplane departed RAF Syerston at 2359LT on July 29 on an operation to Saarbrücken. Over France, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Vrizy. Six crew members were killed and a seventh occupant became PoW.
Crew:
P/O Jack Graham Stewart, pilot, †
Sgt Robert Albert Parsons, flight engineer, †
Sgt John Elphege Sullivan, observer, †
F/Sgt William Vincent McQuaid, wireless operator, †
Sgt Joseph Albert Rice, wireless operator, †
Sgt Leonard George Millar, air gunner, †
Sgt Robert Lionel Beard.

The airplane departed RAF Syerston at 2225LT on a mine laying operation in the Danish Sound off Verbena. Approaching the Danish coast, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the sea some 30 km off Esbjerg. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/L Peter Wynn Mason West, pilot,
P/O Robert Lorne Storey, observer,
Sgt Eric Knight,
F/O Robert Wallace Komiski,
Sgt Edward Colin Marshall, wireless operator,
Sgt John Walter Morton, wireless operator,
Sgt Jack Brown, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Syerston at 2235LT on July 3 on a mine laying operation in the Nasturtium area. Approaching the Swedish coast, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the sea off Lerberget. Six crew members were killed while the pilot was wounded and rescued by a local vessel.
Crew:
F/Sgt G. S. Williams, pilot,
Sgt Jack Pritchard, , flight engineer, †
Sgt Mervyn Caddy, observer, †
Sgt Bruce Morgan, wireless operator, †
Sgt Harry Victor Turton, wireless operator, †
Sgt James Raine, air gunner, †
Sgt John Samson, air gunner. †

The airplane departed RAF Syerston at 2330LT on June 25 on an operation to Bremen. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed near Delmenhorst, some 12 km southwest of Bremen. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Paul Walter Gregory, pilot,
Sgt James Henry Kinch, pilot,
P/O William James Ruddy, observer,
F/Sgt Frank Roe, wireless operator,
Sgt Harold Dauncey, wireless operator,
Sgt John Grocock, air gunner,
Sgt Edmund Robert John Burrell, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Syerston at 2340LT on June 22 on an operation to Emden. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Marine Flak and crashed near Freepsum. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/L Ivor George Armour McNaughton, pilot,
Sgt John Robert Dryden, flight engineer,
F/O William Donald McCulloch, observer,
Sgt Colin Mellor Parker, wireless operator,
Sgt Sydney Edward Bradshaw, wireless operator,
P/O James Day McKeown, air gunner,
Sgt James Traynor Fallon, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Syerston at 2315LT on June 3 on an operation to Bremen. Over Germany, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed nearby the Bad Zwischenahn Airfield. Six crew members were killed and a seventh occupant became PoW.
Crew:
F/O Robert Earle Archibald, pilot, †
Sgt Peter Holmes, flight engineer,
Sgt Ian Frank Pratt, navigator, †
F/Sgt David Lorimer, bomb aimer, †
Sgt Jack Lewis Wallis, wireless operator, †
F/Lt George Liddell Caruthers Beattie, air gunner, †
F/Sgt Maurice Hamilton Denison, air gunner. †