Thornaby AFB

An engine failed shortly after take off from RAF Thornaby. The crew attempted to make an emergency landing when the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field past the runway end. A pilot was killed while the second occupant was seriously injured.
Crew (220th Squadron):
S/L D. W. Lydall, pilot,
P/O James Taylor Wardlaw, pilot. †

The airplane departed RAF Thornaby on a maritime patrol flight. On return, it collided with the cable of a barrage balloon, went out control and crashed in a field, bursting into flames. All four crew menbers were killed.
Crew (220th Squadron):
P/O Garth Wells Fuller Carey, pilot,
P/O Phillip Knox Vartan, pilot,
Sgt George Alexander Matthews, air gunner,
Sgt Victor George Gent, wireless operator and air gunner.

While on a connection flight, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. The pilot did not realize he was flying too low when the aircraft hit telephone wires, stalled and crashed onto a hill, bursting into flames. All crew were seriously injured and the captain died three days later from injuries sustained.
Crew (608th Squadron):
Sgt Leslie Bertram Walpole, †
P/O B. Duncan,
Sgt O. Shepherd,
AC1 George Edward Lumley.

Shortly after take off from RAF Thornaby, while climbing to a height of 200 feet, the twin engine aircraft entered a right turn then descended to the ground and crashed in a huge ball of fire in a field located a mile from the airfield. All four crewmen were killed.
Crew (220th Squadron):
Sgt Eric Morgan, pilot,
Sgt Dennis Robert Holbeche, pilot,
AC1 William Charles Irvine, wireless operator,
Sgt James Richard Butterworth, air gunner.

The crew was engaged in a training flight when shortly after take off from RAF Thornaby, the left engine fired. The crew attempted to return and was able to extinguish the fire. Unfortunately, on final approach, the left engine fired again and the pilot lost control of the aircraft that stalled and crashed in a construction plant located at the airfield's perimeter. Two crew were slightly injured while all four other occupants were unhurt. The aircraft was destroyed.
Crew (220th Squadron):
P/O Charles Petrie Murray, pilot,
P/O Ronald Owen Lawry, pilot,
AC1 Kenneth Cyrus Merrick, wireless operator and air gunner,
LAC Percy Wilson, wireless operator and air gunner,
S/L A. G. C. Langford,
F/O Barron.

During a night training exercise, the pilot failed to realize he was flying too low due to poor visibility. The twin engine aircraft hit a hill located in Easby Moor, east of Great Ayton. A crewmen was seriously injured while all three others occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, weather was poor with snow falls and icing.
Crew (220th Squadron):
F/O Tom MacKinlay Parker, pilot, †
Sgt Harold Francis Bleksley, pilot, †
Cpl Norman Rrichard Drury, wireless operator, †
LAC Atholl Barker, air gunner.

The crew was performing a maritime patrol flight off the British coast when both engines failed in flight. The pilot attempted to ditch the aircraft some 10 km off Blyth. The aircraft sank after 45 minutes and all four crewmen were rescued by the crew of a minesweeper.
Crew (608th Squadron):
F/O Johnson,
P/O Lambert,
AC2 Lumley,
Cpl Young.

While performing a maritime patrol flight off the British coast, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German Junkers JU.88 and crashed into the North Sea some 20 miles off Saint Abb's Head, Berwickshire. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew (220th Squadron):
F/Lt Trevor Hermon Clarke,
Sgt Robert James Peacock,
LAC Christopher Forge Hudson,
LAC Donald Mitchell Rowson.

The crew departed RAF Thornaby on a air gunnery exercice. While flying off Seaham, County Durham, the twin engine airplane crashed into the sea some 7 km offshore. The wreckage was localized but no trace of both crew members.
Crew:
P/O Hubert John Keller, pilot,
P/O John Whyte Crichton Robertson, pilot.

The crew was completing a local training mission out from RAF Thornaby. On final approach, at a height of 600 feet, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed into houses, bursting into flames. All four crew members were killed while there were no casualties on the ground. The distance between the aircraft and the ground was insufficient to expect a stall recovery.
Crew:
P/O Augustine Harold Jervis Ryan, pilot,
P/O Douglas Haig Robertson, pilot,
Sgt Rex Mitchell, pilot,
AC1 Albert Wade, wireless operator.