Topcliffe AFB

The aircraft took off from RAF Topcliffe in the mid-afternoon so the pilot could train on instrument flying. Also on board was a second pilot who was acting as an instructor, a radio operator and a passenger. The purpose of the latter was so that he could carry out radar tests during the flight. The aircraft took off in the gusty conditions with the pilot having to use both hands to maintain lateral control, the aircraft climbed normally to 400 feet but after which the nose rose sharply. The pilot pushed the control column forward to try and make the aircraft return to level but this had no effect, full power was applied but the aircraft continued to climb at this rate until it was at about 1000 feet. The speed of it had now dropped to 80 knots so the pilot ordered the crew to bale out before it stalled. Only the second pilot was able to get out before the nose sank and the aircraft entered a dive from which it could not be recovered from. The survivor sustained slight injuries after being dragged by his parachute when on the ground after it caught in the strong wind. The other three had no chance to get out before it crashed and were sadly killed in the crash at 1500LT.
Source:
http://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/aircraft/yorkshire/rp555.html

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 1728LT on an operation to Essen. It was shot down by a German fighter and crashed near Wildenrath AFB. Three crew members were killed and two others became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt George William McDonald, pilot, †
Sgt Thomas Rogers, wireless operator, †
Sgt Isadore Stein, air gunner, †
Sgt Arthur Lambert Lord,
F/O Trevor Hugh Taylor.

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 2203LT on November 7 on an operation to Berlin. While returning to base the following morning, the crew called for help when the airplane probably crashed somewhere in the North Sea. No trace was found.
Crew:
Sgt Kenneth Harwood-Smith,
Sgt David Roe Pritchard,
P/O Bruce Buchanan Percival Roy,
Sgt Philip Henry Stanton,
Sgt Samuel Thomson.

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 2207LT on November 7 on an operation to Berlin. In response to a request for a bearing, the necessary information was transmitted at 0642LT, at which time the Whitley was believed to be nearly 100 km north of Borkum and on course for the east coast. No trace was found.
Crew:
P/O James Cecil Alcuin Allchin,
Sgt Vincent Leigh Brown,
Sgt William Charles Clarke,
F/Sgt James Allison Steeves,
Sgt Thomas Henry Thorley.

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 2214LT on November 7 on an operation to Berlin. It was shot down by the German Marine Flak and crashed into the sea off Süderoog Island. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Robert Brown,
Sgt Ronald Owen Bryant,
Sgt Emerson Master Leftly,
Sgt Reginald Charles Matthews,
Sgt William Miller.

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 1740LT on an operation to Kiel. In the evening, while returning to base, it was shot down by a Me.110 and crashed in the North Sea off the Dutch coast. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Vannio Max Albrecht,
Sgt John Charles Brooks,
Sgt Philip Arthur Champion,
Sgt Duncan Coutts Duguid,
Sgt Jeffrey Glover.

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 1839LT on October 12 on an operation to Nuremberg. While returning to base the following morning, the airplane ran out of fuel and crash landed in Market Deeping, north of Peterborough. All five crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt J. W. Stell,
Sgt J. M. M. Wilson,
Sgt D. C. Wilson,
Sgt C. Miller,
Sgt O. T. McIlquham.

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 2353LT on September 29 on an operation to Le Havre. While returning to base the following morning, it diverted to RAF Upper Heyford where it crashed on approach. All six crew members were injured.
Crew:
P/O L. B. Renolds,
Sgt J. R. Macklin,
Sgt J. D. Charrot,
Sgt G. E. Thompson,
Sgt J. E. Sumpton,
Sgt P. Hay.

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 1853LT on September 29 on an operation to Stettin. While returning to base the following night, it crashed on high ground at 1,400 feet at Danby Head, some 10 miles north of Kirkbymoorside. The pilot was killed and five others were injured.
Crew:
Sgt Donald Kyle Kibbe, pilot, †
P/O D. B. Delany,
Sgt C. Miller,
Sgt R. Gayler,
Sgt P. L. N. Trehearn,
Sgt C. Carr.

The crew was completing a local night training exercise at RAF Topcliffe. On final approach, the airplane stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/L Joseph Damien Reardon, pilot,
Sgt Harold Edwin Moore, pilot,
F/Sgt John Walter Ronald Griffiths, wireless operator.