Wigsley AFB

On final approach, the airplane stalled and hit the ground short of runway threshold. On impact, both wings were sheared off and the aircraft came to rest in flames. All four crew members were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.

On final approach, during the last segment, the copilot-in-command made a wrong maneuver, causing the airplane to descend rapidly. The aircraft hit violently the runway surface, causing the left main gear to collapse and the left wing to partially brake off. The airplane went out of control and came to rest. Both pilots were uninjured.

The crew was involved in a night photography exercise and left RAF Wigsley bound for the Menai Bridge and back. En route, at least one engine failed and the aircraft lost height. The captain ordered his crew to abandon the aircraft but only four crew members were able to bail out before the aircraft crashed. Four crew members survived while all four others were killed.
Crew (1654th HCU):
F/O Gordon Noble Leach, pilot, †
F/S Frederick Thomas James Nicholls, flight engineer,
F/S Arthur C. Brett, flight engineer,
F/S Geoffray Norman Wise, navigator,
Sgt D. C. Watson, bomb aimer,
F/S Bernard David Fine, wireless operator, †
Sgt Harry Ward, air gunner, †
Sgt Charles David Howes, air gunner. †

While performing a training sortie from RAF Wigsley, the aircraft went out of control, partially disintegrated in the air and crashed in a field located in Colney Heath. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (1654th CU):
P/O Ewan Moore Taylor, pilot,
Sgt Albert Rooks, flight engineer,
F/O Eric Williams, navigator,
Sgt John Fisher Thwaite, bomb aimer,
Sgt Henry Thomas Green, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Edward Percy Stock, air gunner,
F/Sgt George Bruce Davies, air gunner.

Swerved on take off, veered off runway and came to rest. No casualties.

The aircraft left RAF Wigsley at 1645LT for a cross country exercise. Less than two hours later, an engine caught fire and the captain decided to return to his base. On final approach, the aircraft on fire stalled and crashed in a field short of runway. While all seven crew members were injured, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Crew (1654 HCU):
Sgt William Hedley Eager,
Sgt T. D. Viggers,
Sgt H. T. Petts,
Sgt T. H. James,
Sgt F. R. Stone,
Sgt G. E. Hunnington,
Sgt A. Jones.

The aircraft left RAF Wigsley at 1745LT on a night training sortie. Half an hour later, the bomber collided with a RAF Airspeed AS.10 Oxford registered AB665 and carrying a crew of two. Following the collision, both aircraft crashed in a field located two miles southeast of Melton Mowbray. All nine crew members on both aircraft were killed.
Crew (1654 HCU):
Sgt George Frederick M. Walker,
Sgt R. F. Davison 5.

On touchdown, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in flames. As all seven crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was destroyed.

The aircraft left RAF Wigsley at 1458LT on a training sortie. Twelve minutes later, the left engine caught fire and exploded. The pilot completed an emergency landing in a field located in Saxilby and was damaged beyond repair. All seven crew members were unhurt.

On approach to RAF Wigsley, an engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed short of the runway threshold. While all occupants were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Clinch,
Elkington,
F. E. Eustace,
Mims,
A. A. Morgan,
Rowlands.