Royal Air Force - RAF

Took off at 2214 from RAF Burn, to attack the city of Nuremburg. Part of a massive force of 795 aircraft - 572 Lancasters, 214 Halifaxes and 9 Mosquitoes. The most disastrous night of the war for Bomber Command, with the loss of 95 bombers. Halifax LK797 which the crew had named Excalibur was some 70 miles short of the target when attacked by a JU.88. The first burst of fire from the enemy made the intercommunication system useless. One engine was damaged when a Me410 joined in the fight. The bomber’s machine guns were out of action and the gunners were unable to return the fire. The fighters continued to attack the aircraft as it approached the target area and, in the confusion caused by the failure of the communications system at the height of the battle, a signal was misinterpreted and the navigator, air bomber and wireless operator baled out of the aircraft. F/O Barton faced a situation of dire peril. His aircraft was damaged, his navigational team had gone and he could not communicate with the remainder of the crew. If he continued his mission he would be at the mercy of hostile fighters when silhouetted against the fires in the target area and if he survived he would have to make a 4 1/2 hours journey home on three engines across heavily - defended territory. Determined to press home his attack at all costs, he flew on and, reaching the target, released the bombs himself. As F/O Barton turned for home the propeller of the damaged engine, which was vibrating badly, flew off. It was also discovered that two of the petrol tanks had suffered damage and were leaking. F/O Barton held to his course and, without navigational aids and in spite of strong head winds, successfully avoided the most dangerous defense areas on his route. Eventually he crossed the English coast only 90 miles north of his base. By this time the petrol supply was nearly exhausted. Before a suitable landing place could be found, the port engine stopped and the aircraft was now too low to be abandoned successfully. F/O. Barton therefore ordered the three remaining members of his crew to take up their crash positions, behind the main spar. Then, with only one engine working, he made a gallant attempt to land clear of the houses over which he was flying. On the decent despite strenuous efforts F/O Barton was unable to avoid an end of a row of cottages, one was demolished and the other slightly damaged. The Halifax crashed into the yard of Ryhope Colliery, on impact the rear fuselage broke off and landed in a deep railway cutting with the three crewmen inside. F/O. Barton died of his injuries, but as a result of his selfless actions, the three crewmen survived. Tragically a local miner Mr. George Heads, was killed on his way to work hit by flying debris.
Crew (578th Squadron):
F/O Cyril Joe Barton, pilot, †
Sgt Maurice E. Trousdale, flight engineer,
Sgt Leonard Lambert, navigator,
P/O Jack Kay, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/O G. G. Crate, air bomber,
Sgt H. C. H. D. Wood, air gunner
Sgt Fred Bryce, air gunner.
Civilian: Mr. George Dodds Heads, aged 58, †.
Source: www.aircrewremembered.com/barton-cyril.html

Flt Sgt Britt who was uninjured in the crash, later reported ; “At 00:21 we received a diversionary message from Ramsay instructing us to land at Bishop Court. The Pilot and Navigator were informed, and QDM’s were obtained from Bishop Court H/F D/F Station. A short time after that one of the engines cut, I think it was the starboard. The Pilot increased power from the other one, but a few seconds later that one failed. The Pilot ordered abandon aircraft at a height of about 2,500 feet. The 2nd WOP was first to leave followed by the Navigator and then myself. On the way down I saw the aircraft with its landing lights on and guessed the Pilot was looking for a place to force land.”
Crew:
Sgt R. C. Gillespie, pilot,
Sgt R. H. Sproge, navigator, †
Sgt J. Pickaunce, air bomber,
Sgt J. Britt, wireless operator,
Sgt J. G. Breathour, wireless operator.
Source: ASN

While flying over the region of Aachen, the four engine bomber went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew (15th Squadron):
P/O Thomas Gordan Marsh,
Sgt William Henry Dean,
Sgt Ernest Arthur Bland,
Sgt Maurice Charles Spice,
Sgt Victor Kingsbury Lewis,
Sgt Alfred Rowe Newell,
Sgt Burton Orval Brophey.

Following a bombing mission over Germany, the aircraft was returning to its base in Witchford, Cambridgeshire. While overflying The Netherlands by night at an altitude of 6,000 meters, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed in a field located in Epse, some 4 km southeast of Deventer. All seven crew members were killed. Claim by Oblt Martin Drewes Stab III/NJG1.
Crew:
P/O T. E. Vipond,
Sgt A. Diggle,
F/S J. L. Duffy,
F/O E. J. Deemer,
Sgt J. E. Hammond,
Sgt A. J. Hull,
Sgt R. L. Coulter.

While returning to UK following a bombing mission over Berlin, the four engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in a field located in Gerbis, near Jessen. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew /640th Squadron):
P/O W. C. McLeod,
Sgt A. P. Webb,
Sgt N. L. Cooper,
Sgt S. W. Wheeler,
Sgt J. C. Burdett,
Sgt R. H. Turner,
Sgt J. N. Boston.

En route, the bomber was attacked by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed in a field located in Kreien, some 13 km east of Parchim. Five crewmen were killed while two others were rescued.
Crew (51st Squadron):
F/L Curtis, †
Sgt Hepworth, †
Sgt Willson, †
F/S Scott, †
Sgt Sidebotham,
Sgt Midlane,
Sgt Taylor. †

The crew was engaged in a bombing mission over Germany. On the return leg to Brighton, while overflying The Netherlands, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire. Crew decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. Out of control the aircraft crashed and was destroyed while all seven crewmen were take POW.
Crew (78th Squadron):
F/L E. W. Everett,
Sgt K. H. Jones,
Sgt J. R. Stewart,
F/O J. K. M. Green,
Sgt J. E. Johnson,
Sgt J. R. Graham,
P/O A. P. Sinden.

Shortly after take off from RAF Lindley/Nuneaton, while climbing, crew encountered an engine failure and attempted to return when the aircraft stalled and crashed in flames in Digbeth, in the suburb of Birmingham. All three crew members were killed while there was no casualties on ground. The crew was completing an exercise on behalf of the 105th OTU.
Crew:
Lt B. J. Balchin,
D. Huddleston,
Sgt B. Morgan.

The aircraft left RAF Waterbeach (Cambridgeshire) at 1826LT for a bombing mission over Frankfurt. In the evening, while flying back to its base, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed in Nieuw Dordrecht, six km southeast of Emmen. Five crew members were killed while two others were injured.
Crew (514th Squadron) :
Sergeant John Bernard Underwood, pilot, †
Sergeant Albert William Johnson, engineer, †
Ivor John Frederick Rich, navigator, †
Flight Officer W. D. McPhee,
Sergeant Richard Jock Day, wireless operator, †
Sergeant R. C. Sime, air gunner,
Sergeant John Howell, air gunner, †.