Royal Air Force - RAF

The airplane suffered an engine failure and crash landed in Bridge of Dumfries. Upon touchdown, it lost its undercarriage and came to rest. There were no injuries among the crew.

The crew was engaged in a local night training flight at RAF Newmarket. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, one of the engine caught fire. The captain attempted to return for an emergency landing when, on short final, the airplane stalled, collided with an embankment and eventually crashed onto a building, bursting into flames. Eight crew members were killed and two others were seriously injured.
Crew (3rd ATG):
F/Sgt Frederick Thomas Miniken, pilot, †
Sgt Reginald Alfred Butcher, wireless operator, †
Sgt M. T. Coon, wireless operator,
Sgt Gerald Geoffrey Cornes, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt R. H. W. Lawrence, wireless operator,
AC1 Thomas Menzies, flight engineer, †
Sgt John Philpin Williams, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt Anthony John Browne, air gunner, †
Sgt Albert David Matthews, air gunner, †
Sgt Herbert Wolstenholme, air gunner. †

The crew departed RAF Pocklington on a test flight. One of the engine failed in flight, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in a pasture in Strensall. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Osborne Bayfield Le Furgey, pilot,
F/Sgt Peter Wityck, pilot,
Sgt James David Garrow,
Sgt William Alan Robertson, wireless operator,
F/Sgt John Burton Gayfer, air gunner.

The crew departed RAF Stormy Down on a delivery flight. One of the engine failed in flight, emitting thick black smoke. The pilot made a belly landing in hilly terrain in Twynau Gwynion. All four crew members escaped uninjured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

The airplane departed Cairo on a transit flight to RAF Luqa. Approaching Malta from the south, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the sea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Donald Wood Beirnes, pilot,
Sgt Paul Chaning-Pearce,
Sgt John James Henry Robbins.

The airplane departed RAF Waterbeach at 1602LT on January 3 on an operation to Brest. While returning to base the following night and approaching the British coast, it crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Isle of Portland. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Albert John Copping, pilot,
F/Sgt John William Colpitts,
F/Sgt Baxter Froude,
Sgt Aubrey Harold Shattock,
Sgt Arthur Ronald William Smith,
P/O Raymond Bowen Thomas.

The airplane departed RAF Coningsby at 1650LT on a mine laying operation off the Frisian Islands. It was lost without trace and is believed to have been shot down by the German Flak.
Crew:
P/O Donald Arthur Howard, pilot,
F/O Alexander James Fraser, observer,
Sgt Albert Harry Gardner, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Kenneth McKenzie.

The airplane departed RAF Upwood on a training exercise. While cruising at an altitude of 2,000 feet in clouds, the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed near RAF Shawbury. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Wilfred Jowett, observer,
F/O Melville John Kingshott,
Sgt Robert Macauley Masson.

The airplane departed RAF Croft at 1622LT on January 2 on an operation to Saint-Nazaire. While returning to base the following night, it crashed into high ground while descending through cloud. All five crew members were injured.
Crew:
Sgt A. Attwell, pilot,
Sgt D. Johnston,
Sgt V. E. Shirley,
Sgt E. C. Smith,
P/O K. Blyth.

The airplane departed RAF Swinderby at 1716LT on January 2 on an operation to La Rochelle. While returning to base the following night, it crashed in unknown circumstances in Haddenham. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Charles Ludwig, pilot,
P/O John Lennox Siesel Willox, navigator,
Sgt Joseph Ross Stansfield, wireless operator,
F/O Alec Macnaughton Christie, air gunner.