Cambridgeshire

The aircraft was involved in a simulation exercise called 'Operation Eagle' and including 800 aircraft. In unknown circumstances, the twin engine aircraft collided with another USAAF C-47 registered 42-108877 and carrying a crew of five as well. Both aircraft crashed in a field located near Benwick and were destroyed. All ten crew members on both aircraft were killed. The exact circumstances of the collision remains unknown.

The crew was returning to RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor following a bombing mission over Karlsruhe. En route, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German Messerschmitt Me.410 and crashed in Colony Farm, near Manea. A crew member was rescued while all six other occupants were killed. Claim by Lt Wolfgang Wenning Stab II/KG51 at an altitude of 1,000 meters.
Crew (76th Squadron):
P/O D.R. Dibbins, pilot,
Sgt G.J. Head, flight engineer,
Sgt K.C. Oswald, navigator,
F/S J.R. Bathe, bomb aimer,
Sgt J.G. Davenport, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt N.M. Harrison, mid upper gunner,
F/S J. Anderson, tail gunner.

The crew was engaged in a night Target Indicator training exercise on behalf of the RAF Pathfinder Navigation Training Unit. Shortly after takeoff from RAF Upwood, the four engine aircraft encountered problems to gain height, hit tree tops and crashed in flames near the village of Upwood. Nine crew were killed while one crewman was seriously injured. Unfortunately, he died a day later.
Crew:
Bernard Francis McSorley,
Frederick Joseph Jervis,
Geoffrey William Clifton Candlin,
Louis Lawrence Oram,
Wilfred George Stoneman,
William Ellenor,
Annesley Richard Kavanagh,
Herbert Alfred William Jolly,
Bejoy Krishna Mitra,
Arthur Charles Preston.

En route, went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in an open field located in Whaplode Drove, some 20 km northeast of Peterborough. Five crew were killed while five other were injured.

Following an uneventful mission, the crew was returning to his base in the UK. En route, a fuel exhaustion forced all 10 crew members to abandon the aircraft and to bail out. While the aircraft crashed in a field and was destroyed, all 10 occupants were unhurt.

Shortly after take off from Cambridge Airport by night, an engine failed. The pilot attempted to make an emergency landing but the aircraft hit a tree and crashed onto a house. The pilot was killed while there were no casualties on the ground.
Crew (5th FPP):
P/O Irene Arckless, pilot.

The crew was completing a local training exercise at RAF Bourn. On final approach, the airplane crashed for unknown reasons just short of runway. All five crew members were rescued, among them four were injured.
Crew:
Sgt Hunt,
Sgt F. R. Artman,
Sgt K. Nisbett,
Sgt F. B. Dauncey,
Sgt E. Goulden.

The airplane departed RAF Woolfox Lodge at 1930LT on March 13 on an operation to Cologne. Following an uneventful mission and while returning to base, an engine failed. The crew decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. Out of control, the bomber dove into the ground and crashed in a field located two miles south of RAF Wittering. The airplane was destroyed while all seven crew members were uninjured.
Crew (61st Squadron):
P/O John Ralph Hubbard, pilot,
Sgt P. C. V. Joslin,
P/O Robert Heggie, observer,
F/Sgt John George Clelland, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Albert Wallace Baker, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt T. C. Stanley,
Sgt P. Jones.

The airplane departed RAF Bourn at 1930LT on March 9 on an operation to Essen. Approaching the target area, it was hit by enemy fire and the crew was able to return to base. Upon landing, the airplane crash landed and was damaged beyond repair. A crew member was injured.
Crew:
Sgt Ward,
Sgt Richards,
P/O P. H. Waterkeyn,
Sgt Gillett,
Sgt Skinner,
Sgt Wade.

The airplane was ferried from RAF Feltwell to RAF Alconbury where the pilot made an emergency downwind landing. After touchdown, the airplane veered off runway and crashed into a large bank of earth. The pilot was uninjured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Sgt A. C. Shilleto.