Lombardy

While performing a test flight in the Milan area, the crew encountered fuel problems and was forced to attempt an emergency landing in a field. The aircraft was wrecked while all occupants escaped unhurt.

The airplane departed RAF Honington at 1934LT on September 28 on an operation to Genoa. While returning to base the following night and after passing the area of Milan, it is believed that it was shot down by enemy fire. The crew reported engine problems then the airplane crashed in the Italian Alps, apparently in the region of Sondrio. The wreckage was not found.
Crew:
F/Sgt Walter Stanley Kitson, pilot,
P/O John Roy Freeland, pilot,
Sgt Ronald Gordon Gove, observer,
Sgt James Williamson Lee, wireless operator,
Sgt John Richard Palmer, wireless operator,
Sgt John Alfred McLean, air gunner.

The airplane departed Gilze-Rijen AFB on an operation to England. Over the North Sea, it was attacked by a British fighter. A crew member was killed during this attack. The rest of the crew decided to return to base in Holland but eventually bailed out over France, having thrown out the body of the pilot by parachute. With the autopilot system on, the airplane continued to Italy then crashed when it ran out of fuel.
Crew:
Oblt Paul Bohn, pilot, †
Fw Hans Engmann, radio operator,
Uffz Walter Lindner, mechanic.

For unknown reason, the twin engine aircraft crashed upon landing and came to rest, bursting into flames. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed by fire. Operated on behalf of Nucleo Comunicazioni Avio Linee (NCA).

The airplane departed RAF Harwell to bomb the Sesto Calande aircraft factory. It is believed that it was shot down at Valera, near Varese. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O John Hugh Keith Parvin, pilot,
Sgt Harold Herbert George Howard, pilot,
Sgt Norman Reid Johnston, observer,
Sgt Hughie William Carter, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Joseph William Stephenson, wireless operator and air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Abingdon in the evening of August 15 to bomb an aircraft factory located in Milan, Italy. It is believed that it was shot down by the Italian Flak while approaching the target area and crash landed. The pilot was killed and four others became PoW.
Crew:
F/O Kenneth Hesketh Higson, pilot, †
Sgt D. W. Green,
Sgt Henry JohnDavis,
P/O Albert Ernest Victor Oliver,
Sgt A. Millington.

While overflying the Swiss Alps, the aircraft disappeared. As it failed to arrive in Milan, SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended few weeks later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 13 occupant was found. A mountain guide found the wreckage 14 years later, on 14 July 1952, on the slope of the Piz Cengalo located at the border between Italy and Switzerland, on the Italian territory. Few mail bags were recovered and returned to local authorities.

All occupants were engineers and technicians of the Italian manufacturer Macchi Aeronautica. They were conducting a test flight when the seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Mornago, southwest of Varese. All 15 occupants were killed.