Sussex

The crew was completing a training mission on behalf of the 242nd OCU based at RAF Thorney Island. In flight, an engine caught fire and the crew lost control of the airplane that crashed in the Chichester harbor. Both occupants were killed.

The aircraft left RAF Thorney Island at 0935LT bound for Amiens with six other similar aircraft, carrying 23 people, among them 17 members of the RAF, three of the RCAF, two of the RAAF and one of the RNZAF. Enroute, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with a cloud layer up to 200 feet above the ground. While cruising at a height of some 150 feet, the aircraft hit the top of a hill with its right wing, went out of control and crashed in flames in a wooded area located in Hunters Burgh, near Folkington. All 23 occupants were killed.
Crew:
W/O Peter Matthew Oleinikoff, pilot,
F/Sgt Edgar Alan Barsby, copilot,
F/O Kenneth Gilbert Forseth, navigator,
F/Sgt Ronald Arthur Brock, wireless operator,
Passengers:
F/O Edward William Curtis,
P/O Colin Alexander Rattray,
Cpl Colin Gibson,
Cpl Gerald Ernest Nelson David Lee,
Cpl William George Blair,
Cpl Edwin Bruce Chadd,
Cpl David Cooper,
LAC Frank Bainbridge,
LAC Ronald Grayham Baldry,
LAC Samuel Arthur Bamber,
LAC William Daniel Davies,
LAC Thomas Henry Floody,
LAC Jack Neale,
LAC Woolf Nerden,
LAC Robert Smith,
LAC Sydney MacKenzie Smith,
LAC George Stevens,
LAC Albert Edward Dowler Wilkes,
LAC George Wilson.

The aircraft left RAF Lavenham on a bombing mission over Troyes, France. In the target area, the bomber aircraft was hit by Flak but the pilot was able to leave the combat zone and to fly back to UK. However, en route, he realize he would be unable to reach his departure point so the crew decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a wasteland in Chichester. All eight crew members were rescued while three people on the ground, among them a 13 years old girl, were killed.

The airplane departed RAF Manston at 1715LT on an operation to Marquise. It was hit by the German Flak and later crash landed in East Guldeford, one mile northeast of Rye. A crew member was killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
Sgt H. Vickers, pilot,
Sgt G. A. Lowe, observer,
Sgt Vernon Arkwright Stevens, wireless operator. †

The airplane departed Évreux on an operation to Manchester. While cruising at night at an altitude of 13,000 feet, it was shot down by a British fighter and caught fire. Two crew members were able to bail out while two others remained on board and were killed when the airplane crashed.
Crew:
Fw Fritz August Stein, pilot,
Fw Hans Riedel, observer,
Fw Karl Ilsemann, radio operator, †
Gefr Albert Rosenhahn, air gunner. †

The airplane departed RAF Syerston at 2257LT on May 27 on an operation to Boulogne. Hit by the German Flak in the port engine, it crashed in Darwell Hole, near Brightling. Four crew members were killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
F/O Bronisław Kuszczynski, †
Cpt Jan Stanisław Waroczewski, †
Cpt Cezary Wieczorek, †
Sgt S. Jozefiak,
Sgt J. Drozdz, †
Sgt Nilski.

The airplane departed Vélizy-Villacoublay AFB at 0145LT on an operation to London. After the bomb load was released on the target, the crew returned to base. While cruising at an altitude of 16,000 feet, the airplane was shot down by a British fighter, dove into the ground and crashed in Withyham. The pilot and the observer bailed out while both other crew remained in the aircraft and were killed. The observer survived but the pilot died from injuries sustained.
Crew:
Stfw Adolf Schied, pilot, †
Lt Martin Reisner, observer,
Obfw Leodgar Schuderer, radio operator, †
Obfw Lorenz Huber, mechanic. †

The airplane departed RAF Newmarket in the evening of December 16 on an operation to Mannheim. While returning to base the following night, it crash landed for unknown reasons in Rye, Essex. All six crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt C. F. Muller +5.

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 1730LT on November 23 on an operation to Torino. While returning to base the following night and just after crossing the coast near Portsmouth, the airplane was hit by Allied antiaircraft fire. Due to poor weather conditions, the crew was unable to locate a suitable landing area and subsequently abandoned the airplane that crashed near Elsted. All five crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt D. A. Rix,
P/O D. A. Thomas,
Sgt J. Billington,
Sgt D. Axtell,
Sgt Dr. R. Mourton.

While performing a night training flight, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. The aircraft was struck by lightning, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. While the maneuver was completed successfully and all occupants survived, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.