Tyne and Wear

The crew (pilots and engineers) was engaged in a local training flight at Newcastle Airport. On approach, the crew forgot to lower the gear and the airplane belly landed. It slid for several yards before coming to rest. All 11 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

After completing several training maneuvers in the vicinity of the airbase, the pilot-in-command decided to perform a single engine approach. On final approach to runway 23, while at a height of 200 feet, the airplane stalled and crashed in a near vertical attitude in a field located near the boundary fence. All five occupants (three cadets and two pilots) were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.

The crew was performing a local training flight at RAF Usworth, simulating an engine failure. On final approach, he encountered technical problems with the undercarriage that failed to lower properly and were not locked. In such situation, the pilot-in-command decided to restart the inoperative engine and initiated a go around when the airplane stalled and crashed in a field located short of runway threshold. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair while all three crew members were injured.

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

The crew was performing a training mission in the vicinity of RAF Usworth. While cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet, the twin engine aircraft collided with another RAF Avro 652 Anson I registered L7908 carrying a crew of four. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field located 3 miles northeast of the airbase. Both aircraft were totally wrecked and all eight crew members were killed.
Crew (62nd Squadron):
Sgt Charles Davidson, pilot,
Sgt Donald Kenneth Upperton,
LAC John Ramsden Smith,
LAC Aurthur Joseph Kelly.

The crew was performing a training mission in the vicinity of RAF Usworth. While cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet, the twin engine aircraft collided with another RAF Avro 652 Anson I registered DJ686 carrying a crew of four. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field located 3 miles northeast of the airbase. Both aircraft were totally wrecked and all eight crew members were killed.
Crew (62nd Squadron):
Sgt Alistair Cameron Dunlop, pilot,
Sgt Ian Duncan McDonald, navigator,
Sgt Frank Wickenden, observer,
LAC George Miller Johnston.

The airplane was engaged in an operation to England with a crew of five on board. Approaching the British coast, it collided with a balloon cable and crashed in South Shields. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Ofw Wilhelm Beetz, pilot,
Hptmn Heinz Styra, observer,
Uffz Karl-Günther Brützam,
Gefr Franz-Friedrich Janeschitz,
Uffz Helmut Herbert Jeckstadt.

The airplane departed RAF Dishforth at 1850LT on November 17 on an operation to Gelsenkirchen. While returning to base at night, it encountered severe electric storms and the w/t equipment was rendered unserviceable. Upon landing at RAF Usworth, the airplane went out of control and collided with a building used to store ammunition. Two crew members were injured and three others were unhurt.
Crew:
Sgt Alfred Ellis Prior, pilot,
P/O R. Keeling, pilot,
Sgt J. Wilson, observer,
Sgt Julian Robert Wanbon, wireless operator,
Sgt Barnes, air gunner.

The aircraft left RAF Dishforth at 1850LT on November 17 on a bombing mission to Gelsenkirchen, Germany. On the return trip to England, the crew encountered bad weather conditions with stormy activity and lightnings. Concentrated static influenced several equipment that went unusable. After touchdown, the aircraft veered off runway and crashed in an ammunition store. All five crew members were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Crew (51st Squadron):
Sgt Alfred Ellis Prior, pilot,
P/O R. Keeling, pilot,
Sgt Wilson, observer,
Sgt Julian Robert Wanbon, wireless operator,
Sgt Barnes, air gunner.

While overflying England at night, the aircraft was shot down by the Brisith Flak. Out of control, it dove into the ground and crashed in a residential area in Sunderland. On the crash site, at 55 Suffolk Street, SAR did not find any survivor among the crew of four. In the house owned by the Stormont family, the mother Rachel was killed while the father and a kid aged 15 were seriously injured.
Crew (6./KG 4):
Oblt Hans W. Schröder, pilot,
Uffz Franz Reitz, observer,
Ogfr Rudolf Marten, wireless operator,
Gefr Josef Wich, mechanic.