Snaith AFB

The crew, stationed at Snaith in Yorkshire were taking part in a raid against the German city of Frankfurt. The outward leg proceeded normally until shortly after they had released their bomb load over the target area. The aircraft was illuminated by a searchlight and engaged by flak and a night fighter sustaining hits to the port inner engine setting it alight and the No.2 fuel tank. The pilot took evasive action by corkscrewing the aircraft from 19,000 feet to 9,000 feet successfully evading further contact. As well as the fuel loss from the damage to one of the tanks, the loss of the port inner engine meant that some functions were also lost. Most could be carried out entirely manually but the engines generator provided power to the aircraft's batteries that powered the mid-upper turret, beam approach radio equipment and the R1154 / T1155 radio. These would work only as long as the charge remained in the batteries. The aircraft passed its turning points as far as Reading, shortly after the radio failed as the batteries had been drained. The weather at this point had deteriorated with low cloud and rain, effectively removing any chance of seeing landmarks such as rivers which would aid in locating Snaith, or another airfield. Eventually the pilot began to descend through the cloud to be able to find landmarks but while still in cloud, and virtually out of fuel, the aircraft flew into the ground on Blackden Edge. The aircraft broke up over a fairly wide area, most of the crew who died were killed in the crash but the Sergeant Lane survived the crash but was severely injured and died before help, summoned by Sgt Mack, arrived the following day.
Crew (51st Squadron):
Sgt Ernest Hatfield Fenning, pilot, †
W/O Jean Gilbert Felix Fortin, navigator, †
Sgt Eric George Lane, flight engineer, †
Sgt Victor Garland, bomb aimer,
Sgt Frank Allan Squibbs, wireless operator, †
Sgt Boris Karl Short, air gunner, †
Sgt James B. Mack, air gunner.
Source:
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/peakdistrict/peakdistricthr727.htm

The crew had taken off from their base at Snaith near Selby to drop two mines (an A.108 and B.200 type) into the sea in the 'Nectarines' area of the North Sea, this was around the Frisian Islands. The crew had been briefed to fly from base to the Mablethorpe on the Lincolnshire coast before setting course direct for the Frisian Is. and then returning via the same route. On returning they over-shot their base and continued westwards. The aircraft eventually struck a drystone wall on the edge of Hoar Side Moor and slid to a halt where it burned out.
Crew (51st Squadron):
P/O Richard Donovan Getliffe, pilot,
P/O Edward Burt Chatfield, pilot,
Sgt Alexander Campbell, flight engineer,
Sgt Allan Campbell, air bomber, †
Sgt George Hugh Whyte, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt John James Merritt, air gunner,
Sgt Reginald Ernest Smart, air gunner.
Source and photo:
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/pennines/penninesdt581.htm

The airplane departed RAF Snaith at 0020LT on an operation to Essen. It was shot down by a Me.110 and crashed near Gescher. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/L John Paul Vipond Nicholls, pilot,
P/O George Wilkinson, copilot,
P/O Oswald William Suckling, observer,
Sgt Peter Henry Crabb, wireless operator,
Sgt Charles Oliver Forrester, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Daniel Driscoll, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Snaith at 2000LT on February 21 on an operation to Germany. While returning to base the following night and while descending through cloud in order to establish their position, the bomber crashed into a hillside near Asterby, bursting into flames. Four crew members were killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
P/O J. B. W. Birkes, pilot,
F/Sgt Donald Wormleighton, pilot, †
Sgt John Eric Blackburn, observer, †
Sgt Eric Frank Rawlings, wireless operator, †
F/Sgt John Easton McAllister, air gunner, †
F/Sgt D. O’Donovan Iland, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Snaith on an operation to Germany. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed somewhere in the North Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
P/O John Bryan Green, pilot,
Sgt George Charlton Jobling, pilot,
F/O James Geen Courtney, observer,
Sgt Edward Lloyd Fiske, wireless operator,
Sgt Thomas George Evans, air gunner,
Sgt Harold Gregory McKean, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Snaith at 1735LT on an operation to Brest. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed somewhere in The Channel. Lost without trace.
Crew:
P/O Thomas Mcelligott Dando,
F/Sgt Robert Ballantyne Dick,
Sgt Paul William Hine,
Sgt Donald Norman MacNab,
Sgt Arthur William Eaton Nelson,
Sgt George Douglas Savage.

The airplane departed RAF Snaith at 1723LT on an operation to Hamburg. While returning to base in the late evening, the crew encountered heavy snow falls over the north of England. Flying at an altitude of 1,500 feet in poor visibility, the airplane impacted the slope of Mt Cheviot. A crew was killed and five others were seriously injured. The next day, two of the survivors died from injuries sustained.
Crew:
Sgt Laurence Warren Hunt, pilot, †
Sgt Thomas Walter Irving, observer, †
Sgt Frederick George Maple, wireless operator, †
P/O B. A. McDonald,
Sgt W. H. Allworth,
Sgt C. F. Glover.

The airplane overshot and crash landed at RAF Snaith and was damaged beyond repair. A crew was injured.
Crew:
Sgt M. D. Lewis.

The airplane departed RAF Snaith at 1730LT on November 15 on an operation to Emden. While returning to base the following night, it crashed on approach at Whitney Bridge, some three miles west of the airfield. All six crew members were injured.
Crew:
P/O S. G. Ledra,
Sgt R. B. Davenport,
Sgt A. J. Baldwin,
Sgt L. Gray,
Sgt D. S. Bright,
Sgt D. S. Guy.

The airplane departed RAF Snaith at 1820LT on an operation to Mannheim. Passing over the Netherlands, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in the IJsselmeer east of Medemblik. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Lloyd James Atkins,
Sgt Ronald Arthur Bramley,
Sgt Hywell Evans, wireless operator,
Sgt Sidney George Thomas Farman,
Sgt Victor George Knighton,
Sgt William Frederick Parsons, air gunner.