Croft AFB

Shortly after takeoff from Croft AFB, in initial climb, the aircraft collided with a flock of birds that hit the windshield. Both pilots were injured and attempted to make an emergency landing. They reduced their altitude and landed in an open field. Aircraft skidded few hundred yards before coming to rest. All crew were rescued and evacuated while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Crew was from 434th Squadron.

The crew of this Wellington christened 'A for Apple' took off from RAF Croft at 1726LT for what is believed to have been a mine laying operational flight. Aircraft from various squadrons were mine laying the waters around The Frisians and Helgoland on this night. Other modern accounts quote Le Havre as being a land target for bombs but this is believed to not be correct. The accident record card for this incident; the Form Am1180, makes no mention of what the target was hence the confusion. The crew dropped their cargo and headed for home but were hit by flak. Before they could land at base the aircraft flew across the North Yorkshire Moors, the Moors were covered in a thick band of cloud at the time and the crew became uncertain of their position on their return to Yorkshire; they had probably flown off course by a few degrees. They descended to try and work out their location but struck high ground east of Chop Gate on Black Intake Moor at 2300LT and all on the aircraft lost their lives in the crash which completely destroyed the aircraft.
Crew (427th Squadron):
Sgt Oscar Philip Edwin Ronald J. Adlam, pilot,
F/O Bryan Dunn, navigator,
Sgt William Charles Ivor Jelley, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Arnold Charles Clifford, bombardier,
Sgt William Ball, air gunner.
Source:
http://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/aircraft/planes/43/bj778.html

The aircraft left RAF Croft at 1651LT on a bombing mission to Lorient. While returning to his base by night, the crew encountered poor visibility. The bomber hit the slope of Mt Kinder Scout located northwest of Edale and was destroyed by impact forces. All six crew members were injured.
Crew (427th Squadron):
F/Lt Carroll Alfred Taylor, pilot,
Sgt Lyndon George Southwood, copilot,
P/O Donald Mortimer, bomb aimer,
P/O George Albert Martin, navigator,
Sgt Anthony David Deane, wireless operator,
Sgt William Lumsden, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Croft at 1809LT on March 13 on an operation to Boulogne. While returning to base the following night, the pilot encountered difficulties. On the fifth attempt to land, the airplane overshot, impacted trees and crashed, bursting into flames. Three crew members were killed and two others were injured. One of the survivors died the next day from injuries sustained.
Crew:
P/O Cecil Frank Ferris, pilot, †
Sgt Robert Curragh Bell, copilot, †
Sgt Noel Thomas Gander, observer, †
Sgt John Ivor Evans Davies, wireless operator, †
Sgt Maurice Arthur Hentall, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Croft at 1808LT on an operation to Cologne. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed somewhere in the North Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
Sgt Richard Derrick Ash,
Sgt Peter Windermere Bland,
P/O Dennis Richard Hockaday,
Sgt Alexander MacLeod,
Sgt Hugh Davison McColl.

The airplane departed RAF Croft at 1735LT on February 14 on an operation to Mannheim. While returning to base the following night, and with its wireless equipment unserviceable, the crew strayed off track and, subsequently, came down in the sea at 0200LT some 20 miles south of the Hampshire resort of Bournemouth. All five crew members were injured and rescued.
Crew:
P/O R. E. Atkinson,
Sgt J. C. Stevens,
Sgt R. Shipley,
F/Sgt J. D. Rogers,
P/O G. T. Turner.

The airplane departed RAF Croft at 1720LT on an operation to Rotterdam. It was shot down by AA fire from trawlers and crashed into the sea off Harwich. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Douglas Reid Campbell,
Sgt Denis Curnick,
Sgt Ronald Welburn Dobson, wireless operator,
Sgt Alan Neal Williams,
P/O David Llewelyn Williams.

The airplane departed RAF Croft at 1622LT on January 2 on an operation to Saint-Nazaire. While returning to base the following night, it crashed into high ground while descending through cloud. All five crew members were injured.
Crew:
Sgt A. Attwell, pilot,
Sgt D. Johnston,
Sgt V. E. Shirley,
Sgt E. C. Smith,
P/O K. Blyth.

The airplane departed RAF Croft at 1740LT on an operation to Düsseldorf. It crashed at 1845LT after colliding with high tension cables at Foxholes, bursting into flames. All five crew members were rescued, among them three were injures.
Crew:
P/O R. M. Shattock,
Sgt E. Lee,
Sgt C. A. Newan,
Sgt Lyndon,
Sgt Wado.

The airplane departed RAF Croft at 1553LT on an operation to Brest. While returning to base in the evening, the crew were unable to obtain any response to their w/t calls asking for a bearing. Subsequently, the pilot broke through the cloud in order to establish his position and in doing so he crashed at 2130LT into high ground at Simon's Seat. All six crew members were rescued.
Crew:
Sgt D. R. Cox,
P/O J. F. Beadle,
P/O R. Franklin,
Sgt R. H. Gale,
Sgt R. Kendall,
Sgt White.