Graveley AFB (Huntingdon)

The aircraft left RAF Graveley at 2121LT on April 27, on a bombing mission to Friedrichshafen. While flying over the south of Germany at an altitude of 4,880 meters, the aircraft was hit by Flak. The captain reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing when the aircraft eventually crashed in the Konstanz Lake, off Steckborn. The navigator was killed while all six other crew members were unhurt.
Crew (35th Squadron):
P/O Robert Peter, pilot,
Sgt Alfred Brereton, flight engineer,
F/S Geoffrey Foulkes, navigator, †
F/S Noel Davis, bomb aimer,
F/S Murray Bartle, wireless operator,
Sgt David Balmer, mid-upper gunner,
Sgt Irvine Graham, rear gunner.

The crew was engaged in a bombing mission over Duisburg and left RAF Graveley at 0023LT. While overflying The Netherlands by night at an altitude of 3,300 metres, the aircraft was attacked by the pilot of a German fighter. The captain attempted to make an emergency landing in a field but on touchdown, the aircraft caught fire and came to rest upside down. Two crew members were killed while all others were injured.
Crew (35th Squadron):
F/Lt Douglas Julian Sale,
P/O R. C. Sawyer,
P/O G. E. Heard,
Sgt S. A. Moores,
Sgt D. N. Richards,
Sgt R. O. Elford,
Sgt C. W. Rowley.

The airplane departed RAF Graveley at 2128LT on April 14 on an operation to Stuttgart. Shortly after midnight, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Lustadt. Four crew members were killed and three others became PoW.
Crew:
P/O Ronald Edward Wilkes, pilot, †
Sgt Thomas Laurie Brown, flight engineer,
F/O Ronald Wheatley, navigator, †
F/Sgt Terence Gordon O'Shaughnessy, bomb aimer,
F/Sgt Frederick Hay, wireless operator, †
F/Sgt Frank Walter Vincent, air gunner,
F/Sgt Michael Albert Edward Bradford, air gunner. †

The airplane departed RAF Graveley at 2341LT on April 10 on an operation to Frankfurt. Over France at an altitude of 16,000 feet, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Fleigneux. Four crew members were killed, two others became PoW and one evaded.
Crew:
F/O George Frank Lambert, pilot,
Sgt Anthony Claude Beddoe, flight engineer, †
F/O Vernon Reginald Matthews, navigator, †
Sgt John Richard Jones, bomb aimer,
Sgt Ronald Albert Kempsell, wireless operator,
Sgt Reginald Albert Nason, air gunner, †
Sgt Samuel James Knight, air gunner. †

The airplane departed RAF Graveley at 1950LT on an operation to Berlin. Approaching Hanover, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Habichhorst, in the east suburb of Stadthagen. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Harl J. Espy, pilot,
Sgt Ronald Albert Henry Thomas, flight engineer,
Sgt George Charles Dynes, navigator,
F/O James Hubert Naylor, navigator,
Sgt Reginald Charles Smith, wireless operator,
Sgt George Harold Yeates, air gunner,
Sgt Charles Pattison, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Graveley at 1924LT on an operation to Nuremberg. Over France, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Ors. Three crew members were killed, three became PoW and one evaded.
Crew:
F/O John Hilton Brown, pilot, †
Sgt Alan Tacey, flight engineer,
S/L Gomer Donald Waterer, navigator,
Sgt Albert Geroge Coulam, bomb aimer,
F/Sgt David Aitken Sibbald, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Patrick Flynn, air gunner, †
F/Sgt Stanley Seymour Vinicombe, air gunner. †

The airplane departed RAF Graveley at 1824LT on March 1st on an operation to Berlin. Over the Netherlands, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Stokkum. Six crew members were killed and one became PoW.
Crew.
S/L Peter Campbell Elliot, pilot, †
F/Sgt Stanley Longford Conway Watts, flight engineer, †
F/Sgt George Christopher Harvey Chandler, navigator,
Sgt Roy Victor Ledger, bomb aimer, †
F/Sgt Gearoge Sarsfield Sloman, wireless operator, †
F/Sgt Thomas Neville Sankey, air gunner, †
Sgt Denis Kelly, air gunner. †

The airplane departed RAF Graveley at 1849LT on an operation to Saint-Nazaire. Outbound at 13,000 feet it became necessary to feather the port outer due to engine overheating. Course for the target was maintained and a successful attack made at 2112LT from 9,000 feet. Soon after getting course for base, the starboard inner engine failed and as height was reduced to 3,000 feet, the crew prepared to ditch. Searchlights, however, were sighted and following further difficulties the Halifax landed at 2315LT midway along the 1,100 foot runway at RAF Harrowbeer. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the bomber overran onto rough ground and was wrecked. All six crew members escaped unhurt.
Crew:
S/L D. F. E. C. Dean, pilot,
Sgt D. R. Craig,
P/O D. P. D. Archer,
P/O A. E. R. Dexton,
P/O A. R. Ball,
Sgt J. Griffin, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Graveley at 1820LT on an operation to Lorient. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak. Abandoned by the crew, it crashed near Landeleau and was destroyed. A crew was killed, five evaded and one became PoW.
Crew:
F/O James Copeland Thomas, pilot,
Sgt Daniel Christie Young, mechanic,
F/O Gordon Henry François Carter, navigator,
Sgt Edward Roland Turenne, radio operator,
Sgt Richard Martin, bomb aimer,
Sgt John Napoleon Barry, air gunner,
F/O William Joseph Freeman, air gunner. †

The airplane departed RAF Graveley at 1847LT on February 3 on an operation to Hamburg. It was hit by the German Flak which damaged the undercarriage mechanism. On return to base, the airplane crash landed wheels retracted. All seven crew members escaped uninjured while the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
F/O J. C. Thomas, pilot,
Sgt D. C. Young,
P/O G. H. F. Carter,
Sgt R. Martin,
Sgt E. R. R. Terraine,
Sgt J. H. Barry,
P/O J. W. Freeman, air gunner.