Honington AFB

The airplane departed RAF Honington at 1936LT on an operation to Hamburg. Last heard on w/t at 2329LT then crashed in Versen. Four crew members were killed and two others became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Bernard Preston Hall, pilot, †
Sgt William James Manger, observer, †
Sgt John William Hammond, wireless operator, †
Sgt William Leslie Smith, wireless operator, †
Sgt J. R. Brown,
Sgt E. Collins.

The airplane departed RAF Honington at 2215LT on March 1st on an operation to Cologne. While returning to base the following night, approaching the coast of East Yorkshire, it crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Spurn Head. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Hugh Gavin Lydford Lawson,
Sgt James Noel Murray,
Sgt John Nevil Huddlestone,
Sgt Alfred Ernest Waters,
Sgt Eric Routledge,
Sgt Douglas Alfred Thomas Heslop, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Honington at 1919LT on February 10 on an operation to Hanover. While returning to base the following night and while some 30 miles off the East Anglia coast, the bomber was hit by AA fire from an Allied convoy. The pilot elected to divert to RAF Martlesham Heath but he overshot the runway and the airplane crashed in a pasture located in Bredfield, about five miles northeast of the airbase. All six crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt A. G. D. McKay,
Sgt Millington,
Sgt McRiner,
Sgt House,
Sgt Bevan,
Sgt Ainsbury.

The airplane departed RAF Honington at 1739LT on an operation to Torino. While returning to base in the late evening, the aircraft was overflying the unoccupied east part of France when the crew encountered technical problems. The captain reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in a snow covered field located in Mizérieux. The aircraft was partially destroyed by a post crash fire and all six crew members were uninjured.
Crew (9th Squadron):
Sgt Stuart Martin Parkeshouse Parkes, pilot,
Sgt Lionel Richard Willis, pilot,
Sgt Leslie Dennis Goldingay, observer,
Sgt Harold William Bratley, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Ronald Vivian, air gunner,
Sgt Reginald William Blaydon, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Honington at 2015LT on December 21 to bomb an industrial area located in Porto Marghera, near Venice, Italy. While returning to base the following night, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in a field located in Lullington Court, some 12 km northwest of Eastbourne. All six crew members were killed.
Crew (9th Squadron):
Sgt Robert Norman Harrison, pilot,
Sgt James Frederick Gapp, pilot,
Sgt Leslie William Nichols, navigator and observer,
Sgt Maurice Holker, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt William Riley, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt John Docker, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Leeming to bomb an aircraft components factory in Berlin. While returning to base the following night, at an altitude of 5,000 feet, the right engine failed and the crew abandoned the aircraft that entered a dive and crashed near RAF Honington. All five crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
P/O Bridson,
Sgt Griffin,
Sgt Burton,
Sgt Marshall,
Sgt Lucas.

The airplane departed RAF Honington in the evening of December 7 on an operation to Düsseldorf. It crashed in unknown circumstances in Stene near Ostend Airport. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Desmond Geoffrey Stanley,
Sgt Robert Coates Parker,
Sgt John James Coulsham Nanson,
Sgt Anthony Arthur Rogers,
Sgt Joseph Alan Grocott,
Sgt William Humphrey Pontin.

The airplane departed RAF Honington at 1724LT on November 14 to bomb the Schlesiger Station in Berlin. While returning to base the following night, the bomber was hit by enemy fire while cruising over Bremen. The crew bailed out and abandoned the airplane that crashed into the IJssel Lake off Enkhuizen. All six crew members became PoW.
Crew (9th Squadron):
S/L Stanley Ggraham Pritchard,
P/O Percy Ainsworth Ward Thomas,
Sgt Harold Newall,
Sgt Alfred Hunt,
Sgt Ronald Francis Akerman,
P/O Roye Vincent Derbyshire.

The airplane departed RAF Honington at 1931LT on November 7 on an operation to Essen. While returning to base the following night, it clipped a line of trees and crashed. The pilot initiated a go around procedure when the airplane slid through a hedge and came to rest, bursting into flames. All six crew members were slightly injured.
Crew:
P/O P. E. Berry +5.

The airplane departed RAF Honington at 1800LT on October 16 on an operation to Kiel. While returning to base at night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions over East Anglia and diverted to RAF Abingdon. On approach, the airplane collided with trees and crashed in Toddington, northwest of Luton. All four crew members were injured.
Crew:
Sgt F. Bevan,
Sgt W. F. Jones,
Sgt H. Rossiter,
Sgt J. M. McLean.