Ridgewell AFB

The aircraft was on its way from RAF Ridgewell to Belfast-Nutts Corner Airport with a crew of five and 26 US soldiers on a 3-day leave. While cruising at an altitude of 2,000 feet, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt North Barrule located 2 miles south of Ramsey. The wreckage was found meters from the summit and all 31 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Charles Earl Ackerman,
Cpl Earl G. Ammerman,
Cpl Edward G. Bailey,
Pvt Andrew R. Barbour,
1st Lt John P. Fedak,
Cpl Thomas P. Flaherty,
T/Sgt William E. Geist,
M/Sgt Edward Z. Gelman,
S/Sgt Ralph L. Gibbs,
T/Sgt Joseph L. Gray,
Cpl Herbert C. Gupton Jr.,
T/Sgt Wesley M. Hagen,
Sgt Irwin R. Hargraves,
1st Lt Wayne W. Hart,
1st Lt James M. Hinkle,
F/O Edwin A. Hutcheson Jr.,
Sgt Michael J. Kakos Jr.,
T/Sgt David H. Lindon,
S/Sgt Wayne K. Manes,
Sgt Jose M. Martinez,
S/Sgt Alfred M. Mata,
1st Lt Martin M. Matyas,
Cpl Leslie H. Maxwell Jr.,
Tec Walter A. McCullough,
1st Lt Lawrence E. McGhehey,
Tec Andrew Piter Jr.,
Pfc Angelo Quagliariello,
Cpl Merle L. Ramsowr,
T/Sgt Joseph W. Sullivan.

During the takeoff roll from RAF Ridgewell, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and collided with a parked Stirling registered BK693 that was repaired. W7627 was damaged beyond repair and all crew members escaped unhurt.
Crew:
F/O J. Overton, pilot +4.

The airplane departed RAF Ridgewell at 1929LT for mine laying duties in the Kattegat, but turned back due to problems with the outer starboard engine. On touchdown at 2300LT at base, an engine surged, causing the Stirling to swing violently, which in turn led to the undercarriage collapsing. There were no injuries among the crew.
Crew:
Sgt S. M. G. Peryer, pilot,
Sgt C. N. Searle,
P/O J. J. Pattinson,
P/O J. Deutscher,
P/O G. L. Spofford,
Sgt J. McLaren,
Sgt J. S. Hatton, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Ridgewell at 1905LT on an operation to Essen. In the late evening, it crashed in unknown circumstances in Heumisch and was destroyed. Three crew members were killed and four others became PoW.
Crew:
F/O William Alexander Fowlie, pilot, †
P/O James Boyd Courtney, †
Sgt Angus McKay Mollison, †
Sgt John Eccles,
Sgt Narcel Renaut,
Sgt William Maurice Werkenham,
Sgt Eric Edward Garnett, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Ridgewell at 1807LT on an operation to Saint-Nazaire. After passing over Rennes, while returning home, it was shot down by the German Flak, exploded in midair and crashed in La Reboudinière, some 7,5 km southwest of Saint-James. Five crew members were killed and two others became PoW.
Crew:
P/O Vernon Enright Spain, pilot, †
Sgt John McGhie, flight engineer,
Sgt Robert George Frederick Bryant, navigator, †
F/O Edward Lear, navigator, †
Sgt Ronald Vivian Steven Rooke, wireless operator, †
Sgt Leonard Joseph Humphrey, air gunner, †
Sgt John Henry Jackson, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Ridgewell at 2039LT on February 25 on an operation to Nuremberg. After passing the French/German border, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Sandweier. Seven crew members were killed and one became PoW.
Crew:
P/O Wilfred Roy Major, pilot, †
F/Sgt Francis John Miles, pilot, †
Sgt Arthur Vivian Derrick Hines, flight engineer, †
Sgt George Pettinger, navigator, †
Sgt John Henry Dyer, navigator, †
Sgt William Hughes Bevan, wireless operator, †
Sgt Eric Howeth Holmes, air gunner, †
Sgt John Carrick, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Ridgewell at 1750LT on an operation to Wilhelmshaven. While returning to base in the late evening, after passing the Dutch coast, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the sea some 40 km north of Texel Island. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Robert Langley Knowles, pilot,
Sgt Alex Holt,
Sgt Arthur Moseley Limbrick,
Sgt Dennis Howitt Powell,
Sgt Martin Goldrick,
Sgt Robert Alexander Johnston,
Sgt Robert Cooper Frost,
Sgt Cyril George Parr, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Ridgewell at 1754LT on an operation to Wilhelmshaven. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed somewhere into the North Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
P/O Albert Bloomer Scholey, pilot,
Sgt Ernest Arthur Arnold,
Sgt George Morrall,
Sgt Harold Moore Kennard,
Sgt Stanley George Fisher,
Sgt Thomas Alfred Constable,
Sgt Derrick Balcombe Sayer, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Ridgewell at 1859LT on an operation to Lorient. Homebound, both starboard engines failed. The order to abandon the airplane was given but only three were able to do so before the Stirling crashed on Bold Barrow Hill, west of Blandford Forum. Four crew members were killed and one was injured.
Crew:
F/O James Stenhouse Brydon, pilot, †
F/O Norman John Hartney, †
W/O Willard Kennedy Rosenberry, †
F/Sgt William Cuthbert Morton, †
Sgt J. A. Rodger,
Sgt W. A. Hurn,
Sgt E. R. Evans, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Ridgewell at 1901LT on an operation to Cologne. While returning to base in the evening, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the North Sea some 45 km west of Vlissingen. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Lionel William Tabor, pilot,
Sgt Edward Couldwell,
Sgt James Kennedy,
Sgt Kenneth William Valentine,
Sgt Stanley Richard Cann,
Sgt Thomas Alfred Butt,
Sgt Alec Simmons, air gunner.