Skellingthorpe AFB

Following a cross country flight, the crew was unable to return to base at RAF Skellingthorpe due to poor weather conditions. The pilot diverted to RAF Waddington but the airplane landed in heavy rain on a grassy runway. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran, crossed the boundary fence and a road, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in a field. All three crew members escaped with minor injuries.
Crew:
P/O D. W. Garland, pilot,
F/Sgt P. Campbell,
Sgt N. Tomlin.

The crew departed RAF Skellingthorpe on a training sortie. While cruising at an estimated altitude of 800 feet, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in an open field. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (50th Squadron):
F/Sgt Peter James Widdell Blake, pilot,
P/O Alan Bartlett, observer,
F/Sgt Raymond Leslie Cunningham, wireless operator and air gunner,
Lac William Stanley Stevens,
AC1 Leslie Harrison.

The airplane departed RAF Skellingthorpe at 2146LT on 8 May on an operation to Warnemünde. Over the target area, the airplane was severely damaged by the German Flak. Nevertheless, the crew continued over Denmark but with the right engine on fire, the captain ordered his crew to bail out. Out of control, the airplane crashed in an open field located near Store Lind, on Møn Island. The pilot was killed and all six other crew became PoW.
Crew (50th Squadron):
Sgt Maurice Gruber, pilot, †
Sgt S. Garbutt,
P/O Harold Frederick Avery,
Sgt John Pearce,
Sgt Donald Broadhead,
Sgt Richard Solomon,
Sgt Kenneth George Richard Johnson.

The airplane departed RAF Skellingthorpe at 2147LT on May 8 on an operation to Warnemünde. While approaching the target area, it was hit by the German Flak, and soon afterwards, the starboard engine failed. The crew was able to return to base where the airplane landed safely. However, it was damaged beyond repair following a technical inspection.
Crew:
Sgt Jim B. Wilkie, pilot,
Sgt Edward William Finch, air gunner,
Sgt David Monroe Baird,
Sgt Alastair C. Benn,
Sgt Byres,
Sgt Jock W. Campbell.

The airplane departed RAF Skellingthorpe at 2316LT on May 30 on an operation to Cologne. While approaching Düsseldorf at night at an altitude of 8,000 feet, the airplane was shot down by the German Flak. The right engine caught fire and the captain reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed near the Düsseldorf-Lohausen Airport and was wrecked. Three crew members were killed while four others were rescued and became PoW.
Crew (50th Squadron):
Sgt Douglas Wilson Baird, air gunner, †
Sgt Alan Mowlem Bee, observer, †
Sgt Edward William Finch, air gunner, †
Sgt Alastair Cecil Benn,
Sgt James William Campbell,
F/Sgt Cyril Herbert Tobias,
Sgt James Brakell Wilkie.

The airplane departed RAF Skellingthorpe at 2142LT on April 29 on a mine laying operation in Kiel. While approaching the German coast, it was shot down by a German fighter. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted to make an emergency landing in a field. On touchdown, the aircraft slid for several yards before coming to rest. Two crew members were killed and five other occupants became PoW.
Crew (50th Squadron):
F/Sgt Stanley Willett, pilot,
F/Sgt Stanley Edward Packard, pilot,
P/O Neil Hannah, navigator,
F/Sgt Hector John McDonald, wireless operator,
Sgt Clarence Alfred Miners, wireless operator,
Sgt David Alexander Williams, air gunner, †
Sgt Cecil John Scott, air gunner. †

The airplane departed RAF Skellingthorpe 2340LT on an operation to Hamburg. Approaching the target, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed northeast of Norderstedt. Two crew members were killed and five others became PoW.
Crew:
The crew were:
P/O Gordon Baker, pilot, †
F/Sgt C. B. Mackenzie, pilot,
Sgt F. J. S. Pearce, observer,
Sgt R. B. Dawson, wireless operator,
F/Sgt A. T. Griffiths, wireless operator,
Sgt S. Crawford, air gunner,
Sgt Harold Knight, air gunner. †

The airplane departed RAF Skellingthorpe at 0029LT on an operation to Cologne. About five minutes later, while climbing at night, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in Thorpe on the Hill, about three miles south of the airbase. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Ronald Seely, pilot,
Sgt Gilbert Lewis Quincey, observer,
Sgt James Hardy, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Gerald Colin Stewart Skelton, wireless operator and air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Skellingthorpe at 1940LT on an operation to Essen. Approaching the Dutch coast, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the sea off Vlieland Island. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Howard Phillips Roblin, pilot,
Sgt Eric Alexander Gordon Lumsden, observer,
Sgt Robert Dudley Howarth, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt John Davidson Beattie, wireless operator and air gunner.

The airplane was returning to base following a survey flight. It is believed that it suffered an engine failure and later crash landed near Ludgvan, bursting into flames. All crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
S/L F. R. Jeffs +3.