Snaith AFB

The crew, stationed at Snaith in Yorkshire were taking part in a raid against the German city of Frankfurt. The outward leg proceeded normally until shortly after they had released their bomb load over the target area. The aircraft was illuminated by a searchlight and engaged by flak and a night fighter sustaining hits to the port inner engine setting it alight and the No.2 fuel tank. The pilot took evasive action by corkscrewing the aircraft from 19,000 feet to 9,000 feet successfully evading further contact. As well as the fuel loss from the damage to one of the tanks, the loss of the port inner engine meant that some functions were also lost. Most could be carried out entirely manually but the engines generator provided power to the aircraft's batteries that powered the mid-upper turret, beam approach radio equipment and the R1154 / T1155 radio. These would work only as long as the charge remained in the batteries. The aircraft passed its turning points as far as Reading, shortly after the radio failed as the batteries had been drained. The weather at this point had deteriorated with low cloud and rain, effectively removing any chance of seeing landmarks such as rivers which would aid in locating Snaith, or another airfield. Eventually the pilot began to descend through the cloud to be able to find landmarks but while still in cloud, and virtually out of fuel, the aircraft flew into the ground on Blackden Edge. The aircraft broke up over a fairly wide area, most of the crew who died were killed in the crash but the Sergeant Lane survived the crash but was severely injured and died before help, summoned by Sgt Mack, arrived the following day.
Crew (51st Squadron):
Sgt Ernest Hatfield Fenning, pilot, †
W/O Jean Gilbert Felix Fortin, navigator, †
Sgt Eric George Lane, flight engineer, †
Sgt Victor Garland, bomb aimer,
Sgt Frank Allan Squibbs, wireless operator, †
Sgt Boris Karl Short, air gunner, †
Sgt James B. Mack, air gunner.
Source:
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/peakdistrict/peakdistricthr727.htm

The airplane departed RAF Snaith at 1826LT to lay mines off the Frisian Islands. Along the Dutch coast, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the sea 5 km north of Texel Island. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Alan Lionel Holmes, pilot,
Sgt Arthur Regent Harding, flight engineer,
Sgt John George Ramshaw, navigator,
P/O Jack Eric Ulrich, bomb aimer,
F/Sgt Robert Edwin Dormon, wireless operator,
Sgt Patrick McAleese, air gunner,
Sgt George Tombe, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Snaith at 1838LT on an operation to Hamburg. While cruising along the Frisian Islands, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the sea some 30 km north of Ameland Island. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt John Martin Claridge Johnsen, pilot,
Sgt Alexander Campbell, flight engineer,
Sgt Albert George Snow, navigator,
Sgt Norman Phillip Taylor, bomb aimer,
Sgt Leslie Charles Pearson, wireless operator,
Sgt Cyril Davies, air gunner,
Sgt James Arthur Barnard, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Snaith at 1830LT on an operation to Berlin. In the late evening, while returning to base, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Voorst. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt John David William Stenhouse, pilot,
Sgt Cyril Avery, flight engineer,
F/Sgt William Colangelo, observer,
Sgt Alfred Beauchamp, bomb aimer,
P/O Ronald Arthur Bertram Willmott, wireless operator,
Sgt Amos Howe, air gunner,
F/O John Bryce Duncan, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Snaith at 1833LT on February 28 on an operation to Saint-Nazaire. While returning to base, one of the engine failed. After landing at base, the bomber swung and collided with an aircrew bus. A fire broke out but the crew escaped serious injury. The airplane was destroyed.
Crew:
F/Sgt W. A. C. Whitworth, pilot,
Sgt A. S. S. Corrs,
F/Lt F. D. Smith,
Sgt J. Richards,
P/O L. G. McCoy,
Sgt R. W. Featherstone,
Sgt J. E. Pyall, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Snaith on a cross country navigation exercise. In the late evening, it crashed upon landing at base and was damaged beyond repair. All seven crew members escaped unhurt.
Crew:
F/Sgt J. M. C. Johnsen, pilot,
Sgt C. G. Street,
Sgt A. G. Snow,
Sgt P. Taylor,
Sgt L. C. Pearson,
Sgt C. Davies,
Sgt J. A. Barnard, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Snaith at 1844LT on a mine laying operation. Almost immediately after takeoff, it suffered an engine failure and the pilot decided to return to base for an emergency landing. The airplane crashed six minutes after takeoff while returning to base and was destroyed. All seven crew members escaped unhurt.
Crew:
Sgt E. F. H. Haly, pilot,
Sgt K. G. Marks,
Sgt A. Wright,
Sgt G. L. Bramfitt,
F/Sgt P. Woods,
Sgt L. S. Baldwin,
Sgt J. Johnston, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Snaith at 1750LT on an operation to Düsseldorf. It was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Huize Padua, near Handel. Three crew members were killed and four others became PoW.
Crew:
W/O Lawrence O'neill Weakley, pilot, †
Sgt Peter Anthony Best, pilot,
Sgt Robert Hough, flight engineer,
Sgt Clifford Street, navigator,
Sgt John Alexander Daragon, bomb aimer, †
P/O Eric Victor John Purnell, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Louis James Hammond, air gunner. †

The airplane departed RAF Snaith at 1756LT on an operation to Düsseldorf. Over the Netherlands, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Borneo, south of Mill. Four crew members were killed and three others became PoW.
Crew:
F/Sgt Frederick Howard Barrett, pilot, †
Sgt John Douglas Hardie, flight engineer,
Sgt Charles Michael Page, observer, †
Sgt John Maxwell Iliff, navigator, †
Sgt George Joseph Edwin Hextell, navigator,
Sgt John Henry Brooks, air gunner, †
P/O Clifford Douglas Farmer, air gunner.

The crew had taken off from their base at RAF Snaith near Selby to drop two mines (an A.108 and B.200 type) into the sea in the Nectarines area off the Frisian Islands. The crew had been briefed to fly from base to the Mablethorpe on the Lincolnshire coast before setting course direct for the Frisian Islands and then returning via the same route. On returning they overshot their base and continued westwards. The aircraft eventually struck a drystone wall on the edge of Hoar Side Moor and slid to a halt where it burned out.
Crew (51st Squadron):
P/O Richard Donovan Getliffe, pilot,
P/O Edward Burt Chatfield, pilot,
Sgt Alexander Campbell, flight engineer,
Sgt Allan Campbell, air bomber, †
Sgt George Hugh Whyte, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt John James Merritt, air gunner,
Sgt Reginald Ernest Smart, air gunner.
Source:
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/pennines/penninesdt581.htm