Syerston AFB

The crew left RAF Swinderby for a local training mission. Enroute, weather conditions worsened and the crew was instructed to divert to RAF Syerston. Few minutes later, the pilot encountered technical problems with the left engine that was shot down and its propeller feathered. On final approach to RAF Syerston, the pilot was forced to make a go around for unknown reason. During its second attempt to land, the aircraft was seen to fly over the airbase at low height with its landing gear down. Suddenly, it bank left and crashed in a field located two miles from the airbase. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed.
Crew (201st Advanced Flying School):
Sgt G. E. Cheesley, pilot,
Sgt P. C. Leach, pilot,
P/O M. W. Clarke, navigator,
Sgt L. J. Herbert, signaller.

While cruising in poor weather conditions, the crew lost radio aids and attempted to make an emergency landing when the twin engine aircraft crashed in a field located near the RAF Syerston. Both occupants were unhurt while the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Shortly after lift off, the aircraft went out of control and crashed on a depot. All six crew members were killed and 15 people on the ground as well.
Crew (49th Squadron):
F/O G. F. Elkington, pilot,
F/S C. I. Walker, flight engineer,
F/S L. W. Evans, navigator,
F/S J. W. Petch, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/O H. Macaulay, bombardier,
F/S M. J. C. Garrett, air gunner.
Those killed on the ground were:
AC2 George Henry Brenchley,
AC1 Robert John Clewley,
F/O George Frank Elkington,
F/S Leonard William Evans,
F/S Maurice John Clive Garrett,
SGT Cyril Lesley Hammond,
CPL Haydn Spencer Hancox,
F/O Hugh Macaulay,
LAC Leonard Masterman,
F/S John William Petch,
LAC Frank Plumtree,
LAC James William Rogers,
F/S Cyril Ivan Walker,
F/L Geoffrey Wimpenny,
LAC William Wright.

The airplane departed RAF Syerston at 2036LT on April 28 for mine laying duties over the Baltic Sea. Passing over Copenhagen, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in the Øresund Strait. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
W/O Michael De Beauchamp Collenette, pilot,
Sgt Jack Norman, flight engineer,
P/O Ian Ronald Robertson, navigator,
P/O Reginald Donovan Mix, bomb aimer,
P/O Nathaniel Robert Gyles, wireless operator,
W/O Franklin Guy Moore, air gunner,
Sgt Arthur William Bond, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Syerston at 2127LT on April 20 on an operation to Szczecin. It was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Rerik, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
P/O James Louis Rossignol, pilot,
Sgt William John Jackson, flight engineer,
Sgt Graham Fellows, navigator,
Sgt Peter Tristan Smith, navigator,
F/Sgt Thomas Charles James Grist, wireless operator,
Sgt Joseph Francis McNeill, air gunner,
Sgt Michael Charles Burgoine, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Syerston at 2113LT on April 16 on an operation to Plzeň. It was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Quévy, 10 km southeast of Mons. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O William MacFarlane, pilot,
Sgt Peter John Keay, pilot,
F/Sgt William Waller Dawson, observer,
F/O Cyril Frederick Williams, navigator,
Sgt Edward Reginald Davidson, navigator,
P/O John Frederick Edwards, wireless operator,
Sgt Jack Valentine Rees, air gunner,
P/O Donald Alfred Holdsworth, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Syerston at 2200LT on April 14 on an operation to Stuttgart. The following night, while returning to base, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Sauvillers-Mongival. Five crew members were killed and three others became PoW.
Crew:
F/Lt Leslie Charles James Brodrick, pilot,
S/L Jerrard Latimer, pilot, †
Sgt Gordon William Hancock, flight engineer, †
P/O James Allan Burns, navigator,
Lt Gerard Muttrie, bomb aimer, †
Sgt Harold Buxton, wireless operator, †
Sgt William Thomas McLean, air gunner, †
Sgt H. Jones, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Syerston at 2039LT on April 13 on an operation to La Spezia. While returning to base the following morning, it was ditched into the sea off the Isles of Scilly. The crew were in their dinghy for 63 hours before being taken aboard a high speed launch.
Crew:
F/O M. E. Chivers, pilot,
Sgt E. A. Vale,
Sgt V. A. Rimmer,
Sgt M. James,
Sgt D. G. Shea,
Sgt S. A. White,
Sgt E. G. Smith, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Syerston at 2105LT on an operation to Duisburg. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed near Bislich, 32 km northwest of Duisburg. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O John Lawrence Irvine, pilot,
Sgt Sidney Cordery, flight engineer,
Sgt Francis Andrew Smith, navigator,
Sgt Lawrence James Tate, bomb aimer,
F/Sgt Frederick William George Limbrick, wireless operator,
Sgt Leslie James Hemus, air gunner,
Sgt Wilfred Gerald Harvey, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Syerston at 1915LT on an operation to Essen. It was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Gemen, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
Sgt Thomas John Ridd, pilot,
Sgt Robert Charles Henry Webb, flight engineer,
F/O Alan Cairns Palmer, navigator,
F/O Joseph William Simpson, navigator,
Sgt Aaron Burson, wireless operator,
Sgt Ronald Sidney Sabell, air gunner,
Sgt Ernest Williams, air gunner.