Topcliffe AFB

The aircraft took off from RAF Topcliffe in the mid-afternoon so the pilot could train on instrument flying. Also on board was a second pilot who was acting as an instructor, a radio operator and a passenger. The purpose of the latter was so that he could carry out radar tests during the flight. The aircraft took off in the gusty conditions with the pilot having to use both hands to maintain lateral control, the aircraft climbed normally to 400 feet but after which the nose rose sharply. The pilot pushed the control column forward to try and make the aircraft return to level but this had no effect, full power was applied but the aircraft continued to climb at this rate until it was at about 1000 feet. The speed of it had now dropped to 80 knots so the pilot ordered the crew to bale out before it stalled. Only the second pilot was able to get out before the nose sank and the aircraft entered a dive from which it could not be recovered from. The survivor sustained slight injuries after being dragged by his parachute when on the ground after it caught in the strong wind. The other three had no chance to get out before it crashed and were sadly killed in the crash at 1500LT.
Source:
http://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/aircraft/yorkshire/rp555.html

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 2318LT on April 10 on an operation to Frankfurt. Outbound, it developed severe engine problems and the order to bail out was given. Only the air gunner was able to comply, doing so from 600 feet, before the bomber crashed at 0058LT near Rolvenden. All four other crew members were killed.
Crew:
W/O Robert Montgomery Buie, pilot, †
F/Sgt Amos Walter Kimmerly, wireless operator, †
P/O Ralph William Thompson, navigator, †
P/O Leonard Keith Taylor, bomb aimer, †
Sgt A. G. Lees, air gunner.

Overshot while attempting to land at RAF Topcliffe and crashed in a field located near Hangar 5. There were no casualties.
Crew:
Sgt R. C. White, pilot +4.

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 1936LT on an operation to Essen. Over the Netherlands, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Echteld. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Robert George Caldwell, pilot,
F/O Gordon Johnson Cory, navigator,
F/Sgt William Frederick Topping, bomb aimer,
Sgt Alfred Perry Larson, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Leslie Alfred Parker, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 1900LT on March 11 on an operation to Stuttgart. Cruising over France at an altitude of 15,000 feet, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Mondrepuis. Two crew were killed, one became PoW and five evaded.
Crew:
P/O Borden Carrick Dennison, pilot,
S/L Lloyd Emerson Logan, pilot,
Sgt Emanuel George Lacina, flight engineer, †
F/Sgt Elmer Leigh Bulman, navigator,
P/O Gordon Leonard Spencer, bomb aimer,
P/O Harold Jack Jennings, wireless operator,
Sgt Robert Gray MacDonald, air gunner, †
F/Sgt Ronald Frank Kennett, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 1906LT on an operation to Stuttgart. While cruising over France at an altitude of 15,000 feeet, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Charleville. Six crew members became PoW and two evaded.
Crew:
P/O Harold David Rea, pilot,
Sgt Hpward Jack Mason, mechanic,
Sgt Kenneth Winston Elt, mechanic,
P/O Kenneth Percy Cox Money, navigator,
F/Sgt William Alexander MacDonald, radio operator,
F/Sgt Patrick Johnston, radio operator,
F/Sgt James Joseph Maguire, air gunner,
F/Sgt Peter Dmytruk, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 1903LT on an operation to Stuttgart. Flying northeast of Heidelberg, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Altneudorf. A crew was killed and six others became PoW.
Crew:
F/Sgt George Theodore Chretien, pilot,
Sgt Arthur Cyril Collin, flight engineer,
F/Sgt Thomas Edward Carlon, navigator,
P/O John Scott Probert, bomb aimer,
Sgt Harold George Reynolds, wireless operator,
Sgt Arthur Ernest Danes, air gunner,
Sgt Robert Moore, air gunner. †

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 1902LT on an operation to Stuttgart. In the evening, while flying over France, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in La Malmaison. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Harold Gordon Shockley, pilot,
P/O Bernard Henry Labarge, copilot,
Sgt Charles Orrin Henderson, flight engineer,
P/O Francis Holland, navigator,
P/O William Watson Kirkpatrick, navigator,
Sgt Matthew Walker Mackenzie, wireless operator,
F/O Wendell Mclean Palmer, air gunner,
P/O James Henderson, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 1820LT on February 24 on an operation to Wilhelmshaven. The following night, while returning to base, it crashed on landing and was destroyed by a post crash fire. Three crew members were killed and three others were injured.
Crew:
F/Sgt James Banks, pilot, †
P/O Robert Stephen Borden Worley, bomb aimer, †
Sgt J. Harrison,
Sgt Alfred Albert Wiles, wireless operator, †
Sgt W. A. Sparrow,
Sgt F. W. N. Trowbridge, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 1742LT to lay mines in the Nectarines area. Approaching the Dutch coast, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the North Sea some 55 km north of Texel Island. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Ivan Harry William Baulf, pilot,
Sgt Leslie John King,
F/O Walter Norman Pleasance,
Sgt Frederick John Skeeles,
Sgt Basil Talbot White,
F/Sgt Joseph Jean Charles Arpin, air gunner.