Topcliffe AFB

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 2034LT on September 6 on an operation to Hüls. While returning to base the following night, it was shot down by a Me.110 and crashed in the North Sea some 60 miles northeast of RAF Bircham Newton. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O John Rhodes Croucher,
F/Sgt John Glover,
F/Sgt Alan Leonard Halsey,
Sgt Henry Leslie Benjamin Morphett,
Sgt John Richard Tugman.

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 2105LT on September 6 on an operation to Hüls. While returning to base the following night, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Vortum-Mullem. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Philip Colmer Eyre, pilot,
Sgt Leonard Albert Stock, observer,
Sgt Kenneth Pearson Withyman, wireless operator,
Sgt Thomas McGill, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 2026LT on September 2 on an operation to Frankfurt. While returning to base the following morning, it crash landed at Chellaston on the southern outskirts of Derby. All five crew members escaped with minor injuries.
Crew:
Sgt D. W. Mercer,
Sgt Gardiner,
Sgt Armstrong,
Sgt Hemming,
Sgt Taylor.

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 2056LT on September 2 on an operation to Frankfurt. While returning to base the following night, it crashed in Rectory Lane in Kirton. A house was badly damaged and a 4 year old girl was slightly injured. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Donald Machell Bozer, pilot,
F/Sgt Seward Terry Modeland, pilot,
P/O Jackson Corwin Nixon, observer,
F/Sgt Lawrence Milbert Bowen, wireless operator,
Sgt Alexander Frederick Jaggers, wireless operator.

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 1950LT on August 31 on an operation to Essen. While returning to base the following night, it was shot down by a Me.110 and crashed in Molenstede. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Edwin Graham Milton Anderson, pilot,
Sgt Thomas Hunter Wood, pilot,
Sgt Thomas Charles Boyle, observer,
Sgt Nicholas Cecil James Carter, wireless operator,
Sgt Morley Sidney Humphrey, wireless operator.

Destroyed on the ground by an explosion which totally wrecked the bomber as it prepared to take off. The crew had a quite remarkable escape as did the crew of another Whitley which was damaged by the explosion.
Crew:
P/O T. R. Gilderthorp,
P/O P. G. C. Wood,
Sgt L. C. Parker,
Sgt B. Akrigg,
F/S R. W. Gray,
Sgt W. M. Cadney.

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 2112LT on August 29 on an operation to Frankfurt. While returning to base the following morning, it crashed at 0500LT at Friar's Thorn Farm near RAF Docking. Three crew members were killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
Sgt Paul Eugene Carreau, pilot, †
Sgt Albert Edward Masters, pilot, †
Sgt Wilfrid Venus Atkinson, observer, †
Sgt C. Higson,
Sgt F. Kuebler.

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 2101LT on August 29 on an operation to Frankfurt. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed. Three crew members were killed and two others became PoW.
Crew:
S/L John Oswald Lalor, pilot, †
Sgt Horace James William Newnes, pilot, †
Sgt Michael Reginald Bowes, observer, †
Sgt Frederick Potts,
Sgt Robert Cecil Watchorn.

Shortly after takeoff from RAF Topcliffe, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed near the airfield. Four crew members were killed and a fifth was injured.
Crew:
Sgt Derrick John Mckenzie Bush, wireless operator, †
P/O Perry Byard Detlor, observer, †
Sgt Ian Colin Hay, pilot, †
Sgt Norman George Williams, pilot, †
Sgt C. S. Neveu.

The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 2203LT on August 14 on an operation to Hanover. When returning to base the following morning, the crew encountered poor visibility. The airplane overshot and crashed. All five crew members were rescued, Sgt Winter was injured.
Crew:
Sgt J. Reid,
Sgt G. F. J. Hoben,
P/O S. R. Whipple,
Sgt R. C. Perriam,
Sgt J. Griffiths.