Wickenby AFB

The aircraft left RAF Wickenby in the evening of July 13 on a night training exercise with 11 other similar aircraft. While cruising at an assigned altitude of 2,000 feet, the aircraft flew into a thunderstorm when it went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in an open field located near the village of Burdale, some 10 miles northwest of RAF Driffield. The rear gunner Sgt J. Critchley survived while six other occupants were killed.
Crew (626th Squadron):
F/Sgt S. P. Bell, pilot,
F/Sgt L. W. Garfield, navigator,
F/Sgt H. J. Plastow, wireless operator,
Sgt P. J. Allsebrook, air bomber,
Sgt S. Welsh, flight engineer,
Sgt R. C. T. Goldthorpe, air gunner,
Sgt J. Critchley, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Wickenby in the evening of April 20 on an operation to Szczecin. While returning to base the following night and passing over Denmark, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the sea off Vresen Island, south of Nyborg. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/L John Colverd Richards, pilot,
Sgt Harold Vivian Durrant, flight engineer,
F/O Gordon Francis Jones, navigator,
Sgt Laurence Arthur Rummery, bomb aimer,
Sgt Fergus Thomas Peake, wireless operator,
Sgt Wallace James Colwill, air gunner,
P/O Robert Pickering Cryer, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Wickenby in the evening of April 20 on an operation to Szczecin. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed into the North Sea, maybe the Baltic Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
F/Sgt Norbert Clement Keeffe, pilot,
Sgt Arthur Bone,
Sgt George Brady,
Sgt Roy Ernest Dadd,
Sgt Kenneth Cook Eagland,
Sgt James Goulding,
Sgt Francis McPhillips, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Wickenby on an operation to La Spezia. While flying southeast of Le Mans, it collided in midair with a second RAF Lancaster registered W4828 and also carrying a crew of seven. Following the collision, both airplanes dove into the ground and crashed in Saint-Mars-d'Outillé. All 14 crew members in both airplanes were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Wilfred Ernest Fuller Clark, pilot,
Sgt Frank Gordon Sayers, flight engineer,
F/O Edward Frank Dynarski, navigator,
Sgt James Lawrence Anthony Mulligan, bomb aimer,
Sgt Charles Norris Clay, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Edward Henry Bakeman, air gunner,
F/Sgt Ernest Arthur Applegate, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Wickenby at 2135LT on March 29 on an operation to Berlin. It was hit by the German Flak near the target area, which damaged the fuel tanks. Two hours later, both starboard engines began to fail due to lack of petrol and with approximately 20 gallons remaining, the order to bail out was given. The airplane crashed in Charlois, south of Rotterdam. Five crew members parachuted to safety, four became PoW and one evaded. Two others were killed.
Crew:
Sgt F. W. Pinkerton, pilot,
Sgt Ronald George Irons, flight engineer,
Sgt Ian Campbell Clunas, navigator,
Sgt William Alexander Lees, bomb aimer,
Sgt Frank Morton, wireless operator, †
Sgt Norman Henry Stanley Williams, air gunner,
Sgt George Charles William Warren, air gunner. †

Shortly after takeoff from RAF Wickenby, while climbing to a height of 200 feet at a speed of 120 mph, the starboard engine failed. The pilot reduced his altitude and made a gear up landing in a pasture. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and all crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
F/O E. F. May, pilot +4.

The crew departed RAF Winthorpe to demonstrate feathering procedures, during which the port engine was shut down. While cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet, the pilot attempted to restart the engine but the port propeller failed to unfeather. The crew was forced to divert to RAF Wickenby where the airplane overshot and crashed into a ditch, causing the starboard undercarriage to collapse. All five crew members escaped unhurt and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
W/O E. Knight, pilot +4.

The crew departed RAF Winthorpe to demonstrate feathering procedures, during which the port engine was shut down. The pilot attempted to restart the engine at 5,000 feet, but was forced to crash-land at RAF Wickenby after the port propeller failed to unfeather. After landing, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overshot the runway and came to rest in a ditch, causing the starboard undercarriage to collapse. The crew escaped unhurt and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
W/O E. Knight, pilot +4.

The airplane departed RAF Wickenby at 1858LT on an operation to Hamburg. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed west of Stade, some 34 km west of Hamburg. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Kenneth Rupert William Simmonds, pilot,
Sgt Laurence Burnett, flight engineer,
F/Sgt Ian Victor Heatley, navigator,
F/Sgt Donald Kerr, bomb aimer,
F/Sgt Henry Herbert Brien, wireless operator,
Sgt Roy Victor Malcolm Davenport, air gunner,
F/Sgt Archibald John Marfell, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Wickenby at 1902LT on an operation to Cologne. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed somewhere into the North Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
Sgt William Booker Kenny, pilot,
Sgt Jack Bunce,
F/Sgt John Dunham Correll,
Sgt Donald Armitage Travis,
Sgt Cyril Petherbridge,
Sgt Thomas Ithel James,
Sgt Ronald Noel Vaisey, air gunner.