Wigsley AFB

On final approach, the airplane stalled and hit the ground short of runway threshold. On impact, both wings were sheared off and the aircraft came to rest in flames. All four crew members were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.

On final approach, during the last segment, the copilot-in-command made a wrong maneuver, causing the airplane to descend rapidly. The aircraft hit violently the runway surface, causing the left main gear to collapse and the left wing to partially brake off. The airplane went out of control and came to rest. Both pilots were uninjured.

The crew was involved in a night photography exercise and left RAF Wigsley bound for the Menai Bridge and back. En route, at least one engine failed and the aircraft lost height. The captain ordered his crew to abandon the aircraft but only four crew members were able to bail out before the aircraft crashed. Four crew members survived while all four others were killed.
Crew (1654th HCU):
F/O Gordon Noble Leach, pilot, †
F/S Frederick Thomas James Nicholls, flight engineer,
F/S Arthur C. Brett, flight engineer,
F/S Geoffray Norman Wise, navigator,
Sgt D. C. Watson, bomb aimer,
F/S Bernard David Fine, wireless operator, †
Sgt Harry Ward, air gunner, †
Sgt Charles David Howes, air gunner. †

While performing a training sortie from RAF Wigsley, the aircraft went out of control, partially disintegrated in the air and crashed in a field located in Colney Heath. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (1654th CU):
P/O Ewan Moore Taylor, pilot,
Sgt Albert Rooks, flight engineer,
F/O Eric Williams, navigator,
Sgt John Fisher Thwaite, bomb aimer,
Sgt Henry Thomas Green, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Edward Percy Stock, air gunner,
F/Sgt George Bruce Davies, air gunner.

Swerved on take off, veered off runway and came to rest. No casualties.

The airplane departed RAF Wigsley at 1645LT on a cross country navigation exercise. Less than two hours later, one of the engine caught fire, forcing the crew to return to base. On final approach, the airplane stalled and crashed short of runway, bursting into flames. All seven crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Crew (1654 HCU):
Sgt William Hedley Eager, pilot,
Sgt T. D. Viggers,
Sgt H. T. Petts, navigator,
Sgt T. H. James,
Sgt F. R. Stone, wireless operator,
Sgt G. E. Hunnington,
Sgt Arthur Jones.

The airplane departed RAF Wigsley at 1745LT on a night training sortie. About 30 minutes into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 2,000 feet, the bomber collided with a RAF Airspeed AS.10 Oxford. Registered AB665, it was carrying a crew of two who were performing a training mission out from RAF Ossington. Following the collision, both airplanes dove into the ground and crashed in a field located 3 km southeast of RAF Melton Mowbray. All 10 crew members in both airplanes were killed.
Crew (1654 HCU):
Sgt John Wallace, pilot,
P/O James Herbert Wolton, flight engineer,
Sgt George Frederick Maurice Walker, flight engineer,
Sgt Leslie Raymond Upperton, navigator,
Sgt Thomas Bailey, bomb aimer,
Sgt Robert Fairbairn Davison, wireless operator,
Sgt Douglas George Gordon Martin, air gunner,
Sgt Brian Gordon Pilgrim, air gunner.

The crew was performing a local training flight at RAF Wigsley on behalf of the 1654 HCU. After touchdown, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest, bursting into flames. All seven crew members escaped uninjured and the airplane was destroyed by fire.

The crew departed RAF Wigsley at 1425LT on a local test. The purpose of the mission was to demonstrate the feathering procedures. Around 1500LT, as the port propeller failed to disengage from the feathered position, the instructor ended the exercise and decided to return to base. On approach, the undercarriage refused to lower and remained jammed in the wheel well. The bomber collided with a tree and crash landed in an open field located in North Scarle, about 2 km south of the airfield, bursting into flames. The wireless operator was killed and six other crew members were injured.
Crew:
F/Lt Philip John Stone, pilot,
Sgt Matthew William Hanley, flight engineer,
Sgt Marshall Young Smith, bomb aimer,
Sgt Patrick Brook, wireless operator, †
Sgt W. C. Brearley,
Sgt F. A. John,
Sgt R. F. Lee.

The airplane suffered an engine failure after takeoff from RAF Wigsley and crash landed, bursting into flames. There were no fatalities.