Woolfox Lodge AFB

The airplane departed RAF Croft at 1848LT on an operation to Cologne. While returning to base, it crashed near RAF Woolfox Lodge and was destroyed. Six crew members were killed and one was injured.
Crew:
Sgt George Rolling Taylor, pilot, †
F/Sgt Keith Lauchlan Campbell, †
Sgt John Emil Partos, †
Sgt Arthur Marlow, †
Sgt K. C. Smith,
Sgt Richard Hubert Lewis, air gunner. †

The crew departed RAF Woolfox Lodge to drop leaflets over Nancy, France. The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances near the village of Baromesnil and was destroyed. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Ernest Alexander Kelly, pilot,
Sgt Albert Stanley Grove, radio operator,
Sgt George William Brothwell, navigator,
Sgt Donald Cecil Nelson, bomb aimer,
Sgt Stanley Cookson, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Woolfox Lodge at 2105LT on an operation to Le Havre. After being damaged to the starboard engines by the German Flak, the crew decided to return to England but was forced to ditch the airplane some 30 km off the South Coast of England. The crew took to their dinghy and after five days they ended up on rocks Pelee Island off Cherbourg. Sgt Meikle decided to swim ashore. Unfortunately he drowned in the attempt. The remaining crew were captured and made PoW's and also treated for exposure.
Crew:
Sgt D. H. McSporran, pilot,
Sgt F. Hartley, flight engineer,
Sgt A. V. Cuthbert, navigator,
Sgt K. J. Watson, bomb aimer,
Sgt David James Meikle, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt Hey Hardy, air gunner,
Sgt J. J. M. Rigley.

The airplane departed RAF Woolfox Lodge at 0035LT on a bombing mission to Essen, Germany. While overflying Belgium at night, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in a field located in Piringen, some 3 km west of Tongeren. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (61st Squadron):
F/Sgt Eric William Noble, pilot,
Sgt Lloyd John Holmes Lincoln, pilot,
Sgt Robert Eastwood Newton, observer,
Sgt Kenneth Leyshon, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Donavan Peter George Kent, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Neville James Patton, air gunner,
Sgt George Henry Walker, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Woolfox Lodge at 2020LT on a mine laying operation off the Frisian Islands. In the late evening, while returning to base, it was shot down by a Me.110 and crashed into the sea off Terschelling. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (61st Squadron):
P/O Cecil Stephen Churchill, pilot,
P/O Ian McKenzie Cassavetti, pilot,
P/O Joseph Frederic Chevalier, navigator,
Sgt John Mitchell, flight engineer,
Sgt Hugh Dracass, wireless operator,
Sgt Donald Alistair Barham Hume, air gunner,
Sgt Raymond Dawson, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Woolfox Lodge at 2045LT on March 25 on an operation to Essen. Passing over the Netherlands at night, the bomber was shot down by a Me.110 and crash landed in a pasture in Warmenhuizen, some 10 km northwest of Alkmaar, bursting into flames. Five crew members were killed and two others became PoW.
Crew (61st Squadron):
P/O John Ralph Hubbard, pilot, †
P/O Alastair William Buchan, pilot, †
P/O Robert Heggie, observer, †
Sgt John George Clelland, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt Albert Wallace Baker, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt P. Jones,
Sgt T. C. Stanley.

The airplane departed RAF Woolfox Lodge at 2110LT on March 25 on an operation to Essen. After passing the Dutch border, it was shot down by a Me.110 and crashed in a pasture in Wertherburch. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (61st Squadron):
Sgt Christopher George Furby, pilot,
Sgt James Robert Dow, pilot,
Sgt John Eric Smart, observer,
Sgt Donald Charles Brockley, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Jack Buckley, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt William Arthur Roberts, air gunner,
Sgt Hugh Henry Fetherston, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Woolfox Lodge at 1930LT on March 13 on an operation to Cologne. Following an uneventful mission and while returning to base, an engine failed. The crew decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. Out of control, the bomber dove into the ground and crashed in a field located two miles south of RAF Wittering. The airplane was destroyed while all seven crew members were uninjured.
Crew (61st Squadron):
P/O John Ralph Hubbard, pilot,
Sgt P. C. V. Joslin,
P/O Robert Heggie, observer,
F/Sgt John George Clelland, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Albert Wallace Baker, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt T. C. Stanley,
Sgt P. Jones.

The airplane departed RAF Woolfox Lodge at 1910LT on a mine laying operation. Approaching the Dutch coast, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the sea off Terschelling. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Frederick Stanley Partridge, pilot,
F/Sgt Peter Henry George Webster, pilot,
F/Sgt Kenneth Ashurst, navigator,
F/Sgt Anthony Lionel Ely Johnston, flight engineer,
F/Sgt Wendell Wilburn Fairbrother, wireless operator,
Sgt Arthur George Edward Pearce, air gunner,
Sgt Gordon Frederick George Rackstraw, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Woolfox Lodge at 0220LT on an operation to Brest. It was hit by the German Flak over the target area, resulting in a loss of power on the starboard engine. The crew was returning to base when the port engine stopped through lack of petrol and the bomber crash landed near RAF Horsham St Faith in Norwich. All seven crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
F/Sgt J. B. Underwood, pilot,
Sgt B. Usher, copilot,
W/O Scott, observer,
F/Sgt R. G. Fawkes, wireless operator,
F/O P. F. B. Bluett, air gunner,
F/Sgt J. D. Patey, air gunner,
Sgt Graham, air gunner.