Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax V

Shortly after takeoff from Croft AFB, in initial climb, the aircraft collided with a flock of birds that hit the windshield. Both pilots were injured and attempted to make an emergency landing. They reduced their altitude and landed in an open field. Aircraft skidded few hundred yards before coming to rest. All crew were rescued and evacuated while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Crew was from 434th Squadron.

The crew was engaged in a supply mission to the French Resistance. While cruising by night and low visibility, the four engine aircraft hit a hilly terrain located near Bec de l'Orient, in the Vercors mountains, near Autrans. All 7 crew were killed.
Crew:
Gerald Dennis Carroll, pilot,
Arthur Edward Reid, pilot,
Sergeant Peter Theodore Thompson, flight engineer,
Sergeant Ronald Denis Clement, air gunner,
Sergeant William Kenneth Radford, air gunner,
Sergeant Alvin James Taylor, air bomber,
Sergeant Gordon Stanley Woodrow, air gunner.

The crew was completing a night training exercise from the RAF Dishforth. En route, while flying in poor weather conditions due to fog and mist, the captain seems to be lost and was trying to locate the airport of Yeadon when the aircraft struck the ground and crashed between the villages of Addingham and Ilkley, Yorkshire. A crewmen was seriously injured while all six other occupants were killed. Unfortunately, the only survivor died a day later. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was about 40 miles off the intended track.
Crew:
Donald George McLeod, pilot,
Felix Byrne, flight engineer,
Lewis Riggs, navigator,
Robert Henry Rahn, bomb aimer,
William George King, wireless operator,
George Martin, air gunner,
Albert Lorne Mullen, air gunner.

The crew was performing a meteorological mission (called MERCER) over the Atlantic Ocean and left the RAF Tiree in Scotland during the day. After completing two circuits, the crew was returning to his base and while passing over Ireland, the aircraft was too low by night and hit a cliff near Bundoran, Donegal County. All eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lloyd Joyce Upshall, pilot,
Clarence Loree Scott, pilot,
Norman Glyn Gzowski, navigator,
Vladimir Adamic, wireless operator,
Frederick Edward Dawson, wireless operator,
Frank Ash, wireless operator,
Frederick Lewarne Eric Hussey, flight engineer,
Donald Parr Hewitson, meteorological observer.

The aircraft left RAF Tempsford at 2032LT on 07JAN1944 bound for Belgium on Operation Tybalt 3 and Thersites 4 with three Belgian agents on board. While returning to its base, on final approach by night, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in Tetworth Hill, less than 2 km short of runway. All ten occupants were killed.
Crew:
H. M. Kennedy,
T. S. Howlett,
V. A. E. Theedom,
S. Whiteley,
E. Thripp,
D. F. Davies,
P. S. Barlow.
Passengers:
Henri Verhaegen 2.

The airplane departed RAF Middleton St George at 2338LT on July 13 on an operation to Aachen. While returning to base the following night and flying at an altitude of 6,000 metres, it was shot down by a German fighter, exploded in the air and crashed in Hulsonniaux, killing the entire crew.
Crew (428 Sq):
F/Lt William G. Weeks, pilot,
Sgt S. Zayets, flight engineer,
F/O E. D. Robertson, navigator,
P/O W. F. Stewart, bomb aimer,
Sgt J. R. Goodfellow, wireless operator,
Sgt A. D. Dawson, air gunner,
F/O H. B. Ward, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Middleton St George at 2352LT on July 13 on an operation to Aachen. In the vicinity of the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and later abandoned by the crew over Belgium. It crashed in Marche-en-Famenne and was destroyed. All seven crew members parachuted to safety, five became PoW and two evaded.
Crew (428 Sq):
P/O W. D. F. Ross, pilot,
Sgt D. J. Webb, flight engineer,
Sgt W. B. Webber, navigator,
Sgt T. Chiszczyk, bomb aimer,
Sgt A. M. Winter, wireless operator,
Sgt J. C. A. Hayes, air gunner,
Sgt E. A. Bridge, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Leeming at 2341LT on July 13 on an operation to Aachen. Passing over the Netherlands, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed on the east bank of the Waal River in Dreumel. All seven crew members became PoW.
Crew (427 Sq):
Sgt Michael Edward Sobkowicz, pilot,
W/O Stanley William Bryant, flight engineer,
Sgt Robert Thomas Hayes, navigator,
Sgt Walter Herbert Green, bomb aimer,
Sgt John Frederick Hutchings, wireless operator,
Sgt John Harold Brown, air gunner,
Sgt Joseph Richard Roland Poudrier, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Holme-on-Spalding-Moor at 2348LT and crashed out of control almost immediately after takeoff, bursting into flames. All seven crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew (76 Sq):
Lt L. E. Hulthin, pilot,
Sgt R. J. K. Machan, flight engineer,
Sgt C. M. Murfitt, navigator,
Sgt A. V. C. Barden, bomb aimer,
Sgt F. Southern, wireless operator,
Sgt L. T. Brawn, air gunner,
Sgt W. Freeman, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Holme-on-Spalding-Moor at 2250LT on July 9 on an operation to Gelsenkirchen. It was badly shot about by the German Flak but the crew was able to return to base where the airplane crashed upon landing and was totally wrecked. A crew was injured.
Crew:
Sgt K. Hewson, pilot,
W/O J. H. S. Jones, flight engineer,
Sgt G. H. Jones, navigator,
Sgt K. R. Parry, bomb aimer,
Sgt G. W. R. Taylor, wireless operator,
Sgt A. W. Davis, air gunner,
Sgt A. H. Al. Atkinson, air gunner.