Lewes

En route to RAF Greenham Common, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. While cruising in low visibility at a height of 600 feet, the aircraft impacted the top of a hill and crash near Lewes, some 3 miles northeast of Brighton. A passengers and four crew members were rescued while 24 other occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the ceiling was low with a maximum horizontal visibility estimated at 800 metres. In addition, the wind was blowing from the south at an estimated speed of 15 knots.
Crew:
1st Lt Donald Q . Reid, pilot,
T/Sgt Walter J. James, navigator,
Sgt Bryce D. Hacking,
Sgt Orazio R. Toglia,
Cpl Eric Ackerman.
Passengers:
Sgt Joseph H. Alba, †
2nd Lt Russell W. Barron, †
Sgt Barbato C. Dandrea, †
Cpl Charles W. Evanick, †
1st Lt Roy L. Gritz, †
S/Sgt Arthur M. Hackett, †
Sgt Walter J. Hansen, †
Sgt Jake E. Hesser, †
Sgt William Hickson Jr., †
S/Sgt James H. Holley Jr., †
S/Sgt Donald S. Horstick, †
Cpl Richard M. Jones, †
Cpl Paul A. Kokko, †
Pvt Roland P. Lariviere, †
1st Lt Stanley E. Lis, †
Sgt Sherman W. Miller, †
Sgt Harold F. Mills, †
Pvt Frank R. Mixner, †
Pfc Byron G. Peacock, †
Sgt Felix R. Sobkowiak, †
Sgt Glenn F. Tremaine, †
T/Sgt Howard F. White, †
T/Sgt John H. Young. †

The airplane departed RAF Melbourne at 2044 on April 16 on an operation to Plzeň. It was hit by the German Flak in the port outer engine and after regaining the French coast, further damage was caused, this time to the port inner engine. The Channel was crossed on two engines, followed by a crash landing at 0520LT near Lewes. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and all eight crew members were injured.
Crew:
F/Lt J. A. Wood, pilot,
Sgt Rooney,
Sgt F. Beare,
P/O K. F. Whynes,
P/O G. C. Stepney,
Sgt G. Walshaw,
Sgt P. G. O'Kill,
Sgt S. Prebble, air gunner.

The crew was performing a training flight out from RAF Thorney Island. While cruising in bad weather conditions, the crew failed to realize he was flying too low. The twin engine aircraft impacted the slope of a hill located in Kingstone Ridge, near Lewes. Both pilots were killed.