Northamptonshire

Crashed in unknown circumstances in Duston, in the west suburb of Northampton, while on a training flight. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Dennis Cecil Joel, pilot,
Sgt James Driver, navigator,
Sgt William Russell Wooding, bomb aimer,
Sgt Clifford Elvidge, wireless operator,
Sgt Osborne Holey, air gunner.

The aircraft was involved in a mid-air collision with a second USAAF Boeing B-17F registered 42-30131 during a practice flight. They were two of sixteen bombers which were landing out of their formation on return to base at RAF Grafton Underwood. Initial confusion on the correct landing runway had been resolved but had caused these two aircraft to go-around for another attempt because of poor spacing. 42-30036 is believed to have bounced during its first attempt to land and was going around the pattern at a lower level than 42-30131 which was now above it on base leg by about 1,000 feet. They both turned final about the same time without the pilots seeing the other aircraft. The control tower was showing a red light to 42-30131 but this was not observed by the crew. A call from the tower to 'pull up' was misheard and both aircraft pulled up about the same time. The tail of 42-30036 hit the nose and then n°2 engine of the upper aircraft. Momentarily locked together, the propeller sliced through the tail of this aircraft, cutting off the vertical stabilizer a few feet forward of the fin. This bomber reared straight up, fell off on its left wing and headed nose down for the ground where it exploded in flames on impact.
Source: Joe Baugher
Crew:
2nd Lt Samuel A. Eggers Jr.,
2nd Lt Ellwood D. Kowalski,
2nd Lt Leo A. Murphy,
F/O Jack L. Griffin,
S/Sgt Jean L. Blaise.

While on approach to RAF Sywell, the pilot encountered unknown technical problems and attempted an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed in a field and was damaged beyond repair. All three occupants escaped uninjured.

The airplane was performing a local training flight at RAF Polebrook (Station 110). While circling in the vicinity of the airbase, it collided with a second USAAF Boeing B-17 registered 41-29865 that was also carrying a crew of 10. Following the collision, both airplanes crashed in a field and were destroyed. All 20 crew members in both airplanes were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Roy Snipes,
1st Lt Rupert L. Torrey,
2nd Lt George F. Cotherman,
S/Sgt Charles E. Chadbourne,
S/Sgt Edward G. Cihlar,
S/Sgt Harry J. Kelley,
S/Sgt Maurice R. Marquis,
T/Sgt Harold J. Wellnitz,
T/Sgt Irving L. Berger,
Pvt Carl H. Jorgensen.

The airplane was performing a local training flight at RAF Polebrook (Station 110). While circling in the vicinity of the airbase, it collided with a second USAAF Boeing B-17 registered 41-29491 that was also carrying a crew of 10. Following the collision, both airplanes crashed in a field and were destroyed. All 20 crew members in both airplanes were killed.
Crew:
Maj Keith G. Birlem,
1st Lt Harry L. Bartholomew,
1st Lt Courtland H. Young,
2nd Lt Clarence B. Yunt,
2nd Lt Henry G. Summers,
S/Sgt Robert M. Brooke,
S/Sgt Paul R. Fennel,
S/Sgt Walter D. Lappage,
S/Sgt Oscar R. Tipton,
T/Sgt Thomas S. Broderick.

The airplane departed RAF Graveley at 2209LT on April 4 on an operation to Dortmund. On return to base the following night, the crew were advised on considerable activity in the airfield circuit. Instructed to hold off and await their landing orders, the pilot began circling well away to the northwest of base. While doing so the Halifax ran out of petrol and was successfully abandoned. The crew parachuted unharmed and their bomber was later discovered in fields near Woodford.
Crew:
Sgt J. J. Williams, pilot,
Sgt J. I. Barrie,
Sgt J. Casey,
Sgt B. C. Tucker,
Sgt E. G. Brown,
Sgt G. J. Hurley,
Sgt T. D. Bishop, air gunner.

Shortly after takeoff from RAF Kings Cliffe, the airplane suffered a loss of engine power and crashed near the airbase. Two crew members were killed and seven others were injured, some seriously. The pilot died two days later from injuries sustained. The airplane was returning to base at RAF Dishforth following maintenance.
Crew:
Sgt Joseph Marcel Gaston Perron, pilot, †
Sgt George Joseph Giguere, †
Sgt Ronald Charles Cater, †
Sgt D. M. Coates,
Sgt J. D. Wray,
Sgt J. V. M. Deschenes,
Cpl J. A. G. Brouillette,
Cpl J. G. A. Savignac,
Lac J. A. T. Rioux, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Middleton St George at 2016LT on September 8 on an operation to Frankfurt. It was damaged by the German Flak and, later, abandoned at an altitude of 5,000 feet, probably in the vicinity of Abthorpe. Prior to this instruction, the pilot had been trying to make an emergency landing, but each time speed was reduced, the Halifax become near impossible to handle.
Crew:
F/O R. W. Atkinson,
Sgt C. C. W. Crofton,
P/O W. Harris,
Sgt A. E. Thomas,
Sgt C. E. J. O'Keefe,
Sgt F. Lister,
Sgt G. McBride.

The pilot departed RAF Bicester on a solo training flight consisting of single engine practice without the aid of flaps and glide approaches. While on approach of RAF Croughton, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a field located about 1,5 km northwest of the airbase, bursting into flames. The pilot was killed.
Crew:
Sgt Meredith Edward Tuttle, pilot.

The pilot was completing a local solo training flight at RAF Hinton-in-the-Hedges. While circling in the vicinity of the airbase at an altitude of 300 feet, the left engine caught fire. The pilot return to base and completed an emergency landing. The airplane was destroyed by fire and the pilot escaped unhurt.
Crew:
P/O H. T. Bichard, pilot.