Royal Air Force - RAF

The aircraft left Belém at 0620LT bound for Natal with an ETA at 1338LT. While cruising overt the State of Rio Grande do Norte in poor weather conditions, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in an open field located 13 km east of Açu. All three occupants based at RAF Nassau, Bahamas, were killed. At the time of the accident, meteorological conditions were as follow: stratus, cumulus, turbulence and heavy rain falls.

For unknown reason, the landing procedure was wrong. After touchdown, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining runway, overrun and came to rest. While all occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was wrecked.

Crashed in unknown circumstances in the Solway Firth, off Blackshaw bank. Both crewmen were killed.

The crew consisted of five student pilots and four instructors and was performing a training exercise over the mountainous region of Pennines, on behalf of the 1674 HCU. En route since eight hours, the pilot in command did not realize his altitude was insufficient. The aircraft hit the slope of Blea Crag and disintegrated on impact, killing all nine crew members. Wreckage was spotted some 10 miles east of Penrith.
Crew:
F/O Paul B. Stevens, pilot,
F/O Sydney Brookes, pilot,
F/Sgt William Alan Johnson, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Sgt Frank Pess, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Sgt Harold S. Seabrook, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Robert J. Littlefield, flight engineer,
Sgt William J. Morrison, navigator,
Sgt Hugh Dunningham, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Dean W. Swedberg, wireless operator and air gunner.

The crew was engaged on a bombing mission over Aachen, Germany, and left RAF Coningsby at 2043LT. Following the raid over Aachen, still flying in the combat area, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire. Crew was able to leave the zone and tried to return to England when aircraft exploded and crashed in a field located near Duizel, some 15 km southwest of Eindhoven. Five crew members were killed while two others escaped and were later taken POW.
Crew (619th Squadron):
S/L John William Eunson Duncan McGilvray, pilot, †
Sgt Ivor Ronald Frank Haberfield, engineer, †
Sgt Raymond Hillier, air gunner, †
W/O Alexander Armstrong Munro, air gunner, †
P/O John Leonard Pritchard, air gunner, †
Ernest Drake,
Alfred Baker.

For undetermined reason, the aircraft landed long and after touch down, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining runway, overrun and came to rest. No casualties.
Crew from 271st Squadron.

The aircraft left RAF Westcott at 1235LT on a training mission on behalf of the 11th OTU. En route, a technical failure occurred and the right wing was on fire. Crew attempted to divert to Milton and crew tried to extinguish the fire without success. On approach, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed near the church of Rothersthorpe. The aircraft christened 'Bertie' was totally wrecked and all six occupants were killed.
Crew (11th OTU):
Sgt Norman H. Hewett, pilot,
Sgt Colin J. Mowatt, navigator,
Sgt John A. Freeman, air bomber
P/O Donald McTeer, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Joseph R. Dowling, air gunner,
Sgt Ernest V. Waller, air gunner.

The crew was engaged in a maritime patrol flight over the Mediterranean Sea. En route, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by mistake by a RAF Beaufighter and crashed into the sea. All five crewmen were killed.
Crew (500th Squadron):
F/O Wayne Sheldon Shea,
F/O Vernon Clifford Pockson,
P/O Frederick Joseph Schmidt,
W/O Henry Ernest Parsloe,
Sgt John Philip Taylor.

The aircraft left RAF Melbourne for a bombing mission over Nuremberg. While cruising in the region of Steinheim, the bomber was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in a prairie. Four crew were killed while three others were rescued.
Crew (10th Squadron):
F/S W. T. A. Regan, pilot, †
F/S E. Birch, †
WO2 W. S. Norris,
F/S N. Wilmot,
Sgt R. W. Tindal, †
Sgt D. L. Smith, †
Sgt A. D. Lawes.

Took off at 2214 from RAF Burn, to attack the city of Nuremburg. Part of a massive force of 795 aircraft - 572 Lancasters, 214 Halifaxes and 9 Mosquitoes. The most disastrous night of the war for Bomber Command, with the loss of 95 bombers. Halifax LK797 which the crew had named Excalibur was some 70 miles short of the target when attacked by a JU.88. The first burst of fire from the enemy made the intercommunication system useless. One engine was damaged when a Me410 joined in the fight. The bomber’s machine guns were out of action and the gunners were unable to return the fire. The fighters continued to attack the aircraft as it approached the target area and, in the confusion caused by the failure of the communications system at the height of the battle, a signal was misinterpreted and the navigator, air bomber and wireless operator baled out of the aircraft. F/O Barton faced a situation of dire peril. His aircraft was damaged, his navigational team had gone and he could not communicate with the remainder of the crew. If he continued his mission he would be at the mercy of hostile fighters when silhouetted against the fires in the target area and if he survived he would have to make a 4 1/2 hours journey home on three engines across heavily - defended territory. Determined to press home his attack at all costs, he flew on and, reaching the target, released the bombs himself. As F/O Barton turned for home the propeller of the damaged engine, which was vibrating badly, flew off. It was also discovered that two of the petrol tanks had suffered damage and were leaking. F/O Barton held to his course and, without navigational aids and in spite of strong head winds, successfully avoided the most dangerous defense areas on his route. Eventually he crossed the English coast only 90 miles north of his base. By this time the petrol supply was nearly exhausted. Before a suitable landing place could be found, the port engine stopped and the aircraft was now too low to be abandoned successfully. F/O. Barton therefore ordered the three remaining members of his crew to take up their crash positions, behind the main spar. Then, with only one engine working, he made a gallant attempt to land clear of the houses over which he was flying. On the decent despite strenuous efforts F/O Barton was unable to avoid an end of a row of cottages, one was demolished and the other slightly damaged. The Halifax crashed into the yard of Ryhope Colliery, on impact the rear fuselage broke off and landed in a deep railway cutting with the three crewmen inside. F/O. Barton died of his injuries, but as a result of his selfless actions, the three crewmen survived. Tragically a local miner Mr. George Heads, was killed on his way to work hit by flying debris.
Crew (578th Squadron):
F/O Cyril Joe Barton, pilot, †
Sgt Maurice E. Trousdale, flight engineer,
Sgt Leonard Lambert, navigator,
P/O Jack Kay, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/O G. G. Crate, air bomber,
Sgt H. C. H. D. Wood, air gunner
Sgt Fred Bryce, air gunner.
Civilian: Mr. George Dodds Heads, aged 58, †.
Source: www.aircrewremembered.com/barton-cyril.html