| Date | Type | Serial | Unit | Location | Notes |
|---|
| 01/01/1943 | Hurricane | BN287 | 538sqn | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 1700 hours whilst taxying out for a night flying test. The aircraft was taxying in strong wind when a gust caught the tail and swung the aircraft onto the grass. The aircraft’s brakes were ineffective, the undercarriage sank into the soft ground and the aircraft tipped onto its nose. Pilot P/O DR Porter was uninjured in this incident. |
| 01/01/1943 | Wellington | X3193 | 3OTU | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1815hrs whilst being taxied when it struck an oil bowser. The aircraft was being turned into wind on wet, muddy, sloping ground and skidded into the bowser. Pilot P/O N Lewis (New Zealander) and crew were uninjured. |
| 01/01/1943 | Wellington | N2947 | 1AAS | Manby | This aircraft was damaged at 1400hrs whilst parked in a hangar when vapours from solvents being used to clean it were ignited by sparks from an inspection lamp causing the aircraft to catch fire. |
| 01/01/1943 | Lancaster | ED412 | 57sqn | Scampton | On return from a mining sortie at 0424hrs, this aircraft was substantially damaged when it tobogganed over a mud bank on the airfield perimeter after skidding on a wet airfield surface. Pilot Sgt G Rice and crew escaped uninjured. |
| 01/01/1943 | Lancaster | W4240 | 57sqn | Scampton | On return from a mining sortie at 0458hrs, this aircraft was damaged after it overshot on landing after approaching too fast. The aircraft skidded on a wet airfield surface and ran into an earth bank causing the starboard undercarriage to collapse. Pilot P/O AFG Rich (Canadian) and crew were uninjured in this accident. |
| 01/01/1943 | Lancaster | R5866 | 1654CU | Waddington | Whilst on a night training sortie, this aircraft was damaged on landing at 0045hrs. The aircraft had made a previous heavy landing, which had damaged the tyre inflation valve, causing the tyre to deflate. The aircraft touched down with one flat tyre and swung sharply, causing the starboard undercarriage to collapse. Pilot Sgt RP Grimwood and crew were uninjured. |
| 02/01/1943 | Oxford | AB761 | 12(P)AFU | 400 yards from Leadenham | This aircraft was destroyed at 1200hrs when it hit a tree whilst flying low in a snowstorm as the pilot tried to ascertain his location. The aircraft crashed and burned out on the ground. Pilot Sgt JM Allen was killed. |
| 02/01/1943 | Manchester | L7482 | 1660CU | Highfield Farm, Metheringham | Airborne from Coleby Grange, having landed there from Swinderby after mistaking the airfield for Waddington, which was the crew's destination. Whilst trying to climb above a snowstorm, the flying controls iced up, and the crew abandoned the aircraft, leaving it to crash at Highfield Farm near Metheringham at 1230hrs. The aircraft caught fire on impact and was destroyed. F/O H.C.C. Goodyear (Canadian) injured, P/O G.J. Gibbings injured, the remaining 5 members of the crew were unhurt. |
| 03/01/1943 | Beaufighter | X8153 | 409sqn | Coleby Grange | Landing from a night patrol at 2220hrs, pilot F/Sgt M A Naylor (Canadian) landed this aircraft heavily after approaching too high and fast, then increasing his rate of descent to compensate. This caused the aircraft to touch down with enough force to collapse the undercarriage and damage the aircraft. Sgt Naylor was transferred to single-engined aircraft after this incident. |
| 03/01/1943 | Oxford | T1186 | 12(P)AFU | Harlaxton | This aircraft was written off at 1900hrs when it hit the ground after becoming airborne and then skidded into a hedge. The accident was caused by a faulty artificial horizon. Instructor F/O AW Townsend and pupil Sgt Hilton were both injured in the accident. |
| 03/01/1943 | Wellington | Z1336 | 301sqn | nr Hemswell airfield | This aircraft was damaged at 1610hrs when it belly-landed 1000 yards south of Hemswell Grange after jettisoning its load of mines. The aircraft had experienced engine failure on takeoff caused by the failure of a relay. Pilot P/O H Korczak-Krezczowski (Polish) and 4 of his crew were injured in the crash. |
| 03/01/1943 | Lancaster | ED307 | 9sqn | Waddington | This aircraft was moderately damaged in a heavy landing at 1530hrs, no injuries recorded. |
| 04/01/1943 | Airacobra | BX218 | 91stFS/81stFG | Kirton Lindsey | Damaged cat B on this date, no further details |
| 09/01/1943 | Beaufighter | EL221 | 254sqn | Donna Nook | Following a transit flight from Gosport, pilot F/Lt T H Carson DFC landed this aircraft heavily at 1700hrs causing the tail oleo to collapse. |
| 09/01/1943 | Oxford | AB750 | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | This aircraft was damaged on the ground at 1330hrs after the pilot selected undercarriage up in a panic after the warning horn sounded on startup. Pilot Sgt OJF Syme was unhurt. |
| 09/01/1943 | Lancaster | W4257 | 57sqn | Scampton | This aircraft was damaged in a heavy landing at 2130hrs on return from operations. The pilot, F/Sgt HW Player (New Zealand) dropped the aircraft onto the snow-covered runway from 10 feet, causing the port undercarriage leg locks to break. One of the crew was injured in this incident. |
| 09/01/1943 | Lancaster | R5552 | 97sqn | Woodhall Spa | This aircraft was damaged at 2245hrs whilst on a training sortie. On landing in a crosswind, the aircraft began to drift. The brakes were ineffective as the runway surface was frozen, and the tail struck a frozen snowbank by the runway. Pilot F/Lt SCR Bell and crew were uninjured. |
| 11/01/1943 | Wellington | BK189 | 16OTU | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged at 2030hrs whilst making a forced landing at night in poor visibility as the aircraft radios had failed. On touchdown, the starboard tyre burst, the aircraft swung off the runway and the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot Sgt DO Laidlaw and crew were uninjured in the accident. |
| 11/01/1943 | Lancaster | W4272 | 1660CU | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged after landing from a conversion exercise at 2205hrs when it taxied into a ditch after straying from the taxy lane due to insufficient lighting on the airfield. Pilot Sgt WH Wood and crew were uninjured. |
| 13/01/1943 | Wellington | Z1272 | 305sqn | Barrowby | Coded SM-N, Airborne at 0330hrs from Hemswell for minelaying operations off Brest (Jellyfish Region). The aircraft flew into a tree on rising ground and crashed at 0400hrs at Barrowby, 2 miles W of Grantham. F/O F.K.Krawczyk (Polish) killed, P/O A.J.Plusa (Polish) killed, Sgt K.Z.Dutkiewicz (Polish) killed, Sgt J.F.Laskowski DFM (Polish) killed, Sgt S.Dorosz (Polish) killed, |
| 13/01/1943 | Spitfire | EP108 | 411sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged at 1615hrs when the aircraft belly-landed on the airfield after damaging the undercarriage legs on a previous landing attempt. Pilot Sgt JG McDougall (Canadian) was unhurt in the incident. |
| 13/01/1943 | Lancaster | W4363 | 103 Sqn | Elsham Wolds | This aircraft was damaged by another Lancaster of 103sqn after it ran off the peri track and became bogged down in soft ground. The other Lancaster, under instruction from OC 103sqn, was trying to get past and the pilot misjudged the space available, damaging the fin and rudder of W4363. Both aircraft were damaged, Pilot F/Lt JK Douglas (Australian) and crew were uninjured. The other aircraft's identity is not recorded. |
| 13/01/1943 | Blenheim | L1194 | 12(P)AFU | Harlaxton | This aircraft was damaged when Lt B Yalniz (Turkish) was landing into the sun from a training flight at 1515hrs. The aircraft overshot the runway after skidding on the wet airfield surface and struck a hedge. |
| 15/01/1943 | Defiant | N3312 | 288sqn | Wellingore | This aircraft was damaged at 1100 hours when taking for an anti aircraft co-operation sortie. The engine lost power on the take-off run, the pilot throttled back, but the aircraft slid on a slippery airfield surface and ran through the airfield hedge. Pilot Sgt GA Robinson (Canadian) was uninjured in this accident. |
| 15/01/1943 | Do217E-4 | U5+KR | 7/KG2 | Boothby Graffoe | This aircraft was shot down by Sgt EA Knight/Sgt WIL Roberts in a Mosquito of 151sqn. The aircraft dived into the ground and was destroyed on impact at 2050hrs. Lt G Wolff, Obergefr K-H Krusewitz, Uffz K Semlitschka and Uffz H Knorr were all killed. |
| 15/01/1943 | Master | DL196 | RAFC | Willow Farm, Spalding | This aircraft was damaged when it force-landed at 11250hrs in a field after running low on fuel whilst lost in poor visibility. Pilots F/Lt AB Watkinson and Sgt GH Johnson were uninjured. |
| 16/01/1943 | Lysander | T1504 | 14OTU | New York | This aircraft was damaged at 1350hrs whilst force-landing in a field near Coningsby after running out of fuel due to a sudden deterioration of the weather during a drogue-towing sortie. Pilot W/O AAG Coombes was uninjured in the incident. |
| 16/01/1943 | Oxford | X7067 | 14PAFU | Wellingore | This aircraft was damaged at 1130hrs when it landed with the undercarriage unlocked whilst the instructor was demonstrating single-engined landings. Instructor P/O Church and pupil Sgt R Dickinson were unhurt. |
| 17/01/1943 | Hurricane | BN235 | 532sqn | Yarborough, 5 miles from Louth | This aircraft was damaged at 1505 hours during an open formation flight practice when Sgt T Wood flying Hurricane Z3893 struck the tailplane and rudder of this aircraft with his propeller and wing. The pilot F/O NS Green retained control and landed safely at base. |
| 17/01/1943 | Hurricane | Z3893 | 532sqn | Yarborough, 5 miles from Louth | This aircraft struck Hurricane BN235 at 1505 hours whilst on a formation training flight. Pilot Sgt T Wood was unable to maintain position in the formation and struck the rear of his leader’s aircraft. Both aircraft landed safely at base. |
| 17/01/1943 | Master | DL114 | RAFC | nr Cranwell | This aircraft was destroyed when it collided in flight with Proctor HM314, and crashed 1 mile northeast of the airfield, bursting into flames on impact. Pilot LAC JB Burd was killed in the crash. |
| 17/01/1943 | Proctor | HM314 | 1RS | nr Cranwell | This aircraft was destroyed when it collided in flight with Master DL114, and force-landed 1 mile northeast of the airfield. Pilot Sgt Jastrzebski and passenger Cpl Holt were slightly injured in the incident. |
| 18/01/1943 | Lancaster | ED392 | 57sqn | Scampton | This aircraft was damaged at 1625hrs when it overshot on landing after approaching too high and too fast. Pilot F/Sgt GH Lancaster and crew were uninjured. |
| 20/01/1943 | Wellington | BK267 | 300sqn | Ingham | This aircraft was damaged on landing at 1100hrs when a tyre burst as the aircraft crossed a road over the runway, causing the aircraft to swing and the undercarriage to collapse. Pilot Sgt Przedpelski and crew were uhurt. |
| 21/01/1943 | Halifax | DT690 | 51sqn | Woodhall Spa | This aircraft was damaged at 1100 hours whilst taxying out for a training flight. The aircraft hit a crane at the side of the peri track. The crane driver was waving the aircraft on at the time. Pilot F/Sgt JDW Stenhouse and his crew were uninjured in this accident. |
| 21/01/1943 | Tiger Moth | T7271 | 198sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged shortly after take-off at 1155hrs when the aircraft turned out of wind, lost flying spped, spun and crashed from low altitude. Pilot Sgt NC O'Hanlon (Canadian) and passenger P/O Baker were both injured and admitted to hospital. |
| 21/01/1943 | Spitfire | AA754 | 411sqn | off Skegness | This aircraft was destroyed at 1030hrs after colliding with Lysander V9797 during an air-to-air gunnery sortie. Pilot WO2 JA McMillan was killed in this incident. |
| 21/01/1943 | Lysander | V9797 | 3OTU | off Skegness | This aircraft was destroyed at 1020hrs when it collided with Spitfire AA754 of 411sqn whilst towing a drogue target. Pilot F/Sgt WE Atkins and LAC W Gilbert were both killed. |
| 23/01/1943 | Wellington | R1598 | 3OTU | Cranwell | This aircraft was destroyed when it crashed at 2310hrs after an engine failed as the aircraft was overshooting to go round for another approach. The fuel tanks exploded on impact, setting fire to the aircraft. Instructor F/O JL Maxwell, pupil F/Sgt JL owen and wireless operator Sgt F O'Neill were all killed in the crash. |
| 23/01/1943 | Wellington | BJ618 | 150sqn | Kirmington | Whilst landing in poor visibility at 1550hrs after an operational flight to search for a dinghy in the North Sea, the pilot realised he was overshooting the runway and swung the aircraft to prevent it running off the end. The port engine was used to swing and this caused the starboard undercarriage to collapse. Pilot Sgt WT Timperley and crew were unhurt. |
| 23/01/1943 | Typhoon | DN306 | 195sqn | Maltby-le-Marsh | This aircraft was damaged in a forced-landing wheels-up on marshy ground at 1250hrs after engine failure in flight caused by fuel starvation due to the way the aircraft was trimmed. Pilot Sgt RA Hough was unhurt. |
| 23/01/1943 | Wellington | DV842 | 14OTU | nr Harlaxton | Airborne from Saltby for circuits and landings. Around 0940hrs the starboard engine cut out on takeoff, the aircraft was destroyed when it crashed shortly afterwards 1 mile south of Harlaxton airfield and burned out on the ground. F/Sgt F.N. Crouch (Australian) injured, P/O J.N. Jotcham injured, plus 4 others injured but not named. |
| 24/01/1943 | P-38 Lightning | 43-2178 | 84FS/78FG | Goxhill | Aircraft damaged cat 3 in a landing accident on this date. Pilot Lt Wayne M Chavis was unhurt. |
| 24/01/1943 | Manchester | L7457 | 1654CU | West Bank nr Saxilby | Airborne from Wigsley at 1458hrs for a training sortie. Shortly after takeoff the port engine caught fire and the aircraft force-landed at West Bank, Saxilby at 1510hrs as the pilot was unable to maintain height on one engine. The aircraft was destroyed in this incident. Pilot F/Sgt Taylor and crew escaped uninjured. |
| 25/01/1943 | Master | AZ586 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1420hrs whilst landing in poor visibility. The aircraft skidded and ran into Oxford HM947 which had been parked in the middle of the landing area. The Master was slightly damaged, the Oxford was written off. Instructor F/O AG Banwell and pupil 2/Lt WH Godfrey (Canadian) were unhurt in the incident. |
| 25/01/1943 | Oxford | HM947 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was written off at 1420hrs whilst parked when it was struck by Master AZ586. |
| 25/01/1943 | Beaufighter | JL638 | 254sqn | North Coates seashore | 12 minutes into a fighter affiliation sortie at 1230hrs, this aircraft was written off when one wing struck the sea whilst conducting violent evasive manouevres at very low level and the aircraft crashed on the foreshore. Pilot F/Lt T H Carson DFC and Observer P/O G E Bell were killed in the crash. |
| 25/01/1943 | Oxford | W6572 | 14PAFU | Wellingore | This aircraft was written off at 1045hrs when the pilot landed heavily, causing the aircraft to bounce. The pilot was inexperienced on this type and did not control the aircraft correctly, resulting in it stalling and crashing. Pilot P/O HR Phillips was injured in the crash. |
| 26/01/1943 | Lancaster | R5733 | 44sqn | Barkston Heath | This aircraft was damaged when the starboard outer engine failed during a training flight. On making an emergency landing at Barkston heath at 2140hrs, the undercarriage was also damaged when a tyre burst on landing. Pilot F/Sgt D Skinner and crew were uninjured. |
| 26/01/1943 | Lancaster | W4830 | 615sqn | Baston | Coded QR-E. Airborne 2259 25Jun43 from Syerston for Gelsenkirchen. Badly damaged by Flak and on return the Lancaster was abandoned 0430 near Baston, 9 miles SW of Spalding, Lincolnshire. The two airmen who died were taken to their home towns for burial. Sgt D.H.Pearse Sgt A.B.Woodvine Sgt H.W.Beasley killed, Sgt R.C.Everett Sgt J.Robson Sgt K.Lloyd killed, Sgt J.Penswick |
| 26/01/1943 | Whitley | BD224 | 3OTU | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged on approach to land at 0035hrs when it undershot the flarepath and struck a 6 foot tall post around 3/4 of a mile short of the runway threshold. After the impact, it continued to land without further damage. Pilots Sgt GC Wright, Sgt TL Richards and the crew were unhurt. |
| 26/01/1943 | P-38 Lightning | 43-2135 | 82FS/78FG | Goxhill | Aircraft damaged cat 3 in a landing accident on this date. Pilot Lt Jack R Brown unhurt. |
| 26/01/1943 | Blenheim | L4933 | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | Whilst stationary on the ground on a dual instruction sortie at 1630hrs, pilots Sgt H Burkitt (instructor) and Sgt E G Chapman were working through the pre-flight checks. The flaps were checked by raising the selector lever and shortly afterwards the undercarriage collapsed, damaging the aircraft. |
| 26/01/1943 | Wellington | Z1490 | 305sqn | Hemswell | This aircraft was damaged at 2300hrs when it belly-landed on the airfield on return from operations as the engines began to cut out due to lack of fuel. Pilot Sgt M Seredyn and crew were unhurt. |
| 26/01/1943 | Wellington | DV927 | 3OTU | Swineshead | This aircraft was destroyed at 1450hrs on a fighter affiliation sortie when the pilot lost control of the aircraft in a violent evasive manoeuvre. The aircraft dived to the ground from low altitude with pieces of fabric being torn from the aircraft in the dive. The aircraft exploded and caught fire on impact. instructor F/O BH Bailey, pilots Sgt PV Jerome and Sgt CA Ravenette along with crewmembers Sgt AD Lyon (Australian), Sgt FG Wilkinson, Sgt HJ Sterne and Sgt H Lowe were all killed in the crash. |
| 27/01/1943 | Lancaster | W4267 | 57sqn | 2 miles north of Caistor, Labourne High Woods, near Crew Hill | Coded KM-? This aircraft was destroyed when it crashed at 2330hrs 2 miles NE of Caistor, Lincolnshire after the pilot lost control of the aircraft whilst on a training flight. The aircraft burned out on the ground. Sgt Long baled out and landed safely. Sgt W.H.Wood killed, Sgt R.B.Wetherall killed, Sgt E.W.Campbell killed, Sgt R.A.Chapman (Canadian) killed, P/O T.H.Anthony killed, Sgt S.C.Bradley killed, Sgt Long |
| 27/01/1943 | Beaufighter | T3447 | 143sqn | Aylesby | On return from a night navigation exercise, this aircraft was destroyed in a crash whilst in the airfield circuit. The aircraft had completed a partial circuit when it struck the ground in a very shallow dive approximately 5 miles from the airfield and burned out on a local defence post. The cause was not determined, but it was believed that either the pilot misread his altimeter on a very dark night, or that the altimeter may have been faulty. Pilot F/O J F Herbert (Australian) and navigator F/Sgt J C McPherson were both killed in the crash. |
| 27/01/1943 | Wellington | P9240 | 21OTU | Brigg | Airborne from Moreton-in-the-Marsh for an evening cross-country sortie. Evidence suggests that the pilot descended through cloud to try to fix his location. In the descent, the aircraft flew into the ground near Brigg at 1900hrs. Sgt C. Clarke killed, Sgt H.E. Hole killed, Sgt N.S Devereux-Mack killed, Sgt G.B. Tarran killed, Sgt A.V. McD Buckingham (Canadian) killed. |
| 27/01/1943 | Lancaster | ED486 | 50sqn | nr Waddington | Coded VN-? Airborne 1754 27Jan43 from Skellingthorpe for Dusseldorf. The aircraft was observed to climb normally and enter cloud. Shortly afterwards, the Lancaster was seen in a steep dive, from which it failed to recover and crashed near Waddington. The bomb-load exploded on impact. Sgt A.L Kitching killed, Sgt A.L.w.Cale killed, Sgt R.P.Edwards killed, Sgt J.W.Wilson (Canadian) killed, Sgt M.J.Barbe (Canadian) killed, Sgt J.Currie (Canadian) killed, Sgt J.B.White killed |
| 28/01/1943 | Spitfire | AB847 | 411sqn | 1 mile east of Orby | This aircraft was destroyed at 1135hrs during a tailchase with Spitfire R6897 whilst on a cine-gun exercise. R6897 was the lead aircraft, and stalled whilst doing a roll at the top of a loop, falling onto AB847, knocking the tail off this aircraft. Both Spitfires burned out on the ground. Pilot P/O CA Graham (Canadian) was injured whilst baling out of his aircraft but survived the accident. |
| 28/01/1943 | Oxford | LB425 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1200hrs after ,aking a good three-point landing, when a gust of wind tipped the aircraft onto its nose. Pilot LAC LH Williams was on his first solo on type and was injured in this incident. |
| 28/01/1943 | Wellington | BJ889 | 199sqn | nr South Cockerington | Coded EX-? The aircraft was damaged at 1640hrs whilst making an emergency belly-landing 1 mile north-east of South Cockerington after the starboard engine failed in flight and the pilot was unable to locate a nearby airfield. No injuries reported to pilot Sgt JE Burton and crew. |
| 28/01/1943 | Spitfire | R6897 | 411sqn | Orby | This aircraft was destroyed at 1135hrs during a tailchase with Spitfire AB847 whilst on a cine-gun exercise. R6897 was the lead aircraft, and stalled whilst doing a roll at the top of a loop. The aircraft fell onto AB847, knocking the tail off that aircraft. Both Spitfires burned out on the ground. Pilot P/O GF Brown (Canadian) was killed in the crash. |
| 28/01/1943 | Wellington | Z8896 | 14OTU | Waddington | Airborne at 0945hrs from Cottesmore for a navigation flight. On attempting to land at Waddington, the aircraft was destroyed when it crashed and burned out near the runway at 1230hrs after port engine problems caused it to spin in from a left turn. F/Sgt D.J. Farrell (Canadian) killed, Sgt F.J. Emberson killed, Sgt R. Badcock killed, Sgt M. McMillan killed, Sgt G.G. Nielsen killed. |
| 29/01/1943 | Blenheim | L1203 | 12(P)AFU | Harlaxton | On landing at 1200hrs after 10 minutes airborne on a solo training exercise, Lt Kusu (Turkish) landed the aircraft with the undercarriage still retracted due to a technical fault on the aircraft. |
| 29/01/1943 | Lancaster | W4377 | 57sqn | Scampton | This aircraft was damaged at 1245hrs on return from a training flight when the port wing and port outer prop struck a tree on approach to the airfield. Pilot Sgt G Leach (Canadian) and crew were uninjured in the incident. |
| 29/01/1943 | Lancaster | ED503 | 9sqn | Sibsey Northlands | Coded WS-? Crashed at 1530hrs during fighter affiliation practice, on open fen land at Sibsey, 5 miles NNE of Boston, Lincs. The pilot of the Spitfire assigned to the exercise reported that the Lancaster climed steeply into the sun, and was then seen in a vertical dive, after which it hit the ground. The parents of the deceased later had a stone memorial cross erected at the crash site, bearing their names, while in Cambridge Regional Cemetery, a similar plaque has been placed in their memory. F/L R.L.Lind killed, Sgt J.Doran killed, P/O C.W.H.Cocks killed, Sgt T.J.Henry killed, Sgt D.A.Brown killed, Sgt T.Wishart killed, The crew navigator would have been absent 'Surplus to Requirement' on this type of training exercise. |
| 30/01/1943 | Tiger Moth | DE571 | 116sqn | Coleby Grange | This aircraft was damaged inside a hangar at 1100hrs during a gale when the hangar wind curtain tore away from its mountings and fell onto the aircraft. |
| 30/01/1943 | Tiger Moth | T7471 | 116sqn | Coleby Grange | This aircraft was damaged inside a hangar at 1100hrs during a gale when the hangar wind curtain tore away from its mountings and fell onto the aircraft. |
| 30/01/1943 | Beaufighter | V8442 | 409sqn | Coleby Grange | Whilst taking off at 1645hrs for a night-flying test, this aircraft was damaged when the port tyre burst on take-off, causing the aircraft to swing violently and the undercarriage to collapse. Pilot S'Ldr G M Martin (Canadian) was uninjured. |
| 30/01/1943 | Beaufighter | X8102 | 409sqn | Coleby Grange | Whilst taxying at 2055hrs on a dark night, Sgt G Graham struck parked Beaufighter X8135 which had been left with no obstruction marker light after it had been refuelled. |
| 30/01/1943 | Beaufighter | X8135 | 409sqn | Coleby Grange | This aircraft was parked without an obstruction marker light after being refuelled when it was struck and damaged by Beaufighter X8102 which was taxying. |
| 30/01/1943 | Beaufighter | JL611 | 254sqn | North Coates | Whilst taxying in at 1105hrs across rough ground after landing, the aircraft was damaged when the pilot F/O J F Lown took a shortcut from the taxiway to his dispersal area. The port wheel sank into soft ground and the port undercarriage leg collapsed. |
| 31/01/1943 | Lancaster | W4323 | 103 Sqn | Elsham Wolds | This aircraft was damaged on takeoff for operations at 0020hrs after mishandling of the aircraft's throttles by the flight engineer caused the aircraft to swing. During the correction of this swing, the starboard outer engine choked and stopped, which made the aircraft swing violently, causing the starboard undercarriage to collapse. Pilot F/Sgt JV Roper and crew were uninjured in this incident, though the pilot was sent for further training as a result of the accident. |
| 31/01/1943 | Wellington | Z8871 | 15OTU | Hemswell | Airborne from Harwell for a night navigation exercise. The pilot attempted to land at Hemswell, but levelled off too high and the undercarriage collapsed after the subsequent heavy landing at 0556hrs. On coming to a halt, the aircraft caught fire and was destroyed. Pilot Sgt FC Swain and crew were uninjured. |
| 31/01/1943 | Lancaster | ED428 | 49sqn | Reepham | Coded EA-Q. Airborne 0226 31Jan43 from Fiskerton for Hamburg. Hit by Flak and on return crashed 0715, after colliding with trees, at Reepham level crossing, 2 miles ENE of Lincoln. Five of those killed are buried in Scampton (St.John the Baptist) Churchyard, while Sgt Wood is interred at Manor Park Cemetery, East Ham. F/Sgt E.L.Cole (Australian) killed, Sgt F.S.T.S.Pittard killed, F/O F.Ridley killed, F/Sgt L.Grey (Australian) killed, Sgt J.A.G.Browne (Australian) killed, Sgt W.C.Wood killed, Sgt E.Phillips injured |
| 31/01/1943 | Lancaster | ED476 | 9sqn | Waddington | This aircraft was damaged at 0352hrs on return from operations after it landed heavily. The starboard undercarriage collapsed on touchdown. The accident was caused by one of the throttle levers having its friction lock left engaged. Pilot Sgt FE MacDonald (Canadian) and crew were uninjured in the incident. |
| Date | Type | Serial | Unit | Location | Notes |
|---|
| 01/02/1943 | Beaufighter | JL613 | 254sqn | Donna Nook | On return from a training flight at 1250hrs, this aircraft was damaged on landing when the port undercarriage leg could not be lowered by any method. Pilot W/Cdr R E X Mack landed the aircraft with only minor damage. |
| 01/02/1943 | Whitley | Z9135 | 3OTU | Hubbert's Bridge | This aircraft was wrecked at 1210hrs when it force-landed wheels-up in a ploughed field after both engines failed in flight due to fuel starvation caused by mishandling of the fuel supply taps by the crew. At the end of the landing run the aircraft struck a tree. Pilots Sgt GC Wright, Sgt W Brook and the crew escaped with only minor cuts. |
| 02/02/1943 | Lancaster | W4358 | 57sqn | Scampton | This aircraft was damaged on return from operations at 2100hrs when the port mainwheel axle was fractured as the aircraft skidded on rough grass and hit the edge of some paving whilst turning off the runway. The axle gave wy shortly afterwards whilst the aircraft was till taxying. Pilot F/Sgt DP Langley and his 6 crew were all injured in this incident. Before the accident card for this incident was written up, F/Sgt Langley and his crew had been killed on operations on 18th Feb 1943. |
| 03/02/1943 | Oxford | N4830 | RAFC | Barkston Heath | This aircraft was damaged at 2045hrs when it was landed heavily on the pilot's first night solo flight on the type, causing the undercarriage to collapse. Pilot LAC FC Dowles was unhurt. |
| 03/02/1943 | Spitfire | EP413 | 118sqn | Donna Nook | This aircraft was damaged whilst taxying at 1500hrs when the wheels hit an unmarked patch of soft ground on the airfield, causing the aircraft to tip onto its nose. Pilot Sgt AJ Beer (Australian) was unhurt. |
| 03/02/1943 | Wellington | X3812 | 199sqn | Ingham | This aircraft was damaged at 1200hrs whilst landing on an unfamiliar airfield at the end of a transfer flight. The aircraft bounced slightly on touchdown, the port tyre burst and the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot Sgt Barnard and crew were unhurt. |
| 04/02/1943 | Spitfire | EN841 | 302sqn | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was damaged at 1625hrs on landing during the squadron's move to the airfield. The pilot landed 3/4 way along the runway without flaps and the aircraft overshot into barbed wire outside the peritrack, causing the undercarriage to collapse. Pilot S/Ldr S Lapka (Polish) was unhurt. |
| 04/02/1943 | Lancaster | ED496 | 9sqn | Scopwick | Coded WS-P. Lost on an air test. Crashed whilst on a training flight at 1600hrs at Young's Farm, Scopwick, after experiencing structural failure, 8 miles N of Sleaford, Lincs. Sgt Land is buried in Weston Longville (All Saints) Churchyard; his four companions are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Sgt C.R.Land killed, Sgt R.J.Packer killed, Sgt H.F.Gullery killed, Sgt J.T.Levesque (Canadian) killed, Sgt F.V.McGonigal killed |
| 04/02/1943 | Lancaster | ED376 | 100sqn | Waltham | This aircraft was damaged at 1900hrs whilst stationary on the airfield peri track. A small armoured vehicle drove into the back of the aircraft after the driver failed to see it on this very dark night. Pilot S/Ldr DN Barker and crew were uninjured. |
| 06/02/1943 | Wellington | W5667 | 14OTU | Grant's farm, Old Leake | Airborne at 0925hrs from Saltby for a dual instruction sortie. At 1005, the aircraft was stalled at 2000 feet with flaps and undercarriage lowered, causing the aircraft to spin. The pilot was unable to recover from the spin due to the low altitude, the aircraft hit the ground and burst into flames. Instructor F/Sgt H. Murray killed, Sgt J. Evans killed, Sgt S.F. Peachey killed, Sgt J. Sykes killed, Sgt H. Sharp killed. |
| 06/02/1943 | Blenheim | V5757 | 12(P)AFU | Harlaxton | This aircraft was written off at 1300hrs after stalling onto the runway from 50 feet whilst attempting a single-engined landing after the starborad engine cut out on take-off due to fuel starvation. The pilot Lt H Sever (Turkish) was injured in the crash. |
| 06/02/1943 | Beaufighter | T4800 | 236sqn | off North Coates | This aircraft was destroyed 8 minutes after takeoff for an air-test flight at 1618hrs. The aircraft climbed steeply to 1700 feet, stalled to starboard, recovered at 1400 feet, stalled again and entered a spin at 700 feet, crashing into the sea. Pilot W/O J H Clark (Canadian) and his navigator F/Sgt R Eadie were killed in the crash. This aircraft had on 12/6/42 flown the famous Operation Squabble sortie to drop a Tricolour over the Arc de Triomphe in paris in broad daylight. The wreck of this aircraft is still buried on the treacherous mudflats off Tetney. |
| 07/02/1943 | Hampden | P2136 | 1AAS | in a field outside the boundary of Manby airfield | This aircraft was destroyed at 1240 hours on return from a bombing exercise. The pilot lost control of the aircraft on approach and crashed short of the runway on a level keel. Pilot Sgt RC Poole was uninjured in this crash. |
| 07/02/1943 | Lancaster | ED473 | 50sqn | Skellingthorpe | This aircraft was damaged at 1306hrs on return from a fighter affiliation sortie. The engines exhibited erratic tickover, distracting the pilot, and he made a heavy landing in a slight crosswind. The aircraft bounced heavily and the starboard undercarriage collapsed on touchdown. Pilot S/Ldr DE Street and his crew were uninjured. |
| 08/02/1943 | Martinet | HN879 | 1485TTGFlt | Coningsby | This aircraft was damaged at 1000hrs when the starboard wheel ran over soft earth whilst taxying and sank in, causing the undercarriage leg to buckle and collapse. Pilot F/Lt CSJ Rey was uninjured. |
| 08/02/1943 | Oxford | AB660 | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | This aircraft was damaged at 1140hrs when the tailwheel broke off as the aircraft was taxying over frozen ground. Pilot Sgt EB Stiles (Canadian) was unhurt. |
| 08/02/1943 | Blenheim | K7117 | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | Whilst taxying out to take off for a training sortie at 1630hrs, this aircraft sustained a burst tyre and damage to the fuselage when the lower escape hatch fell off due to a faulty retaining catch. Pilot Sgt C V Thomas was uninjured. |
| 08/02/1943 | Wellington | BK277 | 166sqn | Kirmington | This aircraft was damaged at 0050hrs on return from operations when it landed fast in light wind conditions, and overshot the runway. The starboard tyre burst and the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot F/Sgt Ashplant and his crew were unhurt in the incident. |
| 09/02/1943 | Lancaster | W4257 | 57sqn | Scampton | This aircraft was damaged at 0120hrs whilst taxying back to dispersal. The pilot swerved to avoid a Lancaster parked to the starboard side of the peri track, but then struck a trestle which had been left to the port side of the track. Pilot Sgt RP Grimwood and crew were uninjured. |
| 09/02/1943 | Lancaster | ED588 | 97sqn | Woodhall Spa | This aircraft was damaged after making a flapless landing off the runway at 0436hrs on return from an exercise. Just before the aircraft came to rest on the grass, the tail struck an obstruction causing damage to the airframe. Pilot P/O RF Clayton and crew were uninjured. |
| 10/02/1943 | Oxford | V3575 | 12(P)AFU | Harlaxton | This aircraft was damaged at 0300hrs when the undercarriage collapsed after the aircraft landed heavily. Pilot Sgt CW Abbott (New Zealander) was unhurt. |
| 10/02/1943 | Lysander | T1759 | 1AAS | Manby | This aircraft was damaged on landing at 1420hrs on return from an air firing exercise. The pilot landed with drift, the aircraft swung off the runway and tipped nto its nose when the wheels hit soft ground. This was pilot Sgt FJ Whyler's fourth accident due to poor landings, so he was sent to the CFS for a flying check. |
| 11/02/1943 | Manchester | L7391 | 1485flt | Fishtoft Drove | Airborne from Fulbeck for an air gunnery exercise, the starboard engine failed at 1200 feet. The pilot had no option other than a forced-landing at Fishtoft drove at 1540hrs as he was unable to keep the aircraft airborne long enough to reach an airfield to land. The aircraft was severely damaged after landing wheels up in a field. Pilot F/Sgt R Eyres and crew were uninjured apart from one crewmember who was hurt in the landing. |
| 11/02/1943 | Blenheim | L8623 | 12(P)AFU | Harlaxton | This aircraft was damaged whilst stationary after landing when pilots Sgt G G H Cowper and Sgt E W Loveland selected undercarriage up instead of retracting the flaps. |
| 12/02/1943 | Lancaster | R5676 | 1660HCU | Oldfield's farm, Sturton-by-Stow | Airborne from Swinderby, the aircraft broke up in flight after the starboard wing failed. The aircraft crashed at 1005 at Oldfield's Farm. F/O S.R. Jones killed, Sgt W.T. Raeside killed, F/O P.M. Krish killed, F/O S. Hoy killed, Sgt J. Westwood killed, F/Sgt G.W. Kennedy (Canadian) killed, Sgt T.H. Jackson killed, LAC E.R. Redfern killed. |
| 12/02/1943 | Oxford | BG663 | 14PAFU | Wellingore | This aircraft was written off at 1110hrs when it crashed fllowing failure of the starboard engine in flight after takeoff. The pilot attempted to do a circuit, misjudged the wind strength, lowered the undercarriage too soon and undershot the airfield, crashing in a field outside the boundary. Pilot Sgt WA Gardiner (Canadian) was unhurt in the incident. |
| 13/02/1943 | Master | T8457 | RAFC | 1.5 miles south of Cranwell village, near Windmill House | This aircraft was damaged when it belly-landed in a field after the engine failed during aerobatics. Pilot LAC R Williams was unhurt. |
| 13/02/1943 | Oxford | V3948 | 14PAFU | Flooton field, Cowbit nr Spalding | This aircraft was destroyed at 1100hrs when it dived into the ground at Cowbit, 4 miles south-east of Spalding during a training flight. The aircraft may have stalled during a turn. Pilot P/O DR Reid (Canadian) and Wireless Operator AC2 KRH Jones were both killed in the crash. |
| 13/02/1943 | Lancaster | W4836 | 12sqn | Newball nr Wragby | Coded PH-P. Airborne 1820hrs 13Feb43 from Wickenby for Lorient. Crashed 2245hrs on return to base, coming down at a 45 degree angle in Newball Wood in the airfield circuit and catching fire on impact. The crash was possibly caused by the aircraft stalling as the pilot had been in contact with Wickenby by radio just before the crash and gave no indication of any problems. Sgt J.Martin killed, Sgt L.Jones killed, Sgt J.B.Reay killed, Sgt R.V.Coombs killed, Sgt J.Callanan killed, Sgt D.F.Gibbs killed, Sgt E.Hemmings killed |
| 13/02/1943 | Blenheim | L6784 | 12(P)AFU | Ropsley | Shortly after take-off, the port engine failed. The pilot, Sgt D Adams, was able to slowly gain height whilst making gentle turns back towards the airfield. As he lowered the undercarriage, the aircraft lost height, hit some high-tension cables and crashed at 1530hrs. The aircraft was written off in the accident and Sgt Adams was injured. |
| 14/02/1943 | Lancaster | W4852 | 103 Sqn | Elsham Wolds | This aircraft was damaged at 2201hrs on takeoff for operations. The starboard undercarriage was damaged on takeoff and would not retract fully. The aircraft returned to base and made a belly landing. Pilot Sgt JCH Young (Australian) and his crew were uninjured in the incident. |
| 14/02/1943 | Beaufighter | JL632 | 254sqn | North Coates | Whilst using the runway for a compass swing at 1500hrs, the pilot W/O A A McIntosh noticed another aircraft inbound to land. There was insufficvient time to taxy to the end of the runway do W/O McIntosh taxied off the side of the runway to allow the other aircraft to land. The tail oleo broke whilst the aircraft was being taxied over rough ground. |
| 14/02/1943 | Mustang | AP230 | 613sqn | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was damaged in a heavy landing at 1225hrs following engine failure on takeoff for a tactical training exercise. The pilot was unable to see properly as the windscreen was covered in glycol from a failed coolant pipe, made a heavy touchdown and the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot F/O Dooley (New Zealander) was unhurt. |
| 14/02/1943 | Manchester | L7286 | 1660CU | Waddington | Airborne from Swinderby at 0916hrs for a continuation training sortie, the starboard engine flametraps burned through at 1000 feet, causing the engine to catch fire. The aircraft was immediately force-landed wheels-up at Waddington around 1100hrs. The airframe was not badly damaged, but was struck off charge on 7/Mar/43. Pilot Sgt NC Keeffe (Australian) and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 15/02/1943 | Master | T8458 | 7AACU | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged at 1035hrs whilst taxying in a gale-force wind. The wind lifted the tail of the aircraft and tipped it onto its nose when the pilot attempted to turn into the wind. Pilot Sgt Wusza (American) was unhurt. |
| 15/02/1943 | Lancaster | ED540 | 100sqn | Waltham | Coded HW-? This aircraft was destroyed whilst attempting to go round the circuit on 3 engines. The aircraft had suffered a failure of the port outer engine at 18000 feet and the aircraft returned to base. On the first approach, the aicrft bounced heavily and the pilot elected to go around again. The aircraft climbed to 200 feet, turned to port and dived into the ground, bursting into flames on impact. F/L N.S.L.Stent killed, Sgt J.S.Wall killed, P/O S.Wood (Australian) killed, Sgt D.E.M.Carson injured, Sgt E.Evans injured, Sgt W.E.Scarbrough killed, Sgt J.E.N.Croft killed, |
| 16/02/1943 | Martinet | HN876 | 1485TTGFlt | Coningsby | This aircraft was damaged on landing at 1300hrs when the undercarriage retracted on the runway due to a fault with the hydraulic system. Pilot F/O PWW Nock was uninjured in this incident. |
| 16/02/1943 | Magister | T9827 | 317sqn | nr Adlingfleet | This aircraft was written off at 1740hrs after the pilot attempted a forced landing in a field as he was so cold he was unable to think or stay at the controls. The aircraft hit a tree on approach to the chosen field and crashed. Pilot Sgt Krzysztofkinski was otherwise uninjured in this crash. |
| 16/02/1943 | Beaufighter | JL612 | 254sqn | nr Great Carlton | Whilst approaching Manby to land at 1105hrs on a test flight, the starboard engine failed in flight when the aircraft had undercarriage and flaps down. The aircraft was seen to enter a vertical left-hand turn and dived into the ground, destroying the airframe and killing pilot F/Lt J G Stephenson and his navigator P/O T W D White. |
| 16/02/1943 | Lancaster | ED560 | 100sqn | Waltham | Coded HW-?, this aircraft was damaged at 2226hrs on a night circuits and landings sortie. On the 5th circuit, the aircraft swung to port on takeoff and the pilot's corrective actions caused the aircraft to swing viloently, collapsing the undercarriage. Pilot P/O DHW Morgan and crew were uninjured. |
| 17/02/1943 | Master | DL846 | 7PAFU | 3 miles northeast of Bourne | This aircraft was damaged at 1100hrs when the pilot force-landed in a field after running low on fuel when he got lost. The aircraft ran into soft ground and tipped onto its nose. Pilot Sgt GG Jones was uninjured. |
| 17/02/1943 | Beaufighter | X7897 | 409sqn | Copperhill farm, Coleby Grange | Approaching to land at 1500hrs from a ferry flight prior to a night operation sortie, the pilot, W/Cdr P Y Davoud noticed that the undercarriage was slow to lock down. He opened the throttles to go around again and the starboard engine failed. The aircraft slewed round, landed on the port wing and undercarriage, crashed and caught fire. W/Cdr Davoud was injured in the crash, the aircraft was destroyed. |
| 17/02/1943 | Lancaster | W4197 | 97sqn | Woodhall Spa | On return from operations, this aircraft was severely damaged at 0040hrs when the pilot swung the aircraft to avoid overshooting the runway. The undercarriage collapsed during the swing. Pilot W/Cdr GD Jones and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 18/02/1943 | Spitfire | W3133 | 109OS/67OG | Frampton | Took off from Atcham, Shrops, on a round-trip navigation exercise to the mouth of the river Welland and back. Shortly after turning for home over the objective, the pilot 2nd Lt Emmett W. Wallace noticed that the engine was running rough and made a successful belly-landing on the mudflats 3 miles to the south-east of Frampton village. The aircraft was classed as a write-off. |
| 18/02/1943 | P-47 Thunderbolt | 41-6323 | 84FS/78FG | Goxhill | Crashed on takeoff, belly-landed. Aircraft damaged cat 3 but repaired. Pilot Lt Arthur Lee-White was unhurt. |
| 19/02/1943 | Wellington | HE531 | 466sqn | Kirmington | Coded HD-? Airborne at 1820hrs from Leconfield for Wilhelmshaven. Crash-landed on return at RAF Kirmington after being badly shot about by a Me110. In the confusion, Sgt Crowhurst baled out and he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Sgt Wilcock, the rear gunner, claimed their assailant destroyed by his return fire. Sgt R.V.Rosser Sgt D.Livingstone injured, Sgt E.F.Crowhurst killed, Sgt F.J.Brown injured, Sgt H.Wilcock |
| 20/02/1943 | Wellington | BK305 | 300sqn | Nettleham Field Farm, Nettleham | Coded BH-E, airborne at 1440hrs from Hemswell on an air-test sortie. The aircraft dived in vertically out of cloud at high speed and crashed at 1450hrs, catching fire on impact. The location given is a field named 29 acres at Nettleham Field Farm. The 2 PLA passengers were from 1st Reconnaissance Detachment, 1st Polish Armoured Division. W/O E.J. Szafran (Polish) killed, Sgt J. Kramarz (Polish) killed, Sgt S. Kaminski (Polish) killed, Sgt A.B. Dabrowski PLA killed, Cpl T. Kukurowski PLA killed. |
| 21/02/1943 | Wellington | R1520 | 301sqn | Hemswell | This aircraft was involved in an incident at 1200hrs when a member of the groundcrew, LAC E Hine, was injured whilst starting up the port engine at dispersal. |
| 21/02/1943 | Spitfire | X4272 | 317sqn | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was damaged on landing from a training flight at 1115hrs when the pilot approached far too fast, failed to stop and tried turning off the runway at high speed, causing the undercarriage to collapse. Pilot P/O A Czarnecki (Polish) was unhurt. |
| 23/02/1943 | Master | AZ538 | RAFC | Barkston Heath | This aircraft was damaged at 2320hrs when it belly-landed on the airfield after the pilot forgot to lower the undercarriage. Pilot LAC HK Gorman was uninjured. |
| 23/02/1943 | Oxford | W6653 | 12(P)AFU | Harlaxton | This aircraft was damaged whilst taxying at 0830hrs when the tailwheel struck the edge of the peritrack at a point where the ground was had sunk below the level of the track. Pilot Sgt FH Roberts was uninjured. |
| 25/02/1943 | Master | DK824 | RAFC | Barkston Heath | This aircraft was damaged at 2105hrs when the engine failed at 25 feet after takeoff. The instructor took control and force-landed the aircraft. Instructor F/O AG Barden and pupil LAC RT Emery were uninjured in the incident. |
| 25/02/1943 | Master | T8687 | RAFC | Barkston Heath | This aircraft was damaged at 1250hrs when the undercarriage collapsed after the aircraft swung to starboard caused by the pilot braking sharply on landing. Pilot LAC GA Butt was uninjured. |
| 25/02/1943 | Master | DK978 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1245hrs when it belly-landed on the airfield in poor visibility due to the pilot not having time to lower the undercarriage. Pilot 2/Lt WH Godfrey (Canadian) was unhurt. |
| 25/02/1943 | Master | DL285 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1300hrs when it landed short of fuel. The undercarriage had not locked down and the pilot had insufficient time to pump it down properly. Pilot LAC AC Cook was unhurt in the incident. |
| 25/02/1943 | Lancaster | ED475 | 50sqn | Skellingthorpe | This aircraft was damaged at 2350hrs after landing heavily on a training flight. As the aircraft taxied back to dispersal, the tailwheel collapsed. Pilot F/O H Day and crew were uninjured. |
| 25/02/1943 | Oxford | N6374 | 12(P)AFU | Sunnyside Farm, 3/4 mile south of Ingoldsby | This aircraft was destroyed at 1035hrs when it struck a tree, crashed and burned out whilst engaged in unauthorised low flying. Pilots P/O SM Wright (Canadian) and Sgt KW Wright were both killed in this crash. |
| 26/02/1943 | Beaufighter | X8260 | 409sqn | Coleby Grange | On take-off for a ferrying flight at 1545hrs the starboard tyre burst, causing the aircraft to swerve. The starboard undercarriage leg collapsed under the strain and the aircraft ground-looped. Pilot P/O E S P Fox (Canadian) was unhurt. |
| 26/02/1943 | Wellington | BJ647 | 199sqn | Ingham | This aircraft was damaged at 1900hrs on take-off for operations when the port engine failed. The pilot throttled back and braked, but the aircraft overshot the runway and came to rest in a ditch. Pilot Sgt DJ Clifford and his crew were unhurt. |
| 26/02/1943 | Wellington | Z1600 | 199sqn | Ingham | Coded EX-C, this aircraft was wrecked whilst taking off from Ingham for Cologne. The aircraft swung on take-off and the pilot did not give full throttle until late into the run. The aircraft became airborne briefly, and the pilot belly-landed on the airfield. The aircraft crashed through the airfield boundary hedge and caught fire. This was the pilot's first operation, the aircraft had been fitted with the starboard engine and tail unit from an aircraft that had previously crashed. Pilot P/O J.H.Waterfield was injured, the rest of the crew Sgt A.Matthews, P/O C.F.Woods, Sgt E.E.Eaton, Sgt S.L.Fawcett were unhurt |
| 26/02/1943 | Oxford | ED129 | 1481BGflt | nr Hemswell airfield | This aircraft was damaged at 1450hrs when it struck a tree on rising land whilst in flight. Pilot Sgt ML McGown was unhurt. |
| 27/02/1943 | Lancaster | W4857 | 103 Sqn | Elsham Hall | Coded PM-V. This aircraft was destroyed during a fighter affiliation sortie at 1600hrs. 8 of the crew abandoned the aircraft following failure of port tail fin due to excessive violent 'skidding' during the exercise. F/L Stubbs then attempted to land the aircraft, but the port rudder broke off and the aircraft crashed into a wood in the grounds of Elsham Hall and burned out. F/Lt Stubbs was on his 3rd tour of operations at this point. F/Lt R.N.Stubbs DFC DFM killed, 5 others injured. |
| 01/03/1943 | Master | DL191 | RAFC | Barkston Heath | This aircraft was damaged at 1225hrs after hitting the ground during flight after losing height in an air pocket. The instructor made a precautionary landing wheels-up on the airfield. Instructor P/O GE Trott and pupil LAC GE Harris were unhurt. |
| 01/03/1943 | Lancaster | ED490 | 9sqn | Heighington | This aircraft was destroyed at 0130hrs on return from operations. Approaching to land at Waddington, the aircraft flew into the ground in low cloud and poor visibility, catching fire on impact. Pilot F/Lt JV Verran injured, Sgt ES Smithson killed, P/O FT Johnson injured, P/O LH Geach killed, P/O JH Moutray DFM injured, Sgt KW Chalk injured, Sgt KEW Matthews killed. |
| 01/03/1943 | Battle | L5682 | 16APC | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged when pilot Sgt E Phillips mistook lights in the cockpit for the undercarriage lock indicators on his forst solo flight on the type and landed without the undercarriage locked down. The undercarriage collapsed on touchdown. Sgt Phillips had only 10 minutes solo time on the type when this incident occurred. |
| 01/03/1943 | P-47 Thunderbolt | 41-6332 | 83FS/78FG | nr Goxhill | Collided with 41-6370 in the Goxhill airfield circuit, Pilot F/O Robert I. Ronning killed as he was unable to bale out. Aircraft crashed on the RAF Goxhill parade ground 100 feet from the mess hall. |
| 01/03/1943 | P-47 Thunderbolt | 41-6370 | 62FS/56FG | nr Goxhill | Collided with 41-6332 in the Goxhill airfield circuit, pilot 1st Lt Winston S. Garth bailed out successfully but suffered a leg injury. Collision happened as this aircraft peeled off from the airfield overhead to land and collided with F/O Ronning's aircraft some 500 feet above him. |
| 01/03/1943 | Lancaster | W4137 | 44sqn | Waddington | Coded KM-L, Airborne 1825 28Feb43 from Waddington for St Nazaire. Crash-landed 0025hrs on return to Waddington, during which the u/c gave way and damaged the Lancaster beyond repair. All escaped injury Sgt K.J.Johnson RNZAF Sgt J.Gray Sgt I.F.Leeng Sgt R.A.Edmonds Sgt R.A.Edmonds Sgt J.R.Tarrant Sgt R.J.steed Sgt G.W.Bowman |
| Date | Type | Serial | Unit | Location | Notes |
|---|
| 01/03/1943 | Lancaster | ED323 | 97sqn | Woodhall Spa | This aircraft was damaged at 0010hrs on return from operations. Whilst taxying back to dispersal after a normal landing, the tail oleo broke, probably due to previous heavy landings. Pilot F/Lt SCR Bell and crew were uninjured. |
| 02/03/1943 | Halifax | DG338 | 1660CU | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged 1445 hours on a conversion training flight. The starboard undercarriage collapsed on landing with the pilot stating he was unable to move the undercarriage selector lever up after take-off. He landed with the selector lever down and green light showing that the undercarriage was locked down. Pilot Sgt J.R. Saxton and his crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 02/03/1943 | Oxford | V4205 | RAFC | Barkston Heath | This aircraft was damaged at 1600hrs when one wing dropped as it made a heavy landing, causing the undercarriage to collapse. Pilot P/O DF Liddle was unhurt. |
| 02/03/1943 | P-47 Thunderbolt | 41-6386 | 84FS/78FG | Goxhill | Aircraft suffered cat3 damage in a landing accident on this date but was subsequently repaired and returned to service. Pilot Lt Burl L Creech. |
| 02/03/1943 | Blenheim | L1130 | 12(P)AFU | Harlaxton | Whilst airborne for a day-flying training sortie, this aircraft was destroyed when it collided in mid-air with Blenheim T1870 at 1050hrs. Neither aircraft saw the other before the collision. Instructor F/O C S Wallace and pupil Sgt P K Norcross (New Zealander) were killed in this aircraft. |
| 02/03/1943 | Blenheim | T1870 | 12(P)AFU | Harlaxton | Whilst airborne for a day-flying training sortie, this aircraft was destroyed when it collided in mid-air with Blenheim L1130 at 1050hrs. Neither aircraft saw the other before the collision. Instructor P/O C E Wolfgram (New Zealander) was injured in this aircraft. |
| 02/03/1943 | Manchester | L7277 | 1654HCU | North Scarle | Airborne from Wigsley at 1425hrs to demonstrate feathering procedures. Around 1500hrs, the port propellor failed to disengage from the feathered position and the instructor ended the exercise and returned to Wigsley. Whilst in the circuit to land, the undercarriage refused to lower. The aircraft hit a tree whilst force-landing short of the airfield, crashed and caught fire on the ground. F/L P.J. Stone DFC injured, Sgt R.F. Lee injured, Sgt M.W. Hanley injured, Sgt W.G. Brearley injured, Sgt M.Y. Smith injured, Sgt F.A. John injured, Sgt P. Brook killed. |
| 02/03/1943 | Lancaster | R5894 | 57sqn | Riseholme | Coded DX-T. Airborne from Scampton 1906 1Mar43 for Berlin. Crashed on the return from Berlin at 0200hrs after flying into power lines near Riseholme, 3 miles SSE of Scampton. The squadron commander believed that the aircraft had suffered damage during the operation from collision, flak or nightfighter. The three Canadians, along with Sgt Ricketts and Sgt Miller, are buried in Scampton (St John the Baptist) Churchyard. F/O F.F.Greenan (Canadian) killed, Sgt J.B.Mallett (Canadian) killed, Sgt F.W.Music killed, Sgt H.H.Turkentine killed, Sgt H.W.Ricketts killed, Sgt F.C.E.Miller killed, Sgt R.H.P.Roberts killed |
| 03/03/1943 | Spitfire | AB872 | 302sqn | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was damaged at 1540hrs whilst landing in a strong gusty wind. One wing dropped, and the undercarriage collapsed on touchdown. Pilot Sgt Z Czarnecki (Polish) was uninjured. |
| 03/03/1943 | Oxford | X6978 | RAFC | North Rauceby Heath, south of Ermine Street House | This aircraft was damaged at 0903hrs when it force-landed wheels-up in a field after an engine failure in flight. Instructor F/O FH Dismore and pupil LAC DC Barton were unhurt in the incident. |
| 04/03/1943 | Defiant | N3455 | 288sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged at 2005 hours on return from a searchlight co-operation sortie. On landing the Defiant struck a parked Spitfire W3130, when it overshot of the landing area due to lack of wind on the runway. Pilot P/O GA Robinson (Canadian) was uninjured in this incident. |
| 04/03/1943 | Spitfire | W3130 | 288sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged at 2005hrs when Defiant N3455 struck the aircraft overshooting whilst landing. This aircraft was parked at the time. |
| 04/03/1943 | Wellington | LB185 | 3OTU | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged whilst stationary at 0130hrs when it was struck by taxying Whitley Z6978. Pilot F/O HM Parks (Canadian) and crew were unhurt. |
| 04/03/1943 | Whitley | Z6978 | 3OTU | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 0130hrs whilst taxying when it struck stationary Wellington LB185. Pilot F/O FH Jenkins and crew were unhurt. |
| 04/03/1943 | Blenheim | L1323 | 12(P)AFU | Harlaxton | This aircraft was damaged at 1700hrs on return from a training flight when Lt B Ayyiloiz (Turkish) landed with the undercarriage retracted. |
| 04/03/1943 | Lancaster | R5503 | 1660CU | Swinderby | This aircraft was severely damaged at 2351hrs on a conversion training sortie. The aircraft overshot on landing in conditions of no wind using a short runway, damaging the undercarriage. The longer runway could not be used as the circuit for it overlapped that of Winthorpe's long runway which was in use. P/O DM Moodie (Canadian) and his crew were uninjured. |
| 05/03/1943 | P-47 Thunderbolt | 41-6217 | 82FS/78FG | Goxhill | Aircraft suffered cat3 damage in a landing accident on this date but was subsequently repaired and returned to service. Pilot Lt Bryant Y Anderson. |
| 05/03/1943 | Spitfire | AA853 | 302sqn | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was damaged at 1500hrs when the port tyre burst on takeoff, causing the aircraft to swing sharply and the undercarriage to collapse. Pilot F/O G Radwanski (Polish) was unhurt. |
| 05/03/1943 | Beaufighter | JL827 | 254sqn | North Coates | Whilst taxying back to dispersal at 1500hrs after an air-sea rescue sortie, this aircraft was damaged when the tail hit a concrete block. The aircraft was being marshalled at the time. The tail oleo collapsed, pilot F/Lt C F Rose was uninjured. |
| 05/03/1943 | Mustang | AM170 | 41OTU | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was damaged at 1120hrs when it was struck in flight by a target drogue which it had just shot away from the towing cable during an air-firing exercise. Pilot F/Lt LAP Burra-Robinson was unhurt. |
| 08/03/1943 | Oxford | V3942 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1745hrs whilst overshooting the airfield in poor visibility. Whilst airborne, the undercarriage struck a pile of earth, causing the starboard leg to collapse. Pilot Sgt JJ Collins was uninjured in the incident. |
| 08/03/1943 | Lancaster | R5729 | 44sqn | Waddington | This aircraft was damaged at 1930hrs whilst stationary when it was struck by Lancaster W4305 taxying past. Damage was caused to the port wingtip. Pilot Sgt JD Gayton and crew were uninjured. |
| 08/03/1943 | Lancaster | W4305 | 44sqn | Waddington | This aircraft was damaged at 1930hrs whilst taxying out for operations. The starboard wingtip struck stationary Lancaster R5729, damaging both aircraft. Pilot F/Sgt KW Brown (canadian) and his crew were uninjured. |
| 08/03/1943 | Lancaster | R5889 | 97sqn | Woodhall Spa | This aircraft was damaged by fire on the ground at 1530hrs whilst being cleaned. Sparks from a broken electrical lead ignited vapours from the cleaning fluid being used, damaging the aircraft and causing burns to LAC SO Smith who was cleaning the aircraft. |
| 09/03/1943 | Master | DK979 | RAFC | Thorlby's Farm, Evedon | This aircraft was destroyed at 1530hrs when it struck trees whilst low flying. The pupil pilot allowed the aircraft's speed to build up, the rear windshield blew off and knocked the instructor out. The pupil was distracted by this and the aircraft hit a tree in good visibility, crashed and burned out on the ground. Instructor Sgt Y Chardon (Free French) and pupil LAC JD Borrell were both killed in the crash. |
| 10/03/1943 | Hampden | P5339 | 1AAS | Manby | This aircraft was damaged at 1205 hours during 2h35m of circuits and landings training when the starboard engine failed in flight. The engine exhaust fractured and the nacelle caught fire. Pilot Sgt A Ostrowski (Polish) landed safely and was uninjured in this incident. |
| 10/03/1943 | Spitfire | W3828 | 302sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged at 1715hrs on return from an air firing exercise. The pilot landed heavily on one wheel, bounced, and the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot Sgt E Hoffman (Polish) was unhurt. |
| 10/03/1943 | Wellington | HZ259 | 199sqn | Ingham | This aircraft was damaged at 0120hrs when it was struck by a vehicle whilst stopped on the peritrack with all lights illuminated. Pilot S/Ldr LC Wynne-Powell and crew were uninjured. |
| 11/03/1943 | Wellington | X3819 | 199sqn | Ingham | This aircraft was damaged on landing from an airtest at 1200hrs when it touched down heavily on the rough grass surface of the airfield, causing the tailwheel to collapse. Pilot Sgt DJ Clifford and his crew were uninjured. |
| 11/03/1943 | Wellington | BJ645 | 166sqn | Kirmington | This aircraft was involved in an incident on return from a cross-country sortie. On reaching dispersal at 2310hrs the engines were being run to cool them down. A member of the aircrew, F/O D Crawford, alighted the aircraft without permission before the engines had stopped and was killed when he walked into one of the running propellors. |
| 11/03/1943 | Halifax | DK117 | 1660HCU | Leasingham | Airborne from Swinderby 1150. Pilot lost control during a 3-engine practise whilst trying to unfeather the port outer airscrew at 2000 feet. The aircraft crashed at 1230 between Cranwell & Leasingham and was burned out on the ground. Sgt W.J. King injured, Sgt K.L. Howard injured, Sgt C.E. Towill injured, P/O Bowden unhurt, Sgt R. Stevens injured, but died later in hospital from his injuries, Sgt N. Jackson injured, Sgt S.J. Proctor injured. |
| 11/03/1943 | Lancaster | W4305 | 44sqn | Waddington | This aircraft was damaged at 2338hrs when the tail oleo collapsed after the pilot landed tail-first with drift. The aircraft had returned early from operations with one engine shut down. Pilot F/Sgt KW Brown (canadian) and crew were uninjured. |
| 12/03/1943 | Master | DM220 | RAFC | Baston Fen | This aircraft was damaged on a cross-country flight after the pilot had to make a forced landing in a field at 1500hrs when the aircraft ran out of fuel. The wheels hit soft ground, and the aircraft overturned. Pilot LAC JF Wooley was uninjured. |
| 12/03/1943 | Lancaster | W4889 | 1662CU | Blyton | This aircraft was damaged at 1500hrs on landing from a training flight. The tailwheel shimmied excessively during landing, causing the tail oleo locating beam to fail. Pilot F/Sgt Willis and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 12/03/1943 | Spitfire | BL235 | 302sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged on landing at 1700hrs on transfer to the squadron. The undercarriage collapsed after landing on the rough grass airfield surface. Pilot F/O M Gorzula (Polish) was uinjured. |
| 12/03/1943 | Manchester | R5838 | 1661HCU | Wickenby | Airborne from Winthorpe to demonstrate feathering procedures, during which the port engine was shut down. The pilot attempted to restart the engine at 5000 feet, but was forced to crash-land at Wickenby at 1255hrs after the port propeller failed to unfeather. On landing, the aircraft overshot the runway and hit a ditch, causing the starboard undercarriage to collapse. The aircraft was written off in this incident. Pilot W/O E Knight and crew were uninjured in the accident. |
| 12/03/1943 | Manchester | L7474 | 106sqn | Winceby | Coded ZN-? This aircraft was lost on a training sortie on this date. The only detail recorded is that the aircraft was abandoned and crashed near Winceby. |
| 13/03/1943 | Lancaster | ED432 | 49sqn | Fiskerton | This aircraft suffered damage to the port undercarriage after return from operations at 0001hrs. On inspection, the fuselage skin was found to be wrinkled near the tailwheel and the tail area was seen to have been strained by previous heavy landings. Pilot Sgt WC Townsend and crew were uninjured. |
| 13/03/1943 | Spitfire | AD262 | 317sqn | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was damaged on landing at 1620hrs when the port undercarriage leg retracted de to damage caused in the preceding bumpy takeoff. Pilot F/O J Walawski (Polish) was uninjured. |
| 13/03/1943 | Oxford | X6979 | RAFC | nr Glebe farm, Wilsford Heath | This aircraft was written off at 0300hrs when it crashed after striking trees on approach to Barkston Heath on a night solo flight. Pilot LAC GM Claydon was injured in the crash. |
| 13/03/1943 | Wellington | BK158 | 199sqn | nr Skellingthorpe | Coded EX-G, the aircraft was destroyed at 1600hrs whilst on an engine test flight after the dinghy broke loose in flight, fouled the elevators and caused the aircraft to break up in flight after control was lost. Pilot Sgt T.F. Hockley killed, Sgt L.G. Vaughan killed, Sgt L. Joisce killed, Sgt A.G. Shorten (Canadian) killed, Sgt A.M. Cormack killed. |
| 14/03/1943 | Master | W8958 | 2GTF | Brocklesby | This aircraft force-landed after running out of fuel on this date. Pilot Lt Leighton M Read unhurt. |
| 14/03/1943 | Spitfire | EN908 | 411sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged on landing at 1630hrs when the pilot held off too high on approach and landed heavily, causing the undercarriage to collapse. The pilot, Sgt ELE Drysdale (Canadian) was uninjured, but was given a short course on the aircraft type as he has only 3 hours on type at the time of the accident. |
| 14/03/1943 | Lancaster | W4201 | 57sqn | Scampton | Coded DX-F. Airborne 1956 13Mar43 from Scampton to lay mines in Danzig Bay (Privet Region). Badly shot about by a night-fighter and crashed 0610 14Mar43 on return to Scampton. F/O W.E.Jeavons injured, Sgt B.G.Carter injured, P/O D.W.Warwick Sgt R.E.H. Hood-Morris P/O R.E.Gibbons Sgt G.Cooper injured, Sgt J.B.Hughes |
| 14/03/1943 | Wellington | LB230 | 3OTU | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was damaged on landing from a test flight at 1715hrs when it undershot the landing area and struck a pillbox on the airfield boundary, breaking the port wheel off. The aircraft ground-looped at the end of its landing run and the starboard undercarriage collapsed. Pilot F/O Hollinson and crew were uninjured. |
| 14/03/1943 | Lancaster | ED591 | 97sqn | Woodhall Spa | This aircraft was damaged at 1215hrs after a 45-minute air-test flight. The tailwheel collapsed during a normal landing, damaging the rear fuselage. Pilot Sgt WS Treacy and crew were uninjured. |
| 15/03/1943 | Do217E-4 | U5+LP | 6/KG2 | between Grainsby halt and North Thoresby | This aircraft was shot down by F/Lt Willson/P/O Holloway in a 219sqn Beaufighter at 2140hrs. Oberlt H Holzapfiel, Oberfw A Kuepper, Fw G Stein (injured) and Fw G Doern all baled out and were taken prisoner. |
| 15/03/1943 | Wellington | Z1248 | 305sqn | Hemswell | This aircraft was damaged in a heavy landing from a training flight at 1915hrs. Pilot P/O J Krzehlik (Polish) and his crew were unhurt. |
| 15/03/1943 | Lancaster | ED306 | 57sqn | Scampton | Coded DX-? Destroyed whilst parked at 0915hrs following a devastating explosion caused by a bomb falling from a 57 Squadron Lancaster (W4834) which destroyed six Lancasters |
| 15/03/1943 | Lancaster | ED594 | 57sqn | Scampton | Coded DX-? Destroyed whilst parked at 0915hrs following a devastating explosion caused by a bomb falling from a 57 Squadron Lancaster (W4834) which destroyed six Lancasters |
| 15/03/1943 | Lancaster | ED706 | 57sqn | Scampton | Damaged on the ground at 0915hrs by the blast from a 4000lb bomb accidentally released on the ground by Lancaster W4834. |
| 15/03/1943 | Lancaster | R5751 | 57sqn | Scampton | Damaged on the ground at 0915hrs by the blast from a 4000lb bomb accidentally released on the ground by Lancaster W4834. |
| 15/03/1943 | Lancaster | W4112 | 50sqn | Scampton | Coded DX-? Destroyed whilst parked at 0915hrs following a devastating explosion caused by a bomb falling from a 57 Squadron Lancaster (W4834) which destroyed six Lancasters |
| 15/03/1943 | Lancaster | W4196 | 50sqn | Scampton | Coded DX-? Destroyed whilst parked at 0915hrs following a devastating explosion caused by a bomb falling from a 57 Squadron Lancaster (W4834) which destroyed six Lancasters |
| 15/03/1943 | Lancaster | W4376 | 57sqn | Scampton | Damaged on the ground at 0915hrs by the blast from a 4000lb bomb accidentally released on the ground by Lancaster W4834. |
| 15/03/1943 | Lancaster | W4797 | 57sqn | Scampton | Damaged on the ground at 0915hrs by the blast from a 4000lb bomb accidentally released on the ground by Lancaster W4834. |
| 15/03/1943 | Lancaster | W4822 | 57sqn | Scampton | Damaged on the ground at 0915hrs by the blast from a 4000lb bomb accidentally released on the ground by Lancaster W4834. |
| 15/03/1943 | Lancaster | W4823 | 50sqn | Scampton | Coded DX-? Destroyed whilst parked at 0915hrs following a devastating explosion caused by a bomb falling from a 57 Squadron Lancaster (W4834) which destroyed six Lancasters |
| 15/03/1943 | Lancaster | W4834 | 57sqn | Scampton | Coded DX-? This aircraft was destroyed on the ground at 0915hrs after a 4000lb bomb was accidentally released and detonated, setting off an explosion of such magnitude that five other Lancasters, three belonging to 50 Squadron, and an additional two from 57 Squadron in the immediate vicinity were destroyed, making this incident the worst accident of its type in 1943 |
| 16/03/1943 | Master | DK822 | RAFC | Barkston Heath | This aircraft was damaged at 1405hrs when it belly-landed on the airfield after the pilot forgot to lower the undercarriage. Pilot P/O PK Twiss was uninjured and was ordered to assist in the repair of the aircraft. |
| 16/03/1943 | Master | DL123 | RAFC | Barkston Heath | This aircraft was damaged at 1725hrs when it belly-landed on the airfield after the pilot forgot to lower the undercarriage. Pilot LAC GH Wylde was unhurt in the incident. |
| 16/03/1943 | Master | W9096 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was written off in a landing accident at 0910hrs when one wing dropped and struck the ground, causing the aircraft to crash. The instructor was unable to take control of the aircraft as the pupil's headset lead had snagged on the control column, jamming it. Instructor F/O PV Deeks and pupil LAC BA Collens were uninjured. |
| 16/03/1943 | Lancaster | ED438 | 49sqn | Fiskerton | This aircraft was damaged at 1115hrs whilst taxying out for a training flight when the starboard outer prop struck a civilian van. The pilot was concentrating on avoiding a hole under repair in the middle of the peri track at the time. Pilot Sgt JH MacDonald (New Zealander) and crew were uninjured in the incident. |
| 16/03/1943 | Blenheim | T2356 | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | On return to the airfield at 1750hrs after a 1h25m training flight, Sgt A M McInnes held off too high on landing, stalled the aircraft and landed heavily causing the starboard undercarriage leg to collapse. The aircraft caught fire and was moderately damaged. |
| 16/03/1943 | Wellington | AD600 | 14OTU | Wash ranges | This aircraft was damaged at 1435hrs when a target drogue cable broke in flight, whipping back into the aircraft and injuring a amember of the crew. Pilots W/O F Stott and Sgt CM Cottingham (Canadian) were unhurt. |
| 16/03/1943 | Wellington | Z8501 | 12FPP | Wickenby | This aircraft was wrecked when the pilot force-landed the aircraft wheels-up in a field after the starboard engine failed at 200 feet and 120mph shortly after takeoff on a ferry flight. The aircraft came to rest near Grange Lodge. Pilot ATA First Officer miss EF May was injured in the crash. |
| 17/03/1943 | P-47 Thunderbolt | 41-6243 | 84FS/78FG | Goxhill | This aircraft groundlooped and suffered repairable damage on this date. Pilot Lt Louis C Dion was one of the original Eagle Squadron pilots who joined the RCAF in 1939 and fought in the Battle of Britain. In 1943 he transferred to the USAAF 8th AF and continued to fly combat missions. he retired in 1963 as a Major in the USAF having flown 105 different aircraft types in his career. |
| 17/03/1943 | Blenheim | | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | This aircraft was damaged on landing at 1730hrs when P/O W L Clemo (Australian) was forced to land with undercarriage retracted and flaps up after a hydraulic failure in flight. |
| 18/03/1943 | Hurricane | P2915 | 56OTU | Sutton Bridge | On return from a formation flying exercise at 1730hrs , this aircraft was damaged when the pilot held off too high on approach, stalled the aircraft and crashed onto the runway. The pilot, Sgt L G Fisher was uninjured in the crash. |
| 19/03/1943 | Mosquito | HJ930 | 410sqn | 3/4 mile north-west of Coleby Grange | This aircraft was destroyed when it crashed at 0100hrs after an operational scramble sortie. The aircraft flew into the searchlight canopy then turned sharply and dived into the ground, catching fire on impact. Pilot WO2 BM Haight (Canadian) and his navigator Sgt OS Milburn were both killed in the crash. |
| 19/03/1943 | Mosquito | DZ427 | 109sqn | Baston Fen | Coded HS-? The aircraft suffered structural failure causing the control surfaces to detach in flight and crashed on fenland outside the village at 1540hrs. The aircraft was seen to break cloud minus its tail and to dive into the ground and catch fire. F/Lt C.R. Henry killed, P/O W.J. Olde killed. |
| 20/03/1943 | Oxford | V4094 | 1514BATF | Coningsby | This aircraft was damaged at 1600hrs whilst taxying to the peritrack whilst the airfield was under construction. The aircraft ran into an unmarked deep trench, the port wing tipped and the propellor struck the ground. Instructor F/O P Enderby and pupil Sgt G Dale (Canadian) were uninjured in this incident. |
| 20/03/1943 | Spitfire | BL642 | 306sqn | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was damaged ina a heavy landing on a hard, bumpy airfield surface which caused the undercarriage to collapse. Pilot S/Ldr W Karwowski (Polish) was uninjured. |
| 20/03/1943 | Beaufighter | EL433 | 236sqn | North Coates | On take-off for an air-test at 1555hrs pilot F/O E H Jefferys DFC heard sharp bangs through his earphones and saw red fuel warning lights come on. The aircraft gave sharp tugs to starboard and F/Lt Jefferys closed the throttles to prevent the aircraft running into the dispersal area. he also retracted the undercarriage in an attempt to stop the aircraft in time. but it skidded over the grass and struck parked Beaufighter JL955, damaging both aircraft. |
| 20/03/1943 | Beaufighter | JL955 | 254sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged whilst parked by Beaufighter EL433 which skidded into it after an aborted take-off. |
| 21/03/1943 | Lancaster | ED532 | 467sqn | Bottesford | This aircraft was damaged at 1645hrs whilst taxying for a training flight. The aircraft left the peri track and the wheels became stuck in a patch of soft ground. The sudden deceleration caused the tail to rise and fall heavily, damaging the tailwheel. Pilot F/Lt KF Thiele (New Zealander) and the crew were uninjured. |
| 21/03/1943 | Blenheim | | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | On return from a training exercise at 1815hrs the port undercarriage leg failed to fully lower, becoming stuck half way down. Pilot P/O P V G Sandeman raised the starboard undercarriage and belly-landed on the airfield. On examination, the port extension jack was found to have been damaged when P/O Sandeman prematurely raised the undercarriage on take-off. |
| 21/03/1943 | Lancaster | R5895 | 1660CU | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged at 2258hrs during a dual training sortie when the aircraft bounced on landing. The instructor took over control and corrected the swing using engine power. The starboard outer throttle failed to close, causing a violent swing. The aircraft ran off the runway and struck an earth bank on the airfield, causing the undercarriage to collapse. Instructor F/Lt SJ Beard, his pupil Sgt JH Whiting (Australian) and the crew were uninjured. |
| 22/03/1943 | Martinet | HN879 | 1485TTGFlt | Fulbeck | This aircraft was damaged whilst taxying at 1215hrs when the port wheel sank into a loosely filled trench after leaving the peritrack, causing the aircraft to tip onto its nose. Pilot F/O WF Jordon was uninjured. |
| 23/03/1943 | Oxford | HM945 | RAFC | Barkston Heath | This aircraft was damaged at 1625hrs whilst practising forced landings. The pilot landed wheels-up despite the undercarriage warning horn sounding. Pilot LAC JR Moser was unhurt in the incident. |
| 23/03/1943 | Lancaster | W4106 | 44sqn | Waddington | Coded KM-T. This aircraft was written off after the undercarriage collapsed in a heavy landing at the end of a night cross-country flight at 2030hrs. Sgt D Sharp Sgt T.Johnstone Sgt R.Dash Sgt N.Morris Sgt E.Griffiths. No injuries. |
| 24/03/1943 | Halifax | BG315 | 1660CU | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged at 1700 hours during a solo circuits and landings conversion training flight. The flight engineer selected undercarriage up instead of flaps up whilst the aircraft was moving down the runway after landing. Pilot Sgt JH Mason (Canadian) and his crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 24/03/1943 | Halifax | DG362 | 1660CU | Swinderby | This aircraft was destroyed at 1045 hours on take-off for conversion training sortie. The pilot took off in a crosswind and applied full right rudder to correct the swing. When the pilot tried to ease off the rudder, the control became locked in the full right position. The aircraft swung and both undercarriage legs were torn off. The incident was caused by the starboard strap lug of the starboard rudder pedal fracturing. Instructor F/Sgt WJ Wilkinson and pupil P/O JL Cooper were uninjured in this crash. The aircraft was salvaged as a ground instruction airframe and reserialled as 4454M |
| 24/03/1943 | Lancaster | R5726 | 1662CU | Blyton | This aircraft was extensively damaged at 2135hrs when the undercarriage collapsed after the aircraft swung on takeoff during a training flight. The aircraft caught fire on the ground. Pilot Sgt NP Betts and crew escaped uninjured. |
| 24/03/1943 | Beaufighter | JL650 | 254sqn | North Coates | Whilst taxying along the perimeter track after landing from a transit flight at 1135hrs, this aircraft was damaged when the starboard engine suddenly revved up causing the port wing to strike a gun being towed by a truck. The aircraft had turned to steer round the truck, but the extra power turned the aircraft back into it. The pilot, F/Sgt F Poore was uninjured. |
| 24/03/1943 | Master | W8969 | CGS | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was damaged at 1405hrs when the port undercarriage leg collapsed after landing due to a faulty locking mechanism. Instructor F/Lt WL Johnston and passenger P/O GW Harrison were unhurt. |
| 24/03/1943 | Manchester | L7453 | 1661CU | Swinderby | Airborne from Swinderby at 1520hrs, the port engine caught fire on takeoff. After flying a circuit on one engine, the pilot crash-landed wheels-up on the airfield at 1525hrs. Pilot S/Ldr RGW Oakley and most of the crew were uninjured, pupil pilot Sft GS Cole was slightly injured in this incident. The aircraft was transferred to the manufacturer for repair, but was struck off charge on 1/May/43 before any real work had been started. |
| 27/03/1943 | Beaufighter | T5199 | 236sqn | 1 mile northeast of Pye's Hall | This aircraft was destrroyed in a crash at 1410hrs whilst on an authorised low-level attack on a target on a firing range. The pilot, F/Sgt S L Guernon (French) was concentrating on his sights and flew into the ground in very glarey conditions caused by sun reflecting off hard sand. F/Sgt Guernon was killed in the crash, his 2 crewmwmbers were injured. |
| 27/03/1943 | Lancaster | W4892 | 1662CU | Blyton | This aircraft was damaged at 2342hrs when the undercarriage collapsed on landing during a night dual instruction sortie. A faulty switch was supected as the cause. Pilot F/Lt JK Douglas (Australian) and crew were uninjured. |
| 27/03/1943 | Beaufighter | T3142 | 409sqn | Cooke's Farm, Leverton | This aircraft was destroyed at 1600hrs whilst the pilot S/Ldr B A Hanbury was demonstrating a stall with flaps and undercarriage lowered to a junior pilot, P/O P M Sweet. The aircraft entered into an unrecoverable spin with the dead engine inside the turn. The aircraft crashed and burned out, killing the Canadian crew - S/Ldr B A Hanbury, P/O P M Sweet and F/Sgt J W Dickson. The wreckage was salvaged on 30/3/43. |
| 27/03/1943 | Blenheim | L8657 | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | This aircraft was written off whilst parked up when it was damaged by debris from the explosion of Blenheim L8659. |
| 27/03/1943 | Blenheim | Z5869 | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | This aircraft was destroyed and pilot Sgt A Richards was killed when the aircraft dived into the gorund under power after control was lost whilst flying in cloud. The aircraft exploded on impact, debris damaged parked Blenheim L8657 beyond repair. |
| 27/03/1943 | Lancaster | W4190 | 1661CU | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged in a heavy landing on this date, no further detail recorded. |
| 28/03/1943 | Oxford | AB772 | 14PAFU | Coleby Grange | This aircraft was damaged at 1310hrs when it landed wheels-up after the pilot forgot to lower the undercarriage on approach. Pilot F/O SJ Colman was unhurt in the incident. |
| 28/03/1943 | Wellington | BK236 | 300sqn | Hemswell | This aircraft was damaged whilst attempting to take off for an air test flight at 1100hrs. On several prior attempts, the aircraft had swung each time and the pilot aborted the runs. On this occasion, the swing happened at a higher speed, and the pilot retracted the undercarriage to prevent the aircraft crashing into the airfield boundary. Pilot S Tohicki (Polish) and crew were unhurt. |
| 28/03/1943 | Wellington | Z1395 | 305sqn | Hemswell | This aircraft was damaged at 1930hrs whilst the pilot was trying to take off for operations. The supercharger lever was left disengaged, meaning the engines could not deliver enough power. The pilot realised that the aircraft was not going to get airborne, switched the engines off and retracted the undercarriage to stop the aircraft. Pilot Sgt K Ignatowski (Polish) and his crew were uninjured. |
| 28/03/1943 | Lancaster | W4131 | 1660CU | Swinderby | This aircraft was reported as damaged after landing at 1249hrs after a fighter affiliation exercise. The airframe was found to have been strained by violent manoeuvres during the flight but landed safely. Pilots Sgt H Rogers and Sgt E Mercer and their crew were uninjured. |
| 29/03/1943 | Blenheim | AZ861 | 12(P)AFU | 1.5 miles northeast of Harlaxton | This aircraft was destroyed at 0940hrs when pilot F/O H E Trumper lost control at around 500 feet after the aircraft stalled whilst turning into the wind on a single-engined approach. The aircraft crashed and caught fire, killing F/O Trumper. |
| 29/03/1943 | Master | DL285 | RAFC | Barkston Heath | This aircraft was damaged at 0200hrs when it landed wheels-up on the airfield after the pilot forgot to lower the undercarriage. Pilot LAC NT Clouder was unhurt in this incident. |
| 29/03/1943 | Beaufighter | JL651 | 254sqn | between Donna Nook & North Coates | On a flight to test the aircraft's dive brakes, they failed to retract after being deployed in flight. The pilot, Sgt J J Simpson (New Zealander) judged that the aircraft was too dangerous to fly in this configuration and made a forced landing on the coast at 1545hrs. The aircraft was written off after the forced landing. |
| 29/03/1943 | Master | DK974 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged on landing at 1240hrs. The undercarriage was hanging down, but a fractured hydraulic tank had allowed the hydraulic fluid to leak away, preventing the undercarriage locking into position. It collapsed on touchdown. Pilot LAC Harding-King was unhurt. |
| 29/03/1943 | Blenheim | L1444 | 18sqn | nr North Coates | Coded WV-? Airborne on reconnaissance sortie to Metz. Damaged by enemy action over Germany and after crossing the North Sea crash landed near North Coates, 10 miles SE of Grimsby.P/O J.A.E.Monette injured, Sgt J.A.H.Potter killed, LAC A.C.Whitehill uninjured |
| 29/03/1943 | Blenheim | L1437 | 12(P)AFU | Stroxton | After overshooting Harlaxton landing ground, this aircraft was destroyed at 2305hrs when it crashed into the ground in a port turn after the pilot Sgt A Lorenz (Australian) lost control whilst airborne on a night-flying sortie. The aircraft struck the ground, caught fire and burned out, killing Sgt Lorenz. |
| 29/03/1943 | Lancaster | W4687 | 1660CU | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged at 0121hrs whilst taxying to dispersal after landing. The tailwheel had juddered during landing and collapsed whilst taxying. Pilot F/Sgt JH Witing (Australian) and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 29/03/1943 | Spitfire | P8503 | AFDU | Waddington | On landing at 0930hrs from a fighter affiliation training sortie, this aircraft was damaged when it struck a protruding runway light, causing the undercarriage to collapse. Pilot P/O JF Yeatman was unhurt. |
| 30/03/1943 | Lancaster | W4175 | 97sqn | Coningsby | Coded OF-U. Airborne 2151 29Mar43 from Woodhall Spa for Berlin. Crashed 0445hrs in Coningsby village on return from ops while circling the nearby airfield at 1000 feet as instructed. The aircraft burned out on the ground. No definite cause was found, though loss of control due to either structural failure of the aircraft or stalling whilst circling were suspected. F/O Norton and F/O Francis were buried in Coningsby Cemetery. F/O P.H.Norton killed, Sgt J.A.Peel killed, F/O G.C.W.Francis killed, Sgt W.Standring killed, Sgt R.Frank (Canadian) killed, F/Sgt F.R.Birtwistle killed, Sgt W.H.Whiting killed |
| 30/03/1943 | Master | DL116 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1630hrs when Master DL192 was blown into it whilst taxying. Pilot LAC JS Carmichael was uninjured. |
| 30/03/1943 | Master | DL192 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1630hrs whilst taxying when a gust of wind blew it into Master DL116. The pilot of DL192 had not allowed sufficient pressure to build up to make the brakes effective and was taxying too close to the other aircraft. Pilot LAC HJ Shute was unhurt. |
| 30/03/1943 | Lancaster | R5504 | 1660CU | Swinderby | This aircraft was severely damaged at 0400hrs during a night circuits and landings sortie. The aircraft swung on landing, the pilot failed to correct the swing and the undercarriage collapsed. Following this, the aircraft caught fire on the ground. Pilot Sgt A Anderson and crew were uninjured. |
| 30/03/1943 | Lancaster | R5729 | 44sqn | Waddington | This aircraft was damaged whilst landing on return from operations at 0250hrs. Damage to the undercarriage was noticed after the aircraft had taxied back to dispersal. Pilot F/Sgt RS Raymond and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 31/03/1943 | Master | DL243 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged whilst landing at 1120hrs. The pupil was practising glide approaches and undershot the airfield. The instructor opened the throttles too late, and the tailwheel was torn off when it struck a wall. Instructor F/Lt PB Gibson and pupil LAC GJ Brace were unhurt in the incident. |
| 31/03/1943 | Spitfire | EN922 | 302sqn | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft suffered damage to the port undercarriage and wing when it landed heavily at 1550hrs from a training flight. Pilot Sgt K Makosz was unhurt. |
| 31/03/1943 | Spitfire | AR431 | 317sqn | Westwoodside | This aircraft, coded JH-Y, was destroyed at 1135hrs when it crashed and burned out after the port wing struck the ground in a turn as it was low-flying. Pilot F/O KM Kierski (Polish) was killed in the crash. |
| Date | Type | Serial | Unit | Location | Notes |
|---|
| 01/04/1943 | Argus | FK340 | 7FPP taxi Flt | nr Gainsborough | This aircraft force-landed in a field after the engine failed in flight. The ATA pilot, Mrs M Metcalfe was uninjured though the aircraft sustained damage in the accident. |
| 01/04/1943 | P-47 Thunderbolt | 41-6379 | 82FS/78FG | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was involved in a landing accident on this date. The aircraft was repaired and returned to service. Pilot was Lt Robert F Brower. |
| 01/04/1943 | Wellington | N2981 | CGS | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was involved in an incident on the ground during its daily inspection at 0915hrs when the balloon cable cutter operated, injuring Cpl T Duddin. |
| 02/04/1943 | Blenheim | L6710 | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | Whilst taking off on a dual instruction sortie at 1610 hours, a tyre burst on takeoff. The aircraft swung and the undercarriage collapsed. F/LT CG Killpack and Sgt HRF Partridge were uninjured. |
| 02/04/1943 | Blenheim | V5462 | 1AAS | Manby | Whilst taking off for an air firing practice sortie at 1415 hours the port engine failed, the aircraft swung. The pilot switched the ignition off and the aircraft belly landed. F/O DRB Carruthers was uninjured. |
| 02/04/1943 | Spitfire | BM525 | 402sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged at 1600hrs whilst the pilot was practising deck landing techniques. The aircraft stalled and made a heavy landing, causing the undercarriage to collapse. Pilot P/O EJ Ross (Canadian) was unhurt. |
| 02/04/1943 | Lancaster | ED729 | 1662HCU | nr Kirton Lindsey | Airborne at 1330 from Blyton for a daylight training flight. The aircraft was observed on the approach shortly after takeoff with the starboard inner engine feathered and the starboard outer engine running roughly. When attempts to restart the starboard inner failed, and the aircraft was losing height, the pilot force-landed in a ploughed field 4 miles north of Kirton Lindsey at 1400hrs. As the aircraft was approaching the field, it struck a low brick wall and was damaged beyond repair. Instructor P/O EW Bennee, pupil Sgt JS Stewart (Australian) and crew were uninjured in the crash. |
| 02/04/1943 | Lancaster | ED493 | 9sqn | Waddington | This aircraft was damaged at 0150hrs on return from operations when the pilot taxied into the wrong dispersal. Whilst the aircraft was turning to leave the dispersal the tailwheel caught in a rut an collapsed. Pilot F/O CW Fox and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 03/04/1943 | Master | DK948 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1425hrs when it overshot on landing and collided with the airfield control post and a van. This was the pilot's first experience of this aircraft type. Pilot Lt M Acikalin (Turkish) was unhurt. |
| 04/04/1943 | Wellington | X3578 | 300sqn | Hemswell | This aircraft was damaged at 2150hrs on return from operations after an engine failure in flight. The aircraft made a heavy single-engined landing. Pilot P/O K Brochowski (Polish) and crew were uninjured. |
| 04/04/1943 | Wellington | HE490 | 199sqn | Ingham | This aircraft was damaged at 0130hrs on return from operations. The pilot approached too high and landed heavily, tailwheel first, damaging the tailwheel. Pilot Sgt WA Austin and crew were unhurt. |
| 04/04/1943 | Beaufighter | JL885 | 143sqn | North Coates | At 0700hrs this aircraft crashed whilst attempting to take off downwind, crewed by 2 non-aircrew airmen trying to escape from North Coates out of frustration with the intention of flying to Eire to escape the war. The aircraft was written off when it crashed before becoming airborne, and the airmen, AC2 J C Robinson & LAC R Walton were both uninjured but were detained pending Court Martial for stealing the aircraft. |
| 05/04/1943 | Master | DL123 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1245hrs after the engine failed on the cross-wind leg of the circuit. The pilot force-landed in a field with undercarriage down. The undercarriage was broken off on touchdown. Pilot 2/Lt AR McCurdy (Canadian) was uninjured. |
| 05/04/1943 | Master | DL888 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1440hrs when the engine failed at 100 feet on takeoff, causing the pilot to force-land in a field with undercarriage retracted. Pilot F/O J Cairns and pupil Lt S Kirmizi (Turkish) were unhurt. |
| 05/04/1943 | Whitley | Z6722 | 3OTU | Cranwell | This aircraft was wrecked at 0515hrs on return from a navigation exercise. The pilot was going round the circuit when one engine failed in flight due to a coolant leak. The aircraft lost height, struck a tree short of the flarepath and crashed. Pilots Sgt GC Wright, Sgt W Brook and crew escaped with minor injuries. |
| 05/04/1943 | Spitfire | BL992 | 402sqn | Digby | This aircraft was severely damaged at 1930hrs whilst the pilot was attempting dummy deck landings in a strong gusty wind. Approaching over a hangar at 80mph, the aircraft was caught by turbulence and stalled at 35 feet altitude, landing heavily and collapsing the undercarriage. Pilot P/O DR Stephens (Canadian) was seriously injured in the crash. |
| 05/04/1943 | Lancaster | ED416 | 49sqn | Fiskerton | On return from operations, the aircraft was discovered to have a hole in the starboard wing caused by an unknown object over enemy territory. Pilot Sgt DET Penry and crew were uninjured and unaware of the damage in flight. |
| 05/04/1943 | Blenheim | L6729 | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | this aircraft was damaged when the pilot selected undercarriage up in error for flaps after landing. The instructor was late in taking corrective action and was unable to prevent this incident. F/O FW Price and Sgt WT Bryant were uninjured. |
| 05/04/1943 | Oxford | X6796 | RAFC | nr Cranwell village | This aircraft was destroyed at 1325hrs on approach to land from a solo training flight. The aircraft had wheels and flaps down and was descending in a gusty wind when the port engine failed, causing the aircraft to enter a spin and crash, catching fire on impact and burning out. Pilot Cpl SM Coward was killed in the incident. |
| 06/04/1943 | Halifax | DT484 | 1662CU | Blyton | This aircraft was damaged at 1430 hours on a circuits and landings dual instruction sortie. On approach the aircraft ballooned and was caught by a gust of wind causing the wing to hit the ground. Instructor S/Ldr JIE Bell and pupil P/O Shanahan were uninjured in this crash. |
| 06/04/1943 | Puss Moth | AX868 | 510sqn | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1640hrs when strong winds tore out the pickets used to tie it down, and blew it over onto its starboard wingtips. The aircraft had been flown in on a visit by G/Capt Down, who was not in the aircraft at the time of the accident. |
| 07/04/1943 | Oxford | HM945 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged whilst parked and tied down when a gust of wind picked the aircraft up and caused it to strike an obstruction. |
| 07/04/1943 | Lancaster | W4373 | 12sqn | Wickenby | This aircraft was damaged at 1530hrs whilst being serviced at dispersal in a gale. The aircraft broke free from its tie-downs and was damaged. |
| 08/04/1943 | Wellington | BJ609 | 300sqn | Corringham | Coded BH-?, this aircraft was wrecked at 1130hrs when the pilot made a heavy forced-landing wheels-up in a field after the starboard engine failed at 1000 feet after takeoff, followed shortly by the partial failure of the port engine. Pilot W/O J Kazimierczak (Polish) and crew were uninjured. |
| 08/04/1943 | Wellington | X9985 | 3OTU | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged in a heavy landing at 1507hrs on the pilot's first solo landing on type after 1 hour's tuition. Pilot Sgt ERH Widdows, instructor Sgt M Williamson and crew were unhurt. |
| 08/04/1943 | Spitfire | BL981 | 402sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged at 1145hrs whilst the pilot was practising deck landing techniques. The aircraft stalled and made a heavy landing, causing the undercarriage to collapse. Pilot P/O JD Mitchner (Canadian) was unhurt. |
| 09/04/1943 | Mosquito | DD779 | 410sqn | Coleby Grange | This aircraft was damaged at 0230hrs whilst parked when it was struck by taxying Mosquito DZ661. |
| 09/04/1943 | Mosquito | DZ661 | 410sqn | Coleby Grange | This aircraft was damaged when it struck parked Mosquito DD779 whilst taxying back to dispersal at 0230hrs. Pilot F/Sgt WJ Reddie (Canadian) and his navigator Sgt K Evans were unhurt in this incident. |
| 09/04/1943 | Wellington | HZ375 | 300sqn | Hemswell | This aircraft was damaged at 1215hrs when the tailwheel collapsed during a normal three-point landing. Pilot P/O J Krzehlik (Polish) and crew were unhurt. |
| 09/04/1943 | Wellington | Z1474 | 305sqn | Hemswell | This aircraft was damaged at 1400hrs whilst being towed across the airfield. The towing arm broke when the aircraft was blown around by strong winds. |
| 09/04/1943 | Spitfire | AA850 | 302sqn | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was damaged at 1645hrs when it landed wheels-up on the airfield after damage to the port tyre inflicted on takeoff caused the wheel to jam in its well and made lowering the undercarriage impossible. Pilot Sgt Z Czarnecki (Polish) was unhurt. |
| 09/04/1943 | Lancaster | W4921 | 617sqn | Scampton | This aircraft was damaged at 1115hrs in flight over the Market Deeping area when it struck a flock of birds during an extremely low-level training flight ahead of the dams raid. In trying to avoid the flock, the aircraft also struck a tree. Pilot F/Lt RNG Barlow (Australian) and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 09/04/1943 | Lancaster | R5853 | 1660CU | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged whilst taxying back out to take off again at 2240hrs on a night conversion sortie. The undercarriage collapsed whilst the selector lever was in the down position. Pilot Sgt JS Lees and crew were uninjured in the incident. |
| 10/04/1943 | Master | T8494 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged in a heavy landing at 1610hrs when another aircraft cut in front on approach to land. The aircraft stalled whilst avoiding it, touching down so heavily that the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot LAC GRJ Clarke was unhurt. |
| 10/04/1943 | Lancaster | R5848 | 1660HCU | Swinderby | Airborne at 2307 from Swinderby for night type conversion training. During takeoff for another circuit at 2332hrs the aircraft swung and ran off the runway before corrective action could be taken, resulting in the undercarriage collapsing. The aircraft caught fire and was destroyed. Instructor F/Lt RO Calvert (New Zealander), pupil F/O WN Lewis and crew escaped uninjured. |
| 11/04/1943 | Spitfire | W3528 | 317sqn | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was damaged when it belly-landed on the airfield at 1145hrs after the undercarriage selector lever failed to work. Pilot F/O T Owczarski (Polish) was unhurt. |
| 11/04/1943 | Manchester | R5841 | 1660HCU | Navenby Lowfields | Airborne from Swinderby for circuit training. During the flight one engine caught fire, possibly due to a fractured hydraulic line. The pilot had no option but to crash-land near the river Brant at 1850hrs. F/L J.M. Whitwell AFM killed, Sgt R. Davies killed, Sgt H.M. Scott injured, Sgt W.J. Robinson injured, Sgt B.R. Traves injured, Sgt A.J. Brooks injured, but died later in hospital. |
| 12/04/1943 | Wellington | LB128 | 3OTU | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 0128hrs when it undershot the airfield and crashed 150 yards outside the boundary fence after an engine failure in flight. Pilots Sgt CF Lees, Sgt BD Johnson and their crew were unhurt. |
| 12/04/1943 | Wellington | LB240 | 3OTU | Ewerby | This aircraft was destroyed at 1720hrs on return from an air firing exercise. The aircraft was flying on one engine after the other had failed in flight over the range, and crashed into a field 1/2 mile north-east of Ewerby, hitting a tree and catching fire. Pilot F/O P Grove was injured bt died in hospital the next day, P/O K Wade killed, P/O L Lane killed, Sgt HJ Newman killed. Sgt Hopkins and the two instructors W/O Anderson and Sgt Clegg were all seriously injured. |
| 12/04/1943 | Oxford | AB766 | RAFC | nr Cranwell | This aircraft was destroyed at 1650hrs when it crashed after a towed drogue cable became fouled around the starboard wing shortly after takeoff, causing the pilot to lose control of the aircraft. Pilot LAC F Hughes was killed in the crash. |
| 12/04/1943 | Mustang | AG645 | 168sqn | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was damaged at 1500hrs during an air firing exercise when the port outer gun blast tube burned through. This caused shots to be deflected through the wing leading edge and blast from the gun also damaged wing ribs next to it. Pilot P/O JD Stubbs (Australian) was unhurt. |
| 13/04/1943 | Hampden | P4321 | 1AAS | Manby | This aircraft was damaged at 1000 hours on landing from a 1 hour training sortie. The pilot put the undercarriage selector lever to the up position instead of neutral after the undercarriage had come down, and landed with the undercarriage retracted in spite of two red flares from flying control. Pilot Sgt W Wasiak (Polish) was uninjured in this accident. |
| 13/04/1943 | Lancaster | ED726 | 49sqn | Fiskerton | This aircraft was damaged on return from a training sortie when the undercarriage collapsed on touchdown. Pilot F/O AV Bone and crew were uninjured in the incident. |
| 14/04/1943 | Blenheim | L1508 | 12(P)AFU | West of Harlaxton, on the main east coast railway line | This aircraft was destroyed when it approached the airfield with the starboard engine unserviceable. The aircraft crashed from 400 feet and caught fire. Pupil F/O W Sprinkle was injured in this accident. |
| 14/04/1943 | Master | DL286 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1805hrs when the undercarriage collapsed on touchdown. Pilot LAC VJ Fryer was uninjured. |
| 14/04/1943 | Master | T8687 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was written off at 1515hrs after the engine failed shortly after takeoff due to a coolant leak. The aircraft belly-landed and overturned. Pilot LAC RA Cozens was killed in the crash. |
| 15/04/1943 | Lysander | T1429 | CGS | Holbeach Range LG | This aircraft was damaged at 1430hrs on a training flight when pilot Sgt A George made a heavy landing. |
| 15/04/1943 | Lancaster | W4181 | 1660CU | Swinderby | Whilst taxying across a road to dispersal after landing, this aircraft was damaged when the tailwheel left the taxy track and fell into an open ditch less than 6 inches from the side of the track. Pilot Sgt JH Mason (Canadian) and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 16/04/1943 | Halifax | DK118 | 1662CU | Wickenby | This aircraft was damaged at 1430 hours on landing from a dual instruction training sortie. The aircraft shimmied violently on landing, swung, and struck a ditch. The instructor tried to check the swing but the aircraft left the runway. Instructor S/Ldr JIE Bell and pupil Sgt Fry were uninjured in this crash. The airframe was recovered and sent to 4SoTT at St Athan as 4127M. |
| 16/04/1943 | Mosquito | DZ468 | 618sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged at 1950hrs whilst landing off a navigation exercise to collect equipment. The pilot held off too high and the aircraft stalled onto the runway from 20 feet up, causing the undercarriage to collapse. F/Lt DA Stephen and his navigator were uninjured in this incident. |
| 16/07/1943 | Beaufighter | JL883 | 143sqn | North Thoresby | This aircraft was destroyed when it crashed after failing to pull out of a dive during a fighter affiliation sortie at 1610hrs. The aircraft struck the ground and caught fire. Pilot F/Sgt Stevenson and his observer F/O M E Lawton died in the crash. |
| 16/04/1943 | Lancaster | ED329 | 617sqn | Scampton | This aircraft was damaged during a training flight when the undercarriage collapsed on landing due to repeated landings on the rough grass airfield surface - Scampton did not have paved runways at this stage. Pilot Sgt Townsend and crew were uninjured. |
| 16/04/1943 | Lancaster | ED429 | 50sqn | Skellingthorpe | This aircraft was damaged at 1305hrs whilst taxying in from an air-test when the tailwheel collapsed after a normal landing. The box-beam supporting the tailwheel was found to be defective after being supplied as servceable by the manufacturer. Pilot P/O DH Chipping and crew were uninjured. |
| 17/04/1943 | Mosquito | DZ251 | 410sqn | Coleby Grange | This aircraft was damaged on landing from a cross-country sortie at 0115hrs when it undershot on landing, striking the ground and then an airfield beacon, collapsing the undercarriage. Pilot F/Sgt WJ Reddie (Canadian) was unhurt. This was his second accident in 10 days. |
| 17/04/1943 | Lancaster | ED413 | 57sqn | Scampton | This aircraft was damaged on return from operations at 0645hrs when tha aircraft made a heavy tail-first landing. On arrival at dispersal, it was discovered that the rear fuselage had been strained by the landing. Pilot Sgt Allwright and crew were uninjured. |
| 18/04/1943 | Lancaster | ED475 | 50sqn | Skellingthorpe | This aircraft was damaged at 2100hrs when it struck a parked crane on the airfield whilst taxying out for an operational sortie. Pilot F/O AN Hollis and crew were uninjured. |
| 19/04/1943 | Lancaster | ED438 | 49sqn | Fiskerton | This aircraft was damaged at 1608hrs whilst landing in a crosswing on a training flight. The tailwheel wobbled during the landing run, causing the aircraft to leave the runway. The undercarriage collapsed as the aircraft ran across the rough grass airfield surface. Pilot F/O MA Eyre and crew were uninjured. |
| 19/04/1943 | P-47 Thunderbolt | 41-6237 | 61FS/56FG | Goxhill | Belly-landed, aircraft severely damaged. Pilot Lt Louis T. Barron. |
| 19/04/1943 | Wellington | W5352 | 14OTU | Langtoft | Coded -D, airborne 0200hrs from Cottesmore for a night cross-country sortie. The crew abandoned the aircraft from 1000 feet after the port propeller came off in flight. The aircraft crashed at 0230hrs at Langtoft. Sgt Ryan was the only injury, breaking his ankle on landing. |
| 20/04/1943 | Oxford | AB690 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged when its undercarriage was wrecked in a heavy landing at 1320hrs. Pilot Lt B Yayuz (Turkish) was uninjured. |
| 20/04/1943 | Oxford | EB804 | RAFC | Loveden Hill, nr Gelston | This aircraft was written off at 1525hrs after force-landing wheels-up in a field following an engine failure in flight whilst practising forced landings. Instructor F/O E McMillan and pupil LAC K Bowen-Bravery were uninjured in the crash. |
| 20/04/1943 | Spitfire | P8279 | CGS | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was damaged on landing from a training flight at 1900hrs when the undercarriage collpsed. The aircraft was landed with the undercarriage unlocked after all attempts at fully lowering the it failed. Pilot F/O JA Hall was uninjured. |
| 23/04/1943 | Wellington | Z1727 | 1485BGflt | Fulbeck | This aircraft was damaged at 1230hrs whilst being towed. The starboard wheel had become bogged down in soft earth and use of an incorrect towing method damaged at airframe. |
| 24/04/1943 | Blenheim | BA246 | 12(P)AFU | Harlaxton | This aircraft was damaged on a cross country flight at 1710 hours when it suffered an engine failure at 400 feet. The pilot lowered the undercarriage but they failed to lock into place. Pilot Sgt J C Duffy, an Australian, was uninjured in this incident. |
| 24/04/1943 | Spitfire | AR385 | 302sqn | 6 miles SW North Coates | This aircraft was destroyed at 1530hrs during a cinegun exercise. On ordering the formation to break for the start of training, this aircraft (the formation leader) made an unannounced slow roll and collided with Spitfire EN828, which remove the tail section. The aircraft crashed out of control into the sea. Pilot F/O J Dec (Polish) was killed in the crash. |
| 24/04/1943 | Spitfire | BL851 | 425sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged at 1100hrs whilst parked in a dispersal pen when Tiger Moth DE688 crashed into the pen and caught fire. |
| 24/04/1943 | Tiger Moth | DE688 | 402sqn | Digby | This aircraft was destroyed at 1100hrs on takeoff. The aircraft developed a swing whilst taking off in a strong gusty wind and clipped a dispersal pen, crashing into it, catching fire and damaging Spitfire BL851 which had been parked there. Pilot Sgt LA Moore (Canadian) and passenger W/O WG O'Hagen (Canadian) were both injured in the accident. |
| 24/04/1943 | Spitfire | EN828 | 302sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged at 1530hrs in a mid-air collision with Spitfire AR385 at the start of a cine-gun exercise. The aircraft was able to land safely at North Coates. Pilot P/O C Nowak (Polish) was uninjured. |
| 24/04/1943 | Lancaster | W4926 | 617sqn | Scampton | This aircraft was damaged at 2000hrs when the tailwheel collapsed during a normal landing after a training flight. Pilot S/Ldr HE Maudslay and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 24/04/1943 | Spitfire | P7754 | CGS | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was found to be damaged at 1258hrs when post-flight inspection showed that a heavy landing had damaged the tailwheel strut. Pilot F/O Z Buchowiekiz (Polish) was unhurt. |
| 26/04/1943 | Lancaster | ED704 | 1660CU | Swinderby | Whilst taxying during a night dual training sortie, at 2345hrs this aircraft struck parked Lancaster ED812. ED704 was undamaged in the incident, which was caused by the pilot becoming confused by the airfield lighting. Instructor F/O GE Fawke and student Sgt FB Solomon and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 26/04/1943 | Lancaster | ED812 | 1660CU | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged at 2345hrs when taxying Lancaster ED704 struck it whilst it was parked. |
| 27/04/1943 | Wellington | MS491 | 196sqn | Hazel Grove, New Waltham | Coded ZO-? Airborne 0002hrs from Leconfield for Duisburg. This aircraft was destroyed when it crash-landed in a field at Hazel Grove at 0515hrs due to engine failure whilst approaching Waltham airfield. No injuries reported. P/O W.H.Mallison P/O E.J.Weston Sgt J.S.Checketts Sgt E.Walls Sgt R.C.Bullivant (Canadian) |
| 27/04/1943 | Lancaster | ED658 | 100sqn | Waltham | This aircraft was damaged at 0328hrs after a 7h30 night solo landings sortie. The pilot approached the airfield too fast, made a heavy landing and the port undercarriage oleo collapsed on the 3rd bounce. Pilot Sgt MP Floyd and crew were uninjured in the incident, but Sgt Floyd was returened to a training unit to build up more experience. At the time of the crash he had only 10 hours on type, and 6 on type at night. |
| 28/04/1943 | Blenheim | L1428 | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | This aircraft was destroyed when the port engine failed on takeoff. The aircraft struck an obstruction and caught fire, burning out. This was due to defective spark plugs in the engine. The pilot P/O BW West (Canadian) was injured. |
| 28/04/1943 | Blenheim | L6794 | 12(P)AFU | Harlaxton | this aircraft was damaged at 1430 hours during a training sortie when overran on landing due to the port throttle jamming partly open when the starboard was closed. The pilot was unable to check the initial swing and needed a further swing to avoid a parked aircraft. The undercarriage collapsed due to this. This crash was due to a technical defect on the throttle. Pilots P/O RA Robinson and P/O WAL Colhoun were uninjured. |
| 28/04/1943 | Oxford | AB698 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1010hrs when it taxied into a fuel bowser on the airfield. Pilot LAC G Hayle was unhurt. |
| 28/04/1943 | Lancaster | W4824 | 57sqn | Scampton | This aircraft was damaged at 0200hrs on take-off for a mine-laying sortie. In order to build up flying speed after takeoff, the pilot kept the aircraft at very low level, at which point it collided with a hedge. Pilot Sgt Farmer and crew were uninjured in the incident. |
| 29/04/1943 | Blenheim | L6802 | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | This aircraft landed wheels up at 1545hrs due to undercarriage damage on take off. This was caused by premature retraction of the undercarriage the wheels hit the ground and damage the hydraulic system. P/O CW Abbott (New Zealander) and Sgt RD Hodgen (Australian) were uninjured. |
| 29/04/1943 | Hampden | P2093 | 1AAS | Manby | This aircraft was damaged at 1226 hours during a solo circuits and landings conversion exercise. The undercarriage was damaged in a heavy landing and collapsed on the next landing attempt as it was not locked into position. The pilot failed to use the emergency system before carrying out his final landing. Pilot Sgt JLB Webster was uninjured in this crash. |
| 29/04/1943 | Master | AZ226 | RAFC | Thurlby | This aircraft was damaged at 1615hrs when it force-landed wheels-up in a field after the engine failed in flight due to oil loss. P/O P Kelshall & BM McConnville were uninjured. |
| Date | Type | Serial | Unit | Location | Notes |
|---|
| 01/05/1943 | Blenheim | Z5807 | 12(P)AFU | Harlaxton | This aircraft was damaged at 1325 hours when it stalled from too high on approach and the undercarriage collapsed on touchdown. Pilot Sgt HRF Partridge was uninjured. |
| 01/05/1943 | Spitfire | P8048 | CGS | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was wrecked on takeoff at 1110hrs when a tyre burst, causing the undercarriage leg to be torn off. Pilot F/O JA Hall was injured in the incident. |
| 01/05/1943 | Manchester | L7468 | 1660HCU | Swinderby | Airborne from Swinderby at 1645hrs for dual type conversion. Approaching to land at 1730hrs an engine caught fire and the aircraft was well alight when it landed. Airframe damage was slight and the airframe was taken to 12SoTT at Melksham as a ground instructional airframe and allocated the serial 3732M. Instructor P/O JL Cooper DFC, pupil pilot Sgt TP Murphy and the crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 02/05/1943 | Master | DL409 | RAFC | Caistor | This aircraft was damaged when it belly-landed on the airfield at 0350hrs after the pilot forgot to lower the undercarriage. Pilot LAC A Richardson was uninjured. |
| 02/05/1943 | Oxford | HN759 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1255hrs when the undercarriage collapsed after the aircraft bounced on touchdwn due to hitting a bump on the airfield. Pilot F/O Butler was unhurt in the crash. |
| 02/05/1943 | Lancaster | ED762 | 57sqn | Scampton | Coded DX-? The aircraft crash landed at 0202 after stalling on approach to Scampton. No injuries reported to pilot Sgt KB Dowding or his crew. This aircraft was repaired by the manufacturer but was subsequently coded 4011M and allocated to 4SoTT as an instructional aid. It did not fly again after the accident. |
| 02/05/1943 | Lancaster | L7541 | 1660CU | Skellingthorpe | After a good normal landing at 0040hrs, the aircraft's rudders were found to be jammed on trying to turn off the runway. The tail oleo support structure had collapsed, causing the rudders to sit on the ground. Instructor F/O HW Southgate, pupil F/O RS Giddey (Australian) and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 03/05/1943 | Master | DK831 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1515hrs when the instructor inadvertently retracted the undercarriage on the ground after making a forced landing when the engine failed on takeoff. Instructor Sgt JB Blackett and pupil LAC A Gunn were unhurt. |
| 03/05/1943 | Spitfire | AR517 | 402sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged o landing at 1100hrs after the cockpit hood jammed shut on approach, restricting the pilot's forward visibility. The aircraft approached fast, overshot the runway on landing and struck a low brick wall on the airfield. Pilot F/Lt FC Neve was unhurt. |
| 03/05/1943 | Mustang | AM231 | 169sqn | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was damaged on landing at 1200hrs when the port wing dropped on approach, allowing the wingtip to strike the ground. Pilot F/O JG Thompson (Australian) was unhurt. |
| 03/05/1943 | Lancaster | R5758 | 1660HCU | Swinderby | Airborne at 2222 from Swinderby for night type conversion. At 0022 whilst taking off for another circuit, an engine failed, causing the aircraft to swing and run off the runway, hitting an unfilled ditch before it could be brought to a halt. The aircraft sustained sufficient damage to be classed beyond economic repair. Pilot Sgt MM Cole and crew were uninjured in the crash. |
| 04/05/1943 | Blenheim | K7126 | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | This aircraft was damaged at 1720 hours in a heavy landing when the pilot opened the throttles too late to go round again. Pilot F/O KR Walley and P/O HW Longley (New Zealand) were uninjured. |
| 04/05/1943 | Master | N7620 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1225hrs after the pilot landed downwind due to the engine overheating. The aircraft crashed and overturned, injuring pilot LAC G Walkington. |
| 04/05/1943 | Beaufighter | EL417 | 236sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged when it landed wheels-up on the airfield at 1255hrs due to a failure of the undercarriage indicator lamps. Pilot F/Lt H Shannon was uninjured. |
| 04/05/1943 | Lancaster | W4377 | 57sqn | Scampton | This aircraft was damaged on landing at 1803hrs when the tail oleo collapsed due to failure of the supporting box beam. Pilot Sgt KB Dowding and crew were uninjured. |
| 04/05/1943 | Lancaster | W4940 | 617sqn | Scampton | Whilst taxying at 0100hrs under the guidance of an airman on the ground, the starboard outer prop hit a lighting pole, damaging the aircraft. Pilots F/Sgt KW Brown (Canadian) and F/Sgt DJ Shannon (Australian) and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 05/05/1943 | Lancaster | ED597 | 49sqn | Fiskerton | On landing in poor weather from the pilot's first operational flight at 0335hrs, the aircraft touched down heavily, causing a tyre to burst. In the ensuing swing, the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot Sgt DH Moss and crew were uninjured. |
| 05/05/1943 | Wellington | HE420 | 300sqn | Hemswell | On approach to land at 0347hrs this aircraft was struck and slightly damaged by Lancaster W4305 which was attempting to land at Hemswell after mistaking it for RAF Waddington. Pilot W/O J Kazimierczak and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 05/05/1943 | Lancaster | W4305 | 44sqn | Hemswell | On return from operations, pilot Sgt Olding mistook RAF Henswell for RAF Waddington and approached to land at Hemswell in error. On approach, his aircraft collided with Wellington HE420 of 300sqn at 0347hrs. W4305 suffered significant damage to one engine, and made an excellent landing with the engine ablaze. Sgt Olding and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 05/05/1943 | Master | W8797 | 16FTS | Moulton Eaugate | This aircraft was damaged at 1407hrs whilst making a forced landing in a field after the engine failed in flight. On landing, the undercarriage was broken off. Pilot LAC N Lis (Polish) was injured. |
| 06/05/1943 | Blenheim | K7159 | 12(P)AFU | Denton near Croxton Keriall | This aircraft was destroyed during a night flying sortie when the pilot had only 1 hour on type at night and 9 hours on type in total. His inexperience led him to fail to line up on the flare path for a second circuit, he lost height as he was turning to go back to look for the circuit flarepath and hit a tree. The pilot Sgt WT Bryant was killed in this accident. |
| 06/05/1943 | Wellington | Z1068 | 14OTU | nr North Witham | Airborne 0115hrs from Cottesmore for a night training flight. The aircraft was recalled due to poor weather, but the pilot was unable to locate the airfield and crashed, destroying the aircraft, at 0345hrs after stalling whilst low-flying. Pilot Sgt Kerrigan and his crew were unhurt, apart from the navigator who sustained minor cuts and abrasions to his right ankle. |
| 07/05/1943 | Master | DK822 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged when it indershot the airfield whilst making a precautionary landing at 1655hrs. The tail clipped a wall and broke the tailwheel off. Pilot LAC BR Spooner was uninjured in the incident. |
| 07/05/1943 | Master | DL859 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 0955hrs whilst taxying. The undercarriage warning horn sounded and the pilot selected undercarriage up instead of down and the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot P/O HF Heninger (Canadian) was unhurt. |
| 08/05/1943 | Oxford | EB811 | RAFC | Cranwell | The aircraft was damaged at 1735hrs as it was crossing a road on the airfield when an MT vehicle drove into the tail. Pilot F/Sgt Hurley was unhurt in the incident. |
| 08/05/1943 | Proctor | P6306 | 1RS | Cranwell | This aircraft was wrecked at 1550hrs when it crashed whilst attempting to land in a strong wind on the north airfield. Pilot Sgt RE Jones and his student were injured in the crash. |
| 09/05/1943 | Master | DK936 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1600hrs after it landed wheels-up in a field short of the airfield after the engine failed on approach. Pilot F/O GE Henderson and his pupil (name unrecorded) were injured. |
| 11/05/1943 | Beaufighter | V8370 | 141sqn | Burghly park, nr Stamford | Whilst approaching to land at wittering from an operational sortie at 2155hrs with flaps and undercarriage lowered, this aircraft stalled, dropped a wing and crashed into the ground at Burghley park, catching fire and killing the pilot F/Sgt R Judge and his navigator P/O F D Blower. |
| 11/05/1943 | Mosquito | HJ936 | 410sqn | Coleby Grange | This aircraft was damaged at 0115hrs on return from a cross-country training flight. The aircraft undershot the airfield, hitting the ground, then an airfield beacon, causing the undercarriage to collapse. Pilot F/Sgt WJ Reddie (Canadian) and his navigator Sgt K Evans were uninjured in this accident, their second in two days. |
| 11/05/1943 | Lysander | W6955 | CGS | Holbeach Range LG | This aircraft was damaged during a forced landing after the cockpit filled with smoke in the circuit after an engine failure in flight shortly after takeoff. Pilot F/Sgt WS Johnson was uninjured. |
| 12/05/1943 | Oxford | X6037 | 14PAFU | Crowland | This aircraft was damaged at 1015hrs when the wing struck a pylon whilst on a low-level training flight, during evasive action to avoid another aircraft. Instructor P/O Kendall (Canadian) and pupil Sgt CE Lumley were unhurt in the incident. |
| 12/05/1943 | Beaufighter | JL421 | 236sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged whilst landing in a crosswind at 1103hrs. One wing dropped, and the aircraft headed towards the airfield watch office. To avoid hitting the building, the pilot F/Lt H Shannon slewed the aircraft round sharply, causing the undercarriage to collapse. |
| 12/05/1943 | Wellington | BK353 | 18OTU | nr Belton | Airborne at 1425hrs from Finningley to practice single-engine flying. The pilot lost control at 1530hrs whilst at 2000 feet and the aircraft dived in. S/Ldr E.P. Zakrzewski (Polish) killed, F/O T.M. Opulski (Polish) killed, Sgt M.J. Frankiewicz (Polish) killed, Sgt R. Drapala (Polish) killed, Sgt T. Pasternak (Polish) killed. |
| 12/05/1943 | Lancaster | ED933 | 617sqn | Scampton | This aircraft was damaged at 1930hrs when it was damaged in flight by spray and debris from the explosion of a 'special mine' that it had dropped. This was the 'Upkeep' bouncing bomb used on the Dams raid 2 nights later. The damaged was noticed on landing at Scampton. Pilot S/Ldr HE Maudslay and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 12/05/1943 | Wellington | BK123 | 29OTU | Scottlethorpe | Airborne at 1215hrs from North Luffenham for local circuit flying but strayed from the airfield and crashed at 1240hrs at Scottlethorpe, near Bourne whilst trying to make a single-engined forced landing after an engine failed in flight and the pilot was unable to locate the airfield. The aircraft caught fire and was destroyed. Sgt F.T. Allen killed, Sgt J.S. Harris killed, Sgt J.A. Douglas (Australian) killed. |
| 12/05/1943 | Spitfire | P7840 | CGS | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was damaged whilst taxying at 1320hrs when it struck a grass mower on the airfield. Pilot F/O WJ Hibbert was unhurt. |
| 12/05/1943 | Wellington | X3306 | 29OTU | Woodhall Spa | This aircraft was damaged at 1407hrs when it belly-landed on the airfield after the port engine failed in flight due to an oil leak. The pilot made a single-engined approach to the airfield with no hydraulics and insufficient time to manually pump the undercarriage down. Pilot P/O ND Webb (New Zealander) and his crew were unhurt in the incident. |
| 13/05/1943 | Blenheim | V6388 | 1AAS | Manby | This aircraft was damaged at 1405 hours when the starboard tire burst on take-off causing aircraft to swing which damage to starboard oleo. Pilot Sgt K Scammell was uninjured in this incident. |
| 13/05/1943 | Oxford | N6296 | 7AA CU | in the sea off Tetney Haven | This aircraft was destroyed at 1605hrs whilst approaching to land from a ferry flight. The starboard engine failed in flight, causing the aircraft to swing to starboard and crash into the sea. Pilot F/Sgt R Davidson was killed in the crash. |
| 13/05/1943 | B-17 Fortress | 42-29752 | 96BG | in the Wash | "Shortly after taking off from Grafton Underwood the left waist gun, stored internally, accidently discharged while being checked by the gunner. The bullets injured the gunnner and seriously injured the tailgunner, as well as shooting away the right stabiliser and damaging the controls. Returning to base six crew members, included the two injured gunners, baled out safely. The aircraft was flown to the Wash, where the bombs were jettisoned and the navigator and bombardier baled out safely. The pilot and co-pilot came down in the sea off Blakeney Point, Norfolk. When recovered the pilot was dead, and co-pilot was suffering from exposure. Pilot Capt Derrol W Rogers, CP 2 Lt Norville J Gorse, N 1 Lt Joe L Hudson, B 1 Lt George D Rawlings, E T/Sgt Basil F Maxwell, RO T/Sgt Robert L Bennett, |
| BTG S/Sgt Alfred G Miles, WG S/Sgt Edwin C Wolfkuhle, WG S/Sgt Robert Dominick, TG S/Sgt Edward C Youngers. " |
| 13/05/1943 | Wellington | HZ410 | 166sqn | Kirmington | Coded AS-? The aircraft was burned out at 0014hrs after a photoflash was accidentally released whilst the aircraft was on the ground. Despite orders to the contrary, a Corporal armourer replaced the photoflash in the aircraft. It ignited shortly afterwards and set fire to the airframe. Pilot F/Sgt G Ashplant and his crew were uninjured in the incident, though the accident record card mentions 2 injuries. |
| 14/05/1943 | Wellington | LA982 | 3OTU | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 0147hrs on return from a navigation training exercise when the pilot landed heavily, the aircraft bounced and the undercarriage collapsed. Pilots Sgt RB Anderson, Sgt HR Tibble (Canadian) and crew were unhurt. |
| 14/05/1943 | Lancaster | ED452 | 49sqn | Fiskerton | Coded EA-F, Airborne 2150 13May43 from Fiskerton for Pilzen. The aircraft made an early return due to the exhaust stubs on the port inner engine being lost in flight. The pilot made a fast approach to land at 0103hrs and overshot the runway into rough ground causing the undercarriage to collapse. One member of the crew was injured. Sgt J.Morrison Sgt T.J.Page Sgt J.Dorian Sgt H.C.Annett Sgt R.I.Green Sgt G.Green Sgt H.J.Maggs |
| 14/05/1943 | Spitfire | W3130 | 288sqn | Goxhill | This aircraft was damaged at 1830hrs when it force-landed in a field on early return from an army co-operation exercise. The engine began to overheat in flight, and cut out when the aircraft was in the circuit to land. Pilot Sgt DB Fincher was unhurt. |
| 15/05/1943 | Spitfire | EP639 | 402sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged at 2330hrs when it force-landed in a field just outside the airfield. The pilot approached to land with undercarriage retracted, and was given a red light. The propellor struck the runway and the pilot went round again. The engine failed on the third leg of the circuit, and the undercarriage collapsed in the forced landing. Pilot F/Lt CD Porter (Canadian) was injured in the accident and had only 1 hour on type at night at the time of the crash. |
| 15/05/1943 | Master | DM200 | 1AAS | Manby | This aircraft was damaged in a heavy landing at 1145hrs, causing the aircraft to bounce and strike the ground with the starboard wingtip. Pilot Sgt FJ Whyler was uninjured but sne t for vision and flying skill tests on account of the number of accidents he had been involved in. |
| 15/05/1943 | Lancaster | ED920 | 57sqn | Scampton | Whilst airborne on an air-firing exercise, this aircraft sustained damage at 1530hrs after flying into a flock of birds. Pilot S/Ldr J Leland and crew were uninjured in the incident. |
| 16/05/1943 | Defiant | N3324 | 288sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged at 1610 hours on return from a searchlight co-operation sortie. The aircraft swung on landing, the pilot corrected the swing, but the aircraft swung again. Whilst the pilot was correcting the second swing the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot Sgt AC Dalzell was uninjured in this crash. |
| 16/05/1943 | Blenheim | K7174 | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | This aircraft was damaged at 1415 hours when starboard engine failed on take-off. The aircraft ran through the airfield hedge as there was no time for the pilot to retract the undercarriage. Pilot F/Sgt EWA Ogglesley was uninjured in this incident. |
| 16/05/1943 | Hurricane | V7025 | 1AAS | South Cockerington | This aircraft was destroyed at 1130 hours whilst airborne on a cine gun exercise. The aircraft suffered an engine failure in flight due to a glycol leak. The pilot overshot his first forced landing field, but made his second. The aircraft overturned on touchdown. The pilot had throttled back but the engine revs remained at 1600, thus giving unwanted power. Pilot Sgt KI Matthews was seriously injured in this crash. |
| 16/05/1943 | Beaufighter | T5198 | 236sqn | North Coates | Whilst landing at 1122hrs after a training flight, this aircraft was damaged when it swung to one side. The pilot, P/O D W Munson ground-looped the aircraft to avoid hitting other parked aircraft in the dispersal area. |
| 16/05/1943 | Spitfire | P9326 | 53OTU | nr Navenby | This aircraft was destroyed at 1100hrs when it dived into the ground 1/4 mile east of Navenby village and caught fire after the pilot lost control whilst rolling the aircraft during unauthorised low-level aerobatics on a training flight. Pilot F/O KA Stevenett was killed in the crash. |
| 16/05/1943 | Spitfire | P8279 | CGS | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was damaged when it landed wheels-up at 1515hrs after the port undercarriage leg failed to lower. Pilot S/Ldr RW Barton was unhurt. |
| 17/05/1943 | Master | DK976 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1630hrs after it landed wheels-up in a field outside of the airfield after the engine failed in the circuit. Pilot F/O Kelshall and his pupil LAC McConnville were uninjured. |
| 17/05/1943 | Master | T8844 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 0945hrs whilst taxying. The undercarriage warning horn sounded, the pilot selected undercarriage down and the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot RJ Rodwell was unhurt. |
| 17/05/1943 | Spitfire | P8176 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 1545hrs when the pilot raised the undercarriage too soon during takeoff and the aircraft sank back onto the runway. Pilot Sgt LD Kidd (Canadian) was unhurt. |
| 17/05/1943 | Manchester | L7421 | 1660CU | Woodhall Spa | This aircraft landed at 1130hrs with damage to the airframe after one of the stabilising fins was torn away in flight on a practice bombing sortie. The failure was due to corrosion of the fin attachment bracket. Pilot Sgt DA Churcher and crew were uninjured in the accident. |
| 18/05/1943 | Blenheim | V5743 | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | This aircraft was damaged at 1245 hours when he with the undercarriage locked in a part way down position. This was possibly due to early retraction of the undercarriage on take-off or landing before the undercarriage Italy locked down. Pilot Sgt KR Cookson was uninjured in this incident. |
| 18/05/1943 | Wellington | HE328 | 166sqn | Kirmington | This aircraft was damaged on takeoff at 1425hrs when the undercarriage collapsed after the aircraft swung twice during the takeoff run. Pilot Sgt N Petts and all bar one of his crew were uninjured in the crash, 1 minor injury reported. Sgt Petts was found to be unsuitable for command of medium bomber types and was sent to the Aircrew reselection Centre at Sheffield to be allocated to another aircraft type. |
| 18/05/1943 | Lancaster | R5917 | 1660HCU | Swinderby | Airborne from Swinderby at 1107 for day type conversion. On returning to the airfield to land at 1142hrs, the pilot was unable to lower the flaps more than 10 degrees, resulting in a much faster than normal approach and landing run. The aircraft was travelling at such speed that it overran the runway into a ditch, shearing the undercarriage. Pilot F/O WED Bell and crew were uninjured in this incident, but the aircraft was damaged beyond economic repair and written off. |
| 19/05/1943 | Lancaster | W4939 | 460sqn | Binbrook | Whilst taxying along the peri track from dispersal to the runway to take off, the aircraft was damaged at 1830hrs when the tailwheel fell into a hole and collapsed. The accident was blamed on the unfinsihed state of the airfield which was still under construction. Pilot Gp Cpt HI Edwards VC DSO DFC and crew were uninjured in the incident. |
| 19/05/1943 | Master | DK835 | RAFC | Caistor | This aircraft was damaged at 0400hrs when it landed wheels up on the airfield. The aircraft battery had run low so the warning horn was quiet. Pilot F/L Omissi was unhurt. |
| 19/05/1943 | Mosquito | HJ944 | 410sqn | Coleby Grange | This aircraft suffered minor damage when it made a heavy, tailwheel-first landing on this date. |
| 19/05/1943 | Spitfire | X4768 | 53OTU | South Kelsey | This aircraft was destroyed at 1830hrs when it dived into the ground and burned out on the Moortown side of the crossroads in the village. The pilot had lost control of the aircraft and spun, regaining control at 500 feet, but stalling the aircraft during recovery. Pilot Sgt GRS Williams (Canadian) was killed in the crash. |
| 20/05/1943 | Boston | Z2252 | 342sqn | Scunthorpe | This aircraft was damaged in flight at 1500 hours when the aircraft struck an obstruction in the course of low flying. Pilot F/Sgt J Bernard was uninjured in this incident. |
| 20/05/1943 | Spitfire | EP350 | 19sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged at 1230hrs after it landed heavily, ground-looped and the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot Sgt FB Cooper (Australian) was unhurt. |
| 20/05/1943 | Spitfire | P7315 | 53OTU | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was damaged at 1045hrs when it belly-landed on the airfield. The pilot landed heavily, causing the aircraft to bounc. The pilot decided to go around again and raised the undercarriage, but the aircraft sank back onto the runway. Pilot Sgt CH Jacotine (Sinhalese) was unhurt. |
| 20/05/1943 | B-17 Fortress | 42-29768 | 368BS/306BG | Rippingale Fen, nr Dunsby | Coded BO:N, This aircraft took off with 4 other aircraft from the same squadron at 1000 from Thurleigh, to practice bombing over the Wash. The weather was excellent, and on the return leg of the trip the 5 aircraft let down to do a formation low-level attack practice. At 1115, this aircraft caught the ground, tearing off the ball turret and seriously damaging the starboard inner (#3) engine. The pilot. 1st lt maxwell V Judas, climbed slightly to allow the crew to take up positions for a crash-landing, which he performed around 3 minutes later near Dunsby, between Sleaford and Bourne. The aircraft was a write-off but all 8 crew on board were uninjured. Unfortunately, 1st lt Judas along with 5 others who survived this crash were taken prisoner at Waddewarden near Emden when the B-17 they were flying (42-3214) was shot down. |
| 21/05/1943 | Lancaster | ED824 | 100sqn | Waltham | Coded HW-E, Airborne 2154 20May43 from Waltham on a minelaying sortie. Turned back early after the port inner failed and crash-landed 0022hrs while attempting to land at base. No injuries reported. Aircraft written off. Sgt C.E.White Sgt J.Martin Sgt L.C.Dowdell Sgt H.C.West Sgt S.Bashford Sgt A.Fanciscone (Canadian) Sgt C.W.Smith (Canadian) |
| 22/05/1943 | Lancaster | ED445 | 49sqn | Fiskerton | This aircraft was damaged at 1600hrs when it made a heavy landing from a non-operational flight. Pilot Sgt LE Watson and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 22/05/1943 | Oxford | V4216 | RAFC | Fulbeck | This aircraft was damaged whilst taxying at 0120hrs when it struck barrels on the airfield due to confusion caused by lighting on the airfield. Pilots F/O KJ Newman and W/Cdr Nelson were uninjured in the incident. |
| 25/05/1943 | Blenheim | L8371 | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | This aircraft was damaged when the pilot P/O AB Sisson (Canadian) failed to select undercarriage down and the aircraft belly-landed. |
| 25/05/1943 | Spitfire | EP707 | 19sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged at 1505hrs when the port undercarriage collapsed during a heavy landing. Pilot Sgt FJD Prebble was unhurt. |
| 25/05/1943 | Spitfire | X4602 | 53OTU | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was damaged at 1530hrs on approach to land after an engine failure in flight. Another arcraft cut in front of it and the pilot made a forced landing wheels-up in a field near the airfield. Pilot Sgt A Pugh was unhurt. |
| 25/05/1943 | Wellington | HF492 | 305sqn | nr Appleby steelworks | Coded SM-M, this aircraft was destroyed at 1130hrs when it dived in on fire from approximately 1000 feet and crashed. Evidence to the enquiry suggested that the pilot may have lost consciousness. F/O B. Baster (Polish) killed, P/O W.K. Koczapski (Polish) killed, F/Sgt E. Miksza (Polish) killed, Sgt A. Niznik (Polish) killed, Sgt K. Bialobrzeski (Polish) killed, Cpl J. Berdecha (Polish) killed. |
| 26/05/1943 | Martinet | JN460 | 6FPP | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged whilst being ferried by an ATA pilot. Her attention was distracted on approach and the aircraft touched down on bad ground at 1555hrs. Pilot ATA 1st Officer Joan E Nayler was uninjured in the incident. |
| 26/05/1943 | Wellington | L7796 | CGS | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was wrecked on landing at 1235hrs after the flaps and undercarriage failed due to a fractured hydraulic line. Pilot F/O AJ Muir was unhurt but 2 unnamed members of the crew are reported injured in the crash. |
| 26/05/1943 | Lancaster | ED995 | 12sqn | Wickenby | On return from operations at 0313hrs, it was discovered that the wireless operator, F/Sgt TA Routledge, had died of anoxia after failing to plug into the aircraft's oxygen supply correctly. Pilot F/O FJ Wright and the remainder of the crew were uninjured and there was no damage to the aircraft. |
| 27/05/1943 | Master | W9094 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1355hrs when it struck airfield boundary posts whilst landing. Pilot Lt R Tosya was unhurt but reported to the Turkish CO for discipline. |
| 28/05/1943 | Blenheim | L6609 | 12(P)AFU | 1 mile southwest of Harlaxton Lodge, Sproxston | This aircraft was destroyed in a night flying training sortie when the port engine failed after take-off, possibly losing power because of oily sparkplugs. The aircraft swung to port, crashed and burned. The pilot Sgt WAJ Woodland was killed in this crash. |
| 28/05/1943 | Wellington | HE487 | 3OTU | 2 miles west of Wellingore | This aircraft was destroyed at 1920hrs during a single-engine flying exercise. The starboard engine was shut down t simulate engine failure, and the aircraft entered a spin due to incorrect rudder trim being set. The aircraft crashed and burned. Instructor F/Sgt BF Snell DFM (American) and pupil pilots Sgts AR Nicholls and Sgt RG Ordish were all killed in the crash. |
| 28/05/1943 | Spitfire | BP926 | 8OTU | Bardney | This aircraft was damaged at 1155hrs when the pilot made a precautionary glide landing at Bardney airfield after the engine overheated in flight on a high-level photography training exercise. The aircraft overshot the runway and ran into rough ground, causing the undercarriage to collapse. Pilot Sgt GER Hornsey was unhurt. |
| 28/05/1943 | Spitfire | X4771 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 0830hrs when it taxied into a lorry on the airfield. Pilot F/Lt YKL Charne was unhurt. |
| 28/05/1943 | Wellington | HZ358 | 199sqn | Ingham | This aircraft was wrecked at 1600hrs when it overshot on landing and crashed off the airfield. Pilot Sgt JV Spring and crew were unhurt in the incident. Sgt Spring was sent to the Aircrew Reselection Centre in Sheffield. |
| 28/05/1943 | Lancaster | ED468 | 50sqn | Skellingthorpe | On arrival back at dispersal after landing from a night-flying test at 1233hrs this aircraft was damaged when the port undercarriage collapsed as a result of a fractured mainwheel axle. Pilot Sgt JH Mason (Canadian) and crew were uninjured in the incident. |
| 29/05/1943 | Wellington | MS495 | 305sqn | Hemswell | This aircraft was damaged whilst taxying at 2300hrs, no further details are recorded. |
| 30/05/1943 | Blenheim | BA147 | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | This aircraft was damaged and 1900 hours when the pilot Sgt WS Vale (Australian) allowed the aircraft to sink as the undercarriage retracted causing damage the undercarriage and forcing the aircraft to belly-land. |
| 31/05/1943 | Master | DL243 | RAFC | Caistor | This aircraft was damaged when it belly-landed on the airfield at 1605hrs after the pilot forgot to lower the undercarriage. Pilot Lt Ildir (Turkish) was uninjured. |
| 31/05/1943 | Mosquito | JH878 | 410sqn | Coleby Grange | This aircraft was damaged at 1520hrs on landing from a training flight. The undercarriage collapsed on touchdown as the pilot had not allowed sufficient time for it to lock into place before landing. Pilot A.F/Lt RMG Cirrie (Canadian) and his navigator P/O GB MacLean (Canadian) were uninjured in this incident. |
| 31/05/1943 | Tiger Moth | DF319 | 401sqn | Wellingore | This aircraft was damaged shortly after take-off on a ferry flight when the pilot elected to make an emergency landing after the aircraft began swinging in the air. The aircraft touched down again but overturned. Pilot F/O EW Sanders (Canadian) was uninjured. |
| Date | Type | Serial | Unit | Location | Notes |
|---|
| 01/06/1943 | Master | DK838 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged in a taxying accident when it passed too close in front of Wellington R1277, damaging its propellor and the Wellington's wing. Pilot Lt Gunket (Turkish) was not injured but was held responsible for the collision. |
| 01/06/1943 | Wellington | R1277 | 3OTU | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1430hrs when it was involved in a taxying accident with Master DK838, resulting in damage to the Wellington's wing. Instructor P/O H Nixon and pupil P/O JWS Forreat were uninjured |
| 01/06/1943 | Lancaster | ED753 | 50sqn | Spalding | This aircraft was damaged at 1300hrs during a low-flying practice sortie when it struck trees near Spalding. The aircraft's nose was damaged. Pilot Sgt J Thompson (Australian) and 5 of the crew were uninjured. One member of the crew suffered minor injuries. |
| 02/06/1943 | Lancaster | ED656 | 9sqn | Bardney | This aircraft was damaged at 1200hrs when it struck trees whilst engaged in a low-flying exercise. Pilot Sgt J Evans and crew were uninjured in the incident. |
| 03/06/1943 | Whitley | EB351 | 24OTU | Caistor | This aircraft was damaged at 0145hrs whilst landing in poor visibility. The aircraft touched down heavily, swung, and the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot Sgt JS Sherry and crew were unhurt. |
| 03/06/1943 | Master | AZ670 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1455hrs when it was struck by Master DK984 whilst taxying. |
| 03/06/1943 | Master | AZ707 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged in a heavy landing at 1340hrs. The instructor did not take over control until too late to avoid the accident. Instructor F/O AV Barraclough and pupil Lt A Enver (Turkish) were unhurt. |
| 03/06/1943 | Master | DK832 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1600hrs whilst taxying under the control of an airman. The aircraft was waved round, but on turning the tail struck an obstruction. Instructor F/Sgt TH Prescott (Canadian) and pupil LAC W McKay were unhurt. This was the second taxying accident for this pair on the same day. |
| 03/06/1943 | Master | DK984 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1455hrs when it taxied into parked Master AZ670. Instructor F/Sgt TH Prescott (Canadian) and pupil LAC W McKay were unhurt. |
| 03/06/1943 | Lancaster | ED448 | 49sqn | Fiskerton | On return from a training flight, this aircraft was damaged taxying back to dispersal at 0150hrs when it struck parked Lancaster ED805 in heavy rain. Pilot Sgt NG Powell and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 03/06/1943 | Lancaster | ED805 | 49sqn | Fiskerton | This aircraft was damaged at 0150hrs whilst parked when it was struck by taxying Lancaster ED448 in heavy rain. |
| 03/06/1943 | Wellington | HE920 | 199sqn | Ingham | This aircraft was wrecked at 2340hrs on landing from a training flight. The aircraft landed in rain onto wet grass and skidded off the runway into a ditch. Pilot F/O JH Waterfield and crew were unhurt. |
| 04/06/1943 | Oxford | BG177 | RAFC | 3/4 mile north-east of Lade Bank | This aircraft was damaged when the pilot made a wheels-up forced-landing in a field after engine failure in flight caused by fuel starvation due to the pilot not changing fuel tanks before one ran dry. Pilot F/O BN Dickinson was unhurt in the incident. |
| 05/06/1943 | Blenheim | T1986 | 1AAS | Manby | This aircraft was destroyed at 1020 hours on a non operational sortie when the aircraft lost power in the starboard engine on take off as soon as it was Airborne. The aircraft swung and collided with two parked Blenheims and caught fire. The pilot should have closed the throttles and belly-landed that elected to continue his take-off. Pilot Sgt T Saul was killed in this incident, and Blenheims T2292 and Z5738 were also damaged. |
| 05/06/1943 | Blenheim | T2292 | 1AAS | Manby | This aircraft was damaged when it was struck by a Blenheim T1986 at 1020 hours. |
| 05/06/1943 | Blenheim | Z5738 | 1AAS | Manby | This aircraft was damaged when it was struck by the Blenheim T1986 at 1020 hours. |
| 06/06/1943 | Lancaster | EE145 | 617sqn | Scampton | Coded KC-T, this aircraft was damaged on return from a training flight at 1730hrs. The brakes were ineffective on the wet grass runway and the aircraft overshot into the airfield hedge, causing the undercarriage to collapse. Pilot A/F/Lt JL Munro DFC (New Zealander) and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 07/06/1943 | Lancaster | W4241 | 1662CU | Blyton | This aircraft was parked when it was struck and damaged at 0035hrs by Lancaster W4893 |
| 07/06/1943 | Lancaster | W4893 | 1662CU | Blyton | This aircraft was damaged at 0035hrs whilst taxying on a training sortie when it struck and damaged stationary Lancaster W4241. Pilot F/Sgt AG Sadler and crew were uninjured in the incident. |
| 07/06/1943 | Lancaster | ED929 | 617sqn | Scampton | This aircraft was damaged at 1700hrs n a low-level training flight when the starboard outer engine struck a tree. Pilot F/Lt Allsebrook and crew were uninjured in the incident. |
| 08/06/1943 | Oxford | BG558 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged in a collision in flight with Master N7765 at 1640hrs, resulting in the Oxford landing on top of the Master. Pilot LAC NCS Bailey was uninjured in the incident. |
| 08/06/1943 | Master | N7764 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was written off when it collided with Oxford BG558 on approach at 1640hrs.Pilot Lt MF Brunshwig (Free French) was injured in this collision. |
| 09/06/1943 | Lancaster | W4773 | 1662CU | Blyton | This aircraft was damaged on takeoff for a training flight at 1215hrs when the port outer throttle jammed 1/3rd open due to a split-pin not having been refitted during maintenance of the throttle control rods. The aircraft swung violently off the runway and the undercarriage collapsed. Instructor P/O AW Wales (Australian), Pupil Sgt W Patterson and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 09/06/1943 | Lancaster | ED879 | 103 Sqn | Elsham Wolds | Coded PM-E. This aircraft was destroyed at 1200hrs whilst taking off. The aircraft swung out of control and ran into a ditch, causing the undercarriage to collapse. A fire developed and the Lancaster was so badly damaged that it was written off. Pilot F/Sgt AW Egan (Australian) and crew escaped uninjured. |
| 09/06/1943 | Lysander | V9901 | 29OTU | Holbeach | Airborne 0945 from Bruntingthorpe for a banner towing sortie. At 1030, the aircraft approached too fast to the narrowest part of the landing area, overran and hit a bank. The crash was ascribed to pilot unfamiliarity with type (1022 hrs total, but only 2 on Lysanders) and unfamiliarity with the airfield. Pilot F/Lt AR Dunn as unhurt, but his winch operator, P/O C.G. Key was injured. |
| 09/06/1943 | Spitfire | P7524 | CGS | nr Holbeach range | This aircraft was wrecked at 0947hrs when it overturned whilst making a forced landing on the range landing strip after engine failure in flight. Pilot F/Sgt TRG Bryant was injured in the accident. |
| 09/06/1943 | Lancaster | ED808 | 1660CU | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged at 0125hrs during a training sortie when the tail oleo and attachement were damaged by excessive tailwheel shimmying on landing. Pilot P/O HS Short (Canadian) and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 10/06/1943 | Master | DL409 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1430hrs when the undercarriage collapsed during a heavy landing. Instructor F/Sgt Skelton and pupil LAC JFE Lee were uninjured. |
| 10/06/1943 | Spitfire | EP398 | 416sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged at 1700hrs when the undercarriage collapsed after the aircraft made a heavy landing. Pilot F/O WA Clews was unhurt. |
| 10/06/1943 | Wellington | HE594 | 305sqn | Hemswell | This aircraft was damaged beyond repair at 1603hrs whilst trying to return to the airfield after engine failures after takeoff. The aircraft semi-stalled in a low turn whilst trying to avoid a house as the pilot was making a forced-landing short of the airfield. Pilot Sgt SK Szpalinski (Polish) and crew were unhurt. |
| 11/06/1943 | Wellington | Z8779 | 3OTU | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged whilst taxying at 0420hrs when the tailwheel collapsed due to the rough state of the airfield surface. Pilot F/Lt E Brooks and crew were unhurt. |
| 11/06/1943 | Lancaster | W4363 | 103 Sqn | Elsham Wolds | This aircraft was damaged at 1900hrs whilst on a test flight. The aircraft struck an obstruction on takeoff and damaged the undercarriage. Pilot F/Lt JER Rawstorne and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 11/06/1943 | Lancaster | ED833 | 1654HCU | Swanpool, Lincoln | Coded UG-S, airborne from Wigsley to practice 3-engined flying. The aircraft hit the ground with a wingtip after stalling whilst turning at low altitude with the starboard inner feathered. It crashed into houses on Highfield Avenue at 1722hrs, destroying or badly damaging numbers 22, 24, 25 and 27 injureduring 4 civilians on the ground, 2 of whom died later of their injuredurries, and killing a futher 3 outright. The rear turret separated from the airframe on impact and was found upside-down on the footpath at the rear of 18 Royden Grove with the gunner still inside. He was the only survivor of the crew. Crew: Sgt W. Featherstone killed, Sgt E. Kirk killed, Sgt E.R. Broad killed, Sgt A.M. Milne killed, Sgt P.R. Farnell killed, Sgt R.W.E Peacock killed, Sgt C.H. Malkin injured. Civilians: Mrs L.M. Thacker K, Mstr A. Thacker (3) K, Mr. Whitby injured, but died of his injuries, Mstr L. Whitby (4) injured, but died of his injuries, Miss M. Marriott (12) K, Mstr H. Bishop injured, Miss E. Bishop injured. |
| 13/06/1943 | Oxford | LW778 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was destroyed at 1050hrs when it stalled shortly after takeoff and dived to the ground. It caught fire on impact and burned out as the fire tender that arrived was unable to make foam due to an accumulation of sediment in its tanks. Pilot Sgt JB Pell was killed in the crash. |
| 13/06/1943 | Wellington | HE477 | 300sqn | Hemswell | This aircraft was damaged at 1420hrs when it broke free from its tiedowns whilst being turned into the wind ahead of an angine test. The aircraft struck parked Wekllington HZ375. Fitter Sgt J Isalski (Polish) was uninjured. |
| 13/06/1943 | Wellington | HZ375 | 300sqn | Hemswell | This aircraft was damaged whilst parked at 1420hrs when it was struck by Wellington HE477 which was being turned prior to an engine test. |
| 13/06/1943 | Beaufighter | T5206 | 236sqn | North Coates | Whilst landing at 2305hrs on return from a 2h15m operational anti-shipping strike sortie, this aircraft was damaged when its undercarriage collapsed on touchdown. Pilot P/O A Edwards and his crew were uninjured. |
| 15/06/1943 | Spitfire | P7985 | 53OTU | Croft | This aircraft was destroyed when it dived into the ground and burned out after the pilot lost control in a storm cloud and began to spin. Pilot P/O RJCA Dupraz (Canadian) was killed in the crash. P/O Dupraz is commemorated on a plaque in All Saints church, Croft. |
| 16/06/1943 | P-47 Thunderbolt | 42-7985 | 350FS/353FG | Goxhill | This aircraft groundlooped and suffered repairable damage on this date. Pilot was Lt Irvin E Vennell. |
| 16/06/1943 | Lancaster | W5007 | 460sqn | Nr Elsham Wolds | Coded AR-O. Airborne 2302 16Jun43 from Binbrook for Cologne. Flak damaged on the raid. On return, the pilot called up Binbrook to report that his hydraulics had been shot away and that he was going to attempt to land at Elsham Wolds. The aircraft crashed at 0445 while attempting to land at Elsham Wolds airfield, Lincolnshire. The four Commonwealth airmen and Sgt Gent are buried in Brigg Cemetery. The pilot and his engineer were taken to their respective home towns. Sgt S.J.Straith killed, Sgt R.T.Harman killed, Sgt J.c.Plummer (Australian) killed, Sgt L.M.McDonnell (Australian) killed, Sgt D.S.Gent killed, Sgt W.Brodie (Canadian) killed, Sgt N.O.B.Flitcroft (Australian) killed. |
| 16/06/1943 | Blenheim | L1233 | 12(P)AFU | Spitalgate | This aircraft was damaged when it overran on landing. No accident record card was found for this incident. |
| 17/06/1943 | Blenheim | Z5730 | 1AAS | Manby | This aircraft was damaged at 0950 hours on a non operational training sortie when it suffered an engine failure on take-off and the pilot belly-landed it straight ahead. Pilot F/O G Bodden was uninjured in this accident. |
| 17/06/1943 | Master | DK976 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged when the tailwheel broke as a result of a heavy landing at 1330hrs. Pilot Lt I Avdan (Turkish) was uninjured. |
| 17/06/1943 | Lancaster | W4952 | 207sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged at 1220hrs on landing from a training flight. The aircraft touched down normally, then hit a ridge on Digby's very rough grass landing area causing the aircraft to bounce back into the air. It touched down heavily and the tailwheel collapsed. After this incident large aircraft were banned from using Digby. Pilot Gp/Cpt AF McKenna and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 17/06/1943 | P-47 Thunderbolt | 42-7902 | 350FS/353FG | Goxhill | Damaged in a landing accident, aircraft was repaired and returned to service. Pilot Lt Tom Lorance Jr. |
| 17/06/1943 | P-47 Thunderbolt | 42-7926 | 351FS/353FG | Goxhill | This aircraft was written off (cat 5 damage) in a landing accident, pilot was Lt David C. Kenney. |
| 17/06/1943 | Spitfire | L1021 | 53OTU | nr Scunthorpe | This aircraft was damaged during a wheels-up forced landing in a field near the Appleby cement works at 1530hrsafter the engine failed in flight. Pilot F/O DR Cuthbertson (Canadian) was injured in the accident. |
| 17/06/1943 | Lancaster | EE140 | 100sqn | Waltham | Coded HW-C, airborne 2300 16Jun43 from Waltham for Cologne. Badly shot up by a Ju88 and on return to base at 0350 crash-landed and was SOC 27Jun43. Sgt L.H.Wright Sgt J.Robinson injured, P/O W.Bentley Sgt T.J.O'Dea Sgt T.J.McLeod Sgt S.C.Hodges sgt J.McKean |
| 17/06/1943 | Master | AZ838 | RAFC | Wellingore | This aircraft was damaged when it belly-landed on the airfield at 1550hrs after the pilot forgot to lower the undercarriage. Pilot W/Cdr G O'Farrell was uninjured. |
| 18/06/1943 | Lancaster | W4374 | 12sqn | Apley | Coded PH-D. Lost on a training flight. Crashed 0435hrs at Great West Wood, Apley, 3 miles SSE of Wickenby airfield, Lincolnshire, while preparing to land after completing a Bullseye exercise. The starboard inner engine had failed in flight and the pilot was unable to contact Wickenby by radio. Sgt Lindup was forced to hold whilst the airfield flarepath was illuminated and this was considered a contributory factor in the crash. The two Commonwealth airmen are buried in Holton-cum-Beckering (All Saints Churchyard). Sgt J.BLindup RNZAF killed, Sgt J.G.Lewis killed, Sgt E.Salmers (Canadian) killed, Sgt R.A.Collins injured, Sgt E.Lax killed, Sgt C.B.Anderson injured, Sgt F.Mills injured, Note: It is believed that P/O R.D.Spence and Sgt C.W.Young may have been involved with this flight; if so, both survived. |
| 18/06/1943 | Spitfire | EP465 | 402sqn | Digby | This aircraft was wrecked at 1130hrs when the pilot made a heavy landing, causing the aircraft to bounce and the undercarriage to collapse. Pilot P/O WH Griffin (Canadian) was injured in the accident. |
| 18/06/1943 | Master | AZ361 | 7PAFU | Hardy's Farm, Crowland | This aircraft was damaged when it force-landed in a field at 1050hrs as a result of engine failure in flight. Whilst performing stalls as a practice exercise, the gravity-operated fire extinguisher operated, causing the engine to fail. Instructor F/Lt LRC Russell and pupil F/Lt NR Norfolk were uninjured. |
| 18/06/1943 | Lancaster | ED439 | 83sqn | Swaton | Coded OL-N. Airborne 1010 18Jun43 from Wyton on a training detail. Crashed at High Gate Farm near Swaton, 7 miles SE of Sleaford. F/Sgt K.K.Cummings (Australian) killed, Sgt H.W.Luker (Australian) killed, Sgt F.W.Wilcox killed, Sgt J.Roughly killed, Sgt H.W.Cheshire killed, Sgt N.Woodcock killed, Sgt R.A.Taylor (Canadian) killed, Cpl T.J.Bond killed, Cpl F.N.Sloss killed. |
| 19/06/1943 | Lancaster | W4932 | 50sqn | Grange-de-Lings nr Dunholme | Coded VN-? Crashed 1645hrs 2 miles SE of Dunholme Lodge Airfield, Lincs, whilst on a training flight. The aircraft was seen to make a climbing turn and then dived into the ground and burned out. The three Canadians and Sgt Landers are buried in Lincoln (Newport) cemetery. Sgt J.E.Hill killed, Sgt R.D.Landers killed, Sgt N.G.Smith (Canadian) killed, Sgt D.H.Nicholls killed, Sgt W.N.Lancaster killed, Sgt J.W.Feagan (Canadian) killed, Sgt T.J.Shields (Canadian) killed |
| 19/06/1943 | Master | DM132 | RAFC | Wellingore | This aircraft was damaged when it belly-landed on the airfield at 1215hrs after the pilot forgot to lower the undercarriage. Pilot Lt Erkaslan (Turkish) was uninjured. |
| 20/06/1943 | Blenheim | L1135 | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | This aircraft was damaged at 2025 hours whilst the pilot was warming up the engines prior to the training sortie. The pilot usually checked the undercarriage selector lever, but on this occasion did not physically check that the lever was fully home. This caused the undercarriage to collapse when the engine was started. Pilot F/Sgt AL Potter and Sgt DJ Carter were uninjured in this incident. |
| 20/06/1943 | Master | T8454 | RAFC | 2.5 miles from Gedney Hill | This aircraft was written off after force-landing wheels-up in a field at 1550hrs after engine failure in flight. The engine failure may have been caused by an airlock in the fuel system. Pilot Sgt DL Burks (New Zealander) was uninjured in the incident. |
| 20/06/1943 | Blenheim | L1124 | 12(P)AFU | Denton | Aircraft abandoned after colliding with Blenheim K7077 (which was repaired) and crashed at Denton. Crew names not recorded but Instructor and pupil were unhurt. |
| 20/06/1943 | Wellington | HE447 | 300sqn | Hemswell | This aircraft was damaged at 1640hrs whilst landing. The undercarriage was damaged by the rough airfield surface. Pilot F/O H Myzkowski (Polish) and crew were uninjured. |
| 21/06/1943 | Beaufighter | JL650 | 254sqn | Donna Nook | Whilst fying on a type conversion training sortie at midnight, this aircraft was damaged when it overshot the runway. The pilot, F/Lt C L B Ellesworth was unable to take the correct action for an overshoot due to a faulty port engine. |
| 21/06/1943 | Wellington | HF591 | 300sqn | Heighington | Coded BH-?, this aircraft was airborne at 1017hrs from Hemswell for an altitude test. The aircraft was observed to be breaking up in the air whilst diving in out of cloud and crashed at 1050hrs. F/O F.J. Pokorniewski (Polish) killed, F/O Z.A. Kretkowski (Polish) killed, Sgt H. Czarkowski (Polish) killed, Sgt T. Szczurzynski (Polish) killed, Sgt B. Kot (Polish) killed. |
| 21/06/1943 | Master | DL353 | RAFC | Kirkby-la-Thorpe | This aircraft was damaged after force-landing wheels-up in a field at 1755hrs after engine failure in flight. Pilot Lt Akat (Turkish) was uninjured in the incident. |
| 22/06/1943 | Halifax | HR785 | 158sqn | Brant Road, Lincoln | Coded NP-G. Airborne 2311 21Jun43 from Lissett for Krefeld. On the return flight, due to a fault in the autopilot, the bomber dived from 15,000 feet, broke up in the air due to structural failure induced by the excessive G-forces of the dive and crashed at 0400hrs into Brant Road, Lincoln. F/O Freeman and Sgt Hanford are buried in Thurlby (St.Germain) Churchyard; the others were taken to their home towns. Sgt K.C.Smart killed, Sgt K.E.G.White killed, Sgt W.C.T.Dempsey killed, P/O R.N.Freeman killed, Sgt R.P.Hansford killed, Sgt A.W.Raffles killed, Sgt G.J.Hanrahan killed, |
| 23/06/1943 | Hurricane | V7304 | 288sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged at 2000 hours on return from a drogue towing flight. The pilot was practicing forced landings and thus the undercarriage warning horn had lost its significance to him. The aircraft landed with its undercarriage retracted because of this. Pilot Cpt JG Vaissier (Free French) was uninjured in this crash. |
| 23/06/1943 | Lysander | P9496 | 2031GF | Goxhill | This aircraft took off from Goxhill for an air test after maintenance. On reaching an altitude of 3000feet at a distance of around 5 miles from the airfield to the west the engine failed. The pilot, F/O Garth E Clark, tried to glide back to the airfield for a deadstick landing. The field before the runway was unsuitable due to an obstruction, so he chose to try for the airfield itself. Unfortunately he was so low that the mainwheels caught the airfield's perimeter wire fence and this caused the aircraft to nose over, writing the aircraft off when it came to rest just short of the runway threshold. Both the pilot and his passenger, Enlisted Airman William J Leland were uninjured. |
| 23/06/1943 | Lancaster | R5508 | 1660CU | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged at 0145hrs whilst on the runway when it was struck by Lancaster W4887 which was taxying across the runway. No injuries to crew reported. |
| 23/06/1943 | Lancaster | W4887 | 1660CU | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged whilst taxying at 0145hrs when it struck Lancaster R5508 whilst crossing the runway. Instructor P/O JA Edward, pupil Sgt GJ Smith (Australian) and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 23/06/1943 | Spitfire | R6706 | 53OTU | Wootton | This aircraft was damaged when it force-landed wheels-up in a field at 1205hrs whilst on a training flight. The aircraft had been the subject of a mock attack by 3 P-47 Thunderbolts and the pilot engaged in combat manoeuvres with them, then ran out of fuel. Pilot P/O AL Brown (Australian) was unhurt. |
| 24/06/1943 | Blenheim | L8508 | 12(P)AFU | Harlaxton | This aircraft was damaged at 0010hours after 40 minutes on a night training sortie. The aircraft made a heavy landing damaging both airscrews because the instructor was late in taking over control of the aircraft. Instructor F/Sgt J Liddle and pupil Sgt DE Whitehead were uninjured in this crash. |
| 24/06/1943 | Lancaster | W4882 | 1662CU | Blyton | This aircraft was damaged at 1810hrs when landing on the airfield's short runway in conditions of light wind. The aircraft overshot the runway and ploughed through the boundary hedge. Pilots Sgt JD Warren and Sgt JS Whitecross and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 24/06/1943 | Oxford | HM789 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 0015hrs when it taxied into Oxford LB425. Pilot Lt S Kaner (Turkish) was uninjured. |
| 24/06/1943 | Oxford | LB425 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 015hrs when it was struck by taxying Oxford HM789. Pilot LAC IJ Davidson was unhurt. |
| 24/06/1943 | Spitfire | P8337 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 0940hrs when it failed to become airborne on takeoff and struck an obstruction at the end of the runway due to the propellor being left in coarse pitch instead of fine. Pilot Sgt WP Kelly (Australian) was unhurt. |
| 24/06/1943 | Spitfire | P7496 | CGS | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was damaged on return from a training flight at 1610hrs when the undercarriage collapsed on touchdown after failing to lock into position. The aircraft tipped onto its nose. Pilot F/O GF "Screwball" Beurling (American) was unhurt. |
| 25/06/1943 | Lancaster | ED968 | 12sqn | Stenigot | This aircraft was destroyed after it disintegrated in mid-air whilst on a training flight due to the failure of the port wing whilst in a gentle turn. Sgt H.G.Yeo (Australian) killed, Sgt C.W.Robinson killed, Sgt M.R.Aston killed, Sgt G.A.Huddlestone killed, Sgt R.Sneesby killed, Sgt P.Soluk (Canadian) killed, Sgt J.S.Rennick (Canadian) killed |
| 25/06/1943 | Spitfire | P8591 | CGS | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was damaged at 1750hrs when the undercarriage collapsed after the aircraft landed heavily on a rough part of the airfield. Pilot F/Lt RH Golightly was unhurt. |
| 25/06/1943 | Master | DM140 | RAFC | Wellingore | This aircraft was damaged when it belly-landed on the airfield at 1755hrs after the pilot forgot to lower the undercarriage. Pilot Lt H Soral (Turkish) was uninjured. |
| 26/06/1943 | Blenheim | V5923 | 1AAS | Manby | This aircraft was destroyed on take off for a high level bombing practice sortie at 1735hrs when the port engine failed on take-off. The pilot retracted undercarriage and belly-landed the aircraft which swung through 180°and struck an obstruction. Pilot F/Sgt RAF Sturrock and crew were uninjured. |
| 26/06/1943 | Lancaster | W4830 | 61sqn | Baston | Coded QR-E, Airborne 2259 25Jun43 from Syerston for Gelsenkirchen. Badly damaged by Flak and on return the Lancaster was abandoned 0430 near Baston, 9 miles SW of Spalding, Lincolnshire. The two airmen who died were taken to their home towns for burial. Sgt D.H.Pearse Sgt A.B.Woodvine Sgt H.W.Beasley killed, Sgt R.C.Everett Sgt J.Robson Sgt K.Lloyd killed, Sgt J.Penswick. |
| 26/06/1943 | Master | AZ641 | RAFC | Wellingore | This aircraft was damaged when it belly-landed on the airfield at 1625hrs after the pilot forgot to lower the undercarriage. Pilot Lt G Tuna (Turkish) was uninjured. |
| 26/06/1943 | Lancaster | EE149 | 619sqn | Woodhall Spa | Coded PG-U, Airborne 2245 25Jun43 from Woodhall Spa for Gelsenkirchen. Severely damaged by flak over the target, this aircraft swung on landing at 0401hrs and the undercarriage collapsed. No injuries. Sgt C.Fuller Sgt G.A.Wilson Sgt R.Stevens Sgt L.Eaude Sgt R.S.Sprackman Sgt V.Crookes Sgt R.Trahair. |
| 27/06/1943 | Boston | BZ268 | 342sqn | off Skegness | Ditched 7 miles northeast of Skegness, no further details recorded, no accident record card seen. |
| 27/06/1943 | Boston | BZ376 | 342sqn | off Skegness | Ditched 7 miles northeast of Skegness, no further details recorded, no accident record card seen. |
| 28/06/1943 | Lancaster | ED315 | 460sqn | Binbrook | Coded AR-P, this aircraft was damaged at 1749hrs when it hit an obstruction after undershooting the airfield on landing from a training sortie. This damaged the undercarriage which then collapsed on landing. Pilot P/O Cairns (Australian) and crew were uninjured in the incident. |
| 28/06/1943 | P-47 Thunderbolt | 41-6528 | 351FS/353FG | Goxhill | This aircraft was involved in a taxying accident resulting in repairable damage on this date. Pilot was Lt Herbert K Field. |
| 28/06/1943 | Spitfire | P7660 | 53OTU | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was damaged at 1225hrs when it overshot the runway whilst landing downhill in a slight wind. Pilot Sgt DG Ballard was unhurt. |
| 29/06/1943 | Wellington | HE922 | 166sqn | Asperton farm, Wigtoft | Coded AS-S, Airborne 2345 28Jun43 from Kirmington. Outbound, the Wellington was abandoned at 0020hrs some 3 miles N of Skegness. The aircraft is reported as crashing at Asperton Farm, Wigtoft and burning out on the ground. Sgt Whittaker baled out successfully, but accidentally released his parachute and fell to his death. He is buried in Widnes Cemetery. P/O W.B.McGinn Sgt R.Hadley Sgt J.R.Whittaker killed, Sgt G.I.Turnbull Sgt R.Henshaw |
| 29/06/1943 | Spitfire | EP121 | 416sqn | Digby | This aircraft was wrecked on return from a training flight at 1115hrs. The pilot was in a hurry to land due to fuel running low, overshot the airfield and stalled whilst making a 90 degree turn at low speed. The aircraft stalled and crashed. Pilot Sgt WH Palmer (Canadian) was injured in the crash. |
| 29/06/1943 | Lancaster | EE199 | 12sqn | East Barkwith | Coded PH-U, took off 0032hrs from Wickenby for Cologne, but suffered engine failures in flight due to the idle cutoff switch being left in the off position, and crash-landeded 4 miles E of the airfield at 0036hrs. Only two minor injuries reported, despite being fully loaded for the operation and being written off due to the damage inflicted. Sgt L.F.Jeffries Sgt J.Irwin Sgt C.N.Roy (Canadian) P/O E.B.Oldham Sgt W.T.Seward Sgt G.W.Addinsall (Australian) Sgt J.M.Seaton |
| 29/06/1943 | Martinet | HN876 | 1485TTGFlt | Fulbeck | This aircraft taxied into Martinet HN879 at 0844hrs but was undamaged. Pilot F/O MA Eyre was uninjured. |
| 29/06/1943 | Martinet | HN879 | 1485TTGFlt | Fulbeck | This aircraft was damaged at 0844hrs when it was struck by martinet HN876 whilst both were taxying. Pilot P/O DG Taylor was uninjured. |
| 29/06/1943 | Wellington | HE986 | 305sqn | Ingham | This aircraft was damaged at 0418hrs on return from operations. A tyre burst on touchdown, causing the undercarriage to collapse. Pilot Sgt. Z Stepien (Polish) and crew were uninjured. |
| 29/06/1943 | P-47 Thunderbolt | 42-7977 | HQ Sqn/353FG | nr Goxhill | This aircraft took off from Goxhill on a camera-gunnery sortie in the local area. The aircraft was seen to be below the clouds at less than 2000feet, when at 1515hrs it was seen to perform a turn or part of a roll and struck the ground at a steep angle near Goxhill airfield. The aircraft was destroyed in the crash and pilot 1st Lt William M. Mathias was killed. |
| 30/06/1943 | Blenheim | T1849 | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | This aircraft was damaged at 1325 hours when the pilot Sgt JH Holden was unable to lower the port undercarriage on landing. He retracted both wheels and belly-landed the aircraft. |
| 30/06/1943 | Martinet | HP326 | 1481TTGFlt | Binbrook | This aircraft was damaged whilst taxying on the runway at 1200hrs when it collided with a lorry. Pilot P/O JDL Fulton (Canadian) was uninjured in the incident. |
| 30/06/1943 | Spitfire | P7297 | 53OTU | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was damaged at 1315hrs when the undercarriage collapsed after the aircraft overshot the runway on landing. Pilot Sgt F LaGarde (French) was unhurt. |
| 30/06/1943 | Master | AZ670 | RAFC | Wellingore | This aircraft was damaged when the tailwheel broke as a result of a heavy landing at 1825hrs. Pilot Lt A Rayla (Turkish) was uninjured. |
| Date | Type | Serial | Unit | Location | Notes |
|---|
| 01/07/1943 | Spitfire | BL655 | 416sqn | Dorrington Fen | This aircraft was destroyed at 1040hrswhen it crashed and caught fire during an aerobatics sortie. The aircraft energed from cloud in an inverted spin and failed to recover with sufficient height to pull out. Pilot F/O NA Watt was killed in the crash. The cockpit section of the aircraft was recovered by LARG and is on display at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre. |
| 02/07/1943 | Lancaster | W4154 | 1662CU | Blyton | This aircraft was damaged at 0245hrs whilst taxying when it struck lancaster W4314. Pilot Sgt PR Andrews and crew were uninjured. |
| 02/07/1943 | Lancaster | W4314 | 1662CU | Blyton | This aircraft was damaged at 0245hrs when taxying Lancaster W4314 struck it. Pilot Sgt MTT Hall and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 02/07/1943 | Magister | L5947 | 44sqn | Bracebridge Heath | This aircraft was destroyed during aerobatics during a ferry flight from Finningley when the controls became jammed by the passenger's parachute. The aircraft struck a house in Bracebridge Heath and crashed. Pilot P/O Ladyman was injured and the passenger, rigger Sgt H Pearce died later the same day from his injuries. |
| 02/07/1943 | Master | DL859 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged when it taxied into parked Master N7552 at 1605hrs as a result of brake failure. Pilot LAC HB Blackwell-Smythe was uninjured. |
| 02/07/1943 | Master | N7552 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1605hrs whilst parked up unoccupied when it was struck by Master DL859 which had suffered a brake failure. |
| 02/07/1943 | Tiger Moth | DE300 | 18EFTS | nr Denton | This aircraft was damaged when it crashed whilst the pilot was attempting to make a forced landing in bad weather. Pilot Sgt CJ Walsh (Australian) was unhurt. |
| 02/07/1943 | Spitfire | AB271 | 416sqn | nr Skegness | This aircraft landed at Digby with damage sustained in a collision with telegraph wires in poor visibility. Pilot Sgt HV West (Canadian) was unhurt in the incident. |
| 03/07/1943 | Blenheim | L1463 | 12(P)AFU | half mile north of Spitalgate airfield | This aircraft was destroyed at 1735 hours 1 hour into a 2 hour solo sortie. On take-off one or both engines failed due to over temperature and possible or oiling of spark plugs due to a prolonged period of idling in hot weather on the ground. Pilot Sgt JD McWilton was killed in this crash. |
| 03/07/1943 | Lancaster | DV172 | 460sqn | Binbrook | Coded AR-? At 1935hrs whilst being readied for operations, the aircraft's bombs accidentally jettisoned on the ground, exploded and destroyed the aircraft and set fire to R5745. |
| 03/07/1943 | Lancaster | ED774 | 460sqn | Binbrook | Damaged by the explosion of bombloads from Lancasters DV172 & R5745. |
| 03/07/1943 | Lancaster | JA699 | 460sqn | Binbrook | Damaged by the explosion of bombloads from Lancasters DV172 & R5745. |
| 03/07/1943 | Lancaster | R5745 | 460sqn | Binbrook | Coded AR-? Caught fire on the ground as a result of DV172's accident, and subsequently its bombload exploded too. |
| 03/07/1943 | Lancaster | W4783 | 460sqn | Binbrook | Damaged by the explosion of bombloads from Lancasters DV172 & R5745. |
| 03/07/1943 | Master | DK822 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 0940hrs when it force-landed as a result of engine failure on takeoff, caused by an exhaust valve sear becoming unscrewed and jamming. Before landing, the pilot jettisoned the aircraft's practice bombs. Pilot 2/Lt AR McCurdy (Canadian) was uninjured. |
| 03/07/1943 | Oxford | EB763 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 0035hrs when it taxied into Oxford LW740 on the airfield. Pilot Lt B Yavuz (Turkish) was unhurt. |
| 03/07/1943 | Oxford | LW740 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged when Oxford EB763 taxied into it on the airfield. Instructor P/O RJ Barnes (Canadian) and pupil Lt A Orkun (Tukish) were unhurt in the incident. |
| 03/07/1943 | P-47 Thunderbolt | 42-7909 | 350FS/353FG | Goxhill | This aircraft suffered repairable damage in what is described as a taxying incident involving members of the squadron's groundcrew on this date. |
| 03/07/1943 | Spitfire | X4935 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged when the undercarriage collapsed in a heavy landing at 1840hrs. The accident happened during the pilot's first landing on a grass runway. Pilot F/O AF McWilliams (Canadian) was unhurt. |
| 04/07/1943 | Lancaster | ED698 | 57sqn | Scampton | This aircraft was slightly damaged in a mid-air collision with Lancaster ED941 at 0150hrs. |
| 04/07/1943 | Lancaster | ED941 | 57sqn | Scampton | This aircraft was damaged at 0150hrs when it was involved in a mid-air collision with Lancaster ED698. ED941 fell to 11000 feet before control was regained, the bombload jettisoned and it landed safely at 0220hrs. Pilot F/O EJ Hodgkinson and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 04/07/1943 | Manchester | R5770 | 1660HCU | Swinderby | Airborne 1140hrs from Swinderby for dual circuit training. Whilst taking off as part of the exercise at 1200hrs one of the engines lost power and the pilot raised the undercarriage to stop the aircraft from running off the airfield. Subsequent investigation discovered foreign matter contamination in the carburettor of the failed engine. Instructor P/O JL Cooper DFC and crew were uninjured in the incident. |
| 05/07/1943 | Blenheim | L1404 | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | This aircraft was destroyed in a landing accident at 1303 hours on return from a training sortie. The aircraft experienced brake failure on landing, the pilot swung the aircraft and the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot Sgt LG Boyd was uninjured in this crash. |
| 05/07/1943 | Blenheim | K7117 | 12(P)AFU | Harlaxton | This aircraft was destroyed at 0050 hours when the pilot made a heavy landing on return from a training sortie, causing the undercarriage to collapse as the pilot misjudged his height and failed to check his instruments. Pilot S/Ldr AJ Banham was uninjured in this incident. |
| 05/07/1943 | Spitfire | BL578 | 416sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged at 1210hrs when the undercarriage collapsed on landing due to the rough airfield surface. Pilot F/Lt HJ Southwood (Canadian) was unhurt in the incident. |
| 06/07/1943 | Blenheim | BA787 | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | This aircraft was damaged on return from a training sortie at 1210 hours when the pilot elected to belly-land the aircraft after it was damaged on take-off. Pilot F/O GD Wightman was uninjured in this incident. |
| 06/07/1943 | Blenheim | L8470 | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | This aircraft was destroyed in an accident at 1215 hours on the grounds when the pilot selected the undercarriage up instead of flaps causing the undercarriage to collapse. Instructor F/O H Price and pupil Sgt Olsen were uninjured in this incident. |
| 06/07/1943 | Blenheim | L8756 | 12(P)AFU | Harlaxton | This aircraft was damaged and 1745 hours when the undercarriage collapsed during a heavy landing. Pilot Sgt L Scott was uninjured in this incident. |
| 06/07/1943 | Beaufighter | LX826 | 236sqn | off the mouth of the Humber | Whilst on an air test flight, this aircraft was written off when it ditched into the Humber estuary at 1150hrs. The pilot, P/O D M Ellis feathered one airscrew at too low a height, and then allowed the engine to cool down too much to be restarted. |
| 06/07/1943 | Lysander | R9074 | 1AAS | Waddington | This aircraft was damaged at 0952hrs on landing from a cross-country training flight. The pilot landed downwind and overshot the runway, with the aircraft swinging through 180 degrees after the brakes failed. Brake failure was caused by the pilot braking so hard that the brake cable was pulled out of the retaining nipple. Pilot Sgt J Oksiak (Polish) was uninjured in this incident. |
| 07/07/1943 | Lancaster | DV169 | 1662HCU | Blyton | Airborne at 1955 from Blyton for a night navigation flight. On returning to Blyton at 0345hrs, the aircraft overran on landing and was destroyed after running into an obstruction. Pilot Sgt HH Adams and crew were uninjured. |
| 07/07/1943 | Lancaster | ED414 | 1662HCU | Blyton | Airborne at 0115 from Blyton for circuits and landings. At 0135 a misunderstanding between instructor and pupil during a cockpit drill led to the aircraft overrunning the runway and colliding with an obstruction, causing sufficient damage to have the aircraft written off. Pilot Sgt DH Loop and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 07/07/1943 | Lancaster | ED546 | 467sqn | Bottesford | This aircraft suffered a mishap at 0330hrs when returning to land from a training flight. The pilot approached the short runway too fast, the aircraft overshot and came to rest in a field. Pilot F/Sgt BR Jones and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 08/07/1943 | Oxford | EB745 | RAFC | Fulbeck | This aircraft was damaged at 0025hrs after the undercarriage collapsed during a heavy landing. The aircraft swung and hit a building on the airfield. Pilot LAC WE Jones was unhurt in the incident. |
| 08/07/1943 | Oxford | HM673 | RAFC | Fulbeck | This aircraft was damaged at 0216hrs on landing from a training flight when a tyre burst on landing, damaging the undercarriage. Pilot LAC RH Field was unhurt. |
| 08/07/1943 | Wellington | DF565 | 22OTU | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was damaged on landing from a cross-country flight at 1025hrs when the undercarriage collapsed on touchdown. Pilots F/Sgt KW Hayden (Canadian) and Sgt DW Bowell (Canadian), and the crew were unhurt. |
| 08/07/1943 | Oxford | EB753 | 7AACU | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged at 1545hrs when it struck a bowser on the airfield after skidding whilst taxying. Pilot LAC P Lee was uninjured. |
| 08/07/1943 | Beaufighter | JL879 | 143sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged at 1100hrs whilst taking off on a training flight. The aircraft swung, pilot P/O K M Stewart was unable to correct the swing before the aircraft hit an obstruction and the undercarriage collapsed on impact. |
| 08/07/1943 | Beaufighter | JM217 | 254sqn | nr Anderby Creek? | This aircraft was destroyed by fire after making a forced landing south of Huttoft bank after the starboard engine caught fire in flight due to a badly fitted connection to the carburettor. Pilot Sgt D H Pengelly & his crew escaped uninjured. |
| 09/07/1943 | Hurricane | V6810 | 1AAS | Manby | This aircraft was damaged at 1110 hours whilst taking off for a cine gun exercise. The pilot reported severe rough running of the engine and decided not to continue his take-off attempt. He retracted the undercarriage and belly-landed after throttling back. Pilot F/Sgt GB White was uninjured in this incident. |
| 09/07/1943 | Wellington | HF489 | 166sqn | nr Kirmington | Airborne at 1130hrs from Kirmington for a dual flying sortie. The aircraft was wrecked when it force-landed at 1140hrs in a field near the airfield after both engines lost power. Pilot P/O J Coughlan, Sgt DR Morgan and 1 other unnamed crewmember were injured. |
| 10/07/1943 | Blenheim | L6763 | 12(P)AFU | Harlaxton | This aircraft was destroyed on landing at 2215 hours when it crash landed after a single engine approach with the undercarriage halfway down. The engine failure was due to loss of oil from a tank which was punctured by an undercarriage door on take-off. Pilot F/O B Lumb was uninjured in this incident. |
| 10/07/1943 | Lancaster | ED757 | 57sqn | North Carlton | Coded DX-K, This aircraft was destroyed when it crashed at Morrison's Farm North Carlton, 1 mile S of RAF Scampton at 1550hrs. Whilst performing an air test flight, the pilot suspected that the port outer engine either had a large coolant leak or was on fire. The aircraft approached to land but was forced to overshoot, and crash-landed in a barley field. Pilot Sgt TJ Piggin and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 10/07/1943 | Spitfire | X4416 | 53OTU | North Ormsby | This aircraft was damaged when if force-landed wheels-up in a field after engine failure in flight at 1610hrs. Pilot F/Sgt GMA Hosking (Australian) was injured in the accident. |
| 11/07/1943 | Blenheim | L1195 | 12(P)AFU | Harlaxton | This aircraft was destroyed on landing at 0040 hours in very bad weather on a dark night when the pilot overshot and swung the aircraft on landing downwind. Pilot effort FG Harrison was injured in this incident. |
| 11/07/1943 | Spitfire | W3454 | 402sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged at 1115hrs when the undercarriage collapsed in a heavy landing after the pilot held off too high. Pilot F/Sgt GJ Pickard (Canadian) was uninjured in the incident. |
| 11/07/1943 | Wellington | HE345 | 305sqn | Ingham | Coded SM-P, the aircraft was attempting a single-engined circuit with the port engine shut down after it had caught fire when the starboard engine burst into flames. The aircraft was destroyed when it force-landed in a field at 1520hrs. F/O Z. Poplawski (Polish) injured, F/O M. Duckiewicz (Polish) injured, Sgt G. Nanieczkowski (Polish) injured, Sgt W. Cander (Polish) injured, F/O O. Luctkowski (Polish) injured. |
| 11/07/1943 | Wellington | HE689 | 305sqn | Ingham | This aircraft was damaged at 1553hrs on return from a training flight. The pilot made a heavy landing, one tyre burst and the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot W/O W Koczwarski (Polish) and crew were unhurt in the incident. |
| 11/07/1943 | Spitfire | X4551 | 53OTU | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was wrecked after belly-landing on the airfield at 1210hrs. The engine failed in flight, and as the pilot approached to land, the undercarriage lever jammed and would not operate. Pilot Sgt PK Heller was unhurt. |
| 11/07/1943 | Beaufighter | JL773 | 236sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged when it caught fire after an airman slipped whilst performaing maintenance inside the aircraft as part of the daily inspection routine at 0900hrs, triggering the Verey pistol to fire. The verey pistol should not have been left loaded by the navigator after the previous sortie. |
| 13/07/1943 | Master | DL116 | RAFC | Wellingore | This aircraft was damaged when it belly-landed on the airfield at 1240hrs after the pilot forgot to lower the undercarriage. Pilot Lt R Tosya (Turkish) was uninjured. |
| 15/07/1943 | Spitfire | P8640 | 416sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged on return from a training flight at 1625hrs when the undercarriage collapsed during a heavy landing. Pilot P/O RM Cook (Canadian) was unhurt. |
| 16/07/1943 | Lancaster | ED448 | 49sqn | Fiskerton | At 0345hrs whils practising 3-engined landings, the pilot landed very heavily, injureduring the flight engineer and rear gunner. Pilot Sgt GA Edy and the other 4 of his crew were uninjured. |
| 17/07/1943 | Blenheim | K7077 | 12(P)AFU | Harlaxton | This aircraft was destroyed in a heavy landing at 0020 hours when the pilot was distracted on approach by his cockpit window opening. Pilot P/O G Wild was uninjured in this incident. |
| 17/07/1943 | Beaufighter | JM350 | 254sqn | Donna Nook | Whilst landing at night on a training sortie, pilot F/Sgt R J O'Connor touched own heavily, causing the tailwheel to collapse and the aircraft to ground-loop. |
| 18/07/1943 | Blenheim | N3611 | 12(P)AFU | 30 miles north of Grantham | This aircraft was damaged in flight at 1600 hours went by sliding hot blew off due to know knocked being fitted when the aircraft was received. The hood damaged the mainplane but the aircraft returned safely to land. Pilot Sgt TC Griffiths was uninjured in this accident. |
| 18/07/1943 | Blenheim | T1878 | 1AAS | half mile north of Manby | This aircraft was destroyed in a crash at 1135 hours after an engine failed on take off. The engine picked up again and the pilot climb to 300 feet and turned to port as if trying to land at the airfield. On the downwind like the engine failed again and the aircraft was too low and slow to recover, stalled and crashed. Pilot P/O MR Royde and pupil Sgt L Murray were killed, and crew members Sgt RG Edwards and Sgt A Jackson were injured in this incident. |
| 18/07/1943 | Master | AZ705 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged whilst taxying at 1055hrs. The aircraft struck two tractors on the airfield due to the pilot not keeping a good lookout for hazards. Pilot Lt H Soral (Turkish) was unhurt. |
| 18/07/1943 | Proctor | P6229 | 1RS | Cranwell | This aircraft was involved in an accident on the ground when the engine fired as the propellor was being turned as part of the daily inspection at 1130hrs. The engine switches were in the off position at the time, but the engineering officer discovered a fault with the switch which allowed contact to remain even when the switch was off. AC1 EE Janes was injured in the incident. |
| 18/07/1943 | Spitfire | L1024 | 53OTU | Kirton Lindsey | On return from a training flight, this aircraft undershot the airfield, damaging the undercarriage. The aircraft subsequently belly-landed on the airfield at 0920hrs. Pilot P/O LW Bennett was unhurt. |
| 18/07/1943 | Master | DM132 | RAFC | nr Belvoir Castle | This aircraft was destroyed when it crashed after hitting wires whilst low flying 1 mile northeast of Belvoir Castle. Lt S Parlak (Turkish) killed. |
| 19/07/1943 | Wellington | BK267 | 1481BGflt | Binbrook | This aircraft was damaged at 1100hrs when the undercarriage collapsed after landing. Pilot F/Sgt PCL Bird and crew were unhurt. |
| 19/07/1943 | Wellington | BK235 | 1485TTGFlt | nr Appleby | Airborne from Fulbeck with 4 senior officers from course 11 of the Senior officers' Assessment Course on board to observe a gunnery and fighter affiliation demonstration. Whilst engaged in the fighter affiliation demonstration north of Brigg, the starboard wing outboard of the engine, the aircraft dived to the ground from 3000 feet and crashed 1 1/2 miles southeast of Appleby at 1625hrs.W/O J.W. Heard killed, F/Sgt D. Breslin DFM killed, Gp Cpt B.E. Lowe killed, Gp Cpt R.V.M. Odbert killed, Wg Cdr A.W.S. Matheson killed, S/Ldr P. Brandon-Trye killed. |
| 19/07/1943 | Spitfire | P7494 | 53OTU | nr Waddingham | This aircraft was damaged when it force-landed wheels-up in a field at 1245hrs after the engine failed in flight. Pilot Sgt ECW Mathew was unhurt. |
| 20/07/1943 | P-47 Thunderbolt | 42-7988 | 350FS/353FG | Goxhill | This aircraft suffered repairable damage (cat 3) in a landing accident on this date. Pilot was Lt Thomas E Smith. |
| 21/07/1943 | Master | DK948 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged when the tailwheel broke as a result of a heavy landing at 1755hrs. Pilot LAC JFE Lee was uninjured. |
| 22/07/1943 | Lancaster | ED881 | 103 Sqn | Elsham Wolds | This aircraft was damaged at 1605hrs on return from an air test sortie. The aircraft overshot the runway, the pilot tried to swing the aircraft to prevent it running off the airfiled but the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot F/Sgt TJ Bassett and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 22/07/1943 | Wellington | HF491 | 305sqn | Ingham | This aircraft was damaged at 0330hrs on return from operations when the tailwheel fork broke at the end of the landing run. Pilot F/Sgt K Artymiuk (Polish) and crew were unhurt. |
| 23/07/1943 | Hampden | P2093 | 1AAS | Manby | This aircraft was damaged at 1255 hours on return from a low level bombing practice sortie. The aircraft overshot on landing causing the undercarriage to collapse. Pilot Sgt Rembecki (Polish) was uninjured in this incident. |
| 23/07/1943 | Blenheim | T1960 | 1AAS | Manby | This aircraft was damaged on return from a training bombing exercise when the pilot made a heavy landing, bounced several times and inadvertently retracted the undercarriage which then collapsed. Pilot Sgt Grice was uninjured in this incident. |
| 23/07/1943 | Spitfire | W3621 | 416sqn | nr Wainfleet | This aircraft was damaged at 1140hrs when it force-landed wheels-up in a field 2/3 mile southeast of Wainfleet village after striking the sea during a formation practice flight. Pilot Sgt Dubnick (Canadian) was unhurt. |
| 24/07/1943 | Martinet | HP325 | 1481TTGFlt | 4.5 miles SSE Coningsby | This aircraft was damaged at 1010hrs when it made a forced landing with undercarriage retracted in a field after engine failure during a fighter affiliation exercise. Pilot P/O IT Higlett (Australian) was uninjured. |
| 24/07/1943 | P-47 Thunderbolt | 41-6586 | 352FS/353FG | Claxby | This aircraft took off as the lead aircraft of a pair from Goxhill for high-altitude formation training work. Having completed the exercises at 29000 feet, the pilot 1st Lt Harry H. McPherson led his wingman in a steep dive through cloud heading for home. The wingman, Lt Kipfer, pulled out of the dive at 18000 feet as he had a problem with his ears blocking. Lt McPherson's aircraft continued its dive and crashed into the ground with no attempt made to pull out of the dive. The accident board concluded that Lt McPherson lost consciousness in the dive and was killed in the crash. |
| 24/07/1943 | Master | W8458 | SDU | Postland railway station | This aircraft was damaged at 1500hrs when the undercarriage collapsed as it force-landed in a field after the engine failed in flight. Pilot S/Ldr NS Mingard was injured in the accident. |
| 24/07/1943 | P-47 Thunderbolt | 42-7912 | 352FS/353FG | Wootton | This aircraft took off from Goxhill as one of a pair for high-altitude formation practice. After 30 minutes' work, the element leader decided to descend. At 15000 feet, the leader Lt Newman, sighted a bomber at around 11500 feet, and brought his pair of aircraft in for a mock attack pass. Both Mustangs passed below the bomber and rejoined formation. Shortly afterwards Lt Jack D. Lepird disappeared from Lt Newman's sight. The wreckage of Lt Lepird's aircraft was found near Market Rasen, having dived in at high speed from a steep angle. |
| 25/07/1943 | Blenheim | Z6278 | 1AAS | Manby | This aircraft was damaged at 1755 hours when attempting to take off for an air test. The aircraft failed to become airborne and ran through a hedge causing the tailwheel to collapse. The elevator chains were found to be unserviceable. Pilot F/Sgt JE Cooney was uninjured in this crash. |
| 25/07/1943 | Proctor | HM315 | 1RS | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1350hrs when it swung whilst landing at higher than normal speed, causing the undercarriage to collapse. Pilot Sgt JB Paterson was unhurt in the incident. |
| 25/07/1943 | Wellington | HE691 | 305sqn | Hemswell | This aircraft was damaged when the pilot landed at the hemswell Q site which was illuminated at the time. Due to the nature of the site, the pilot was unable to take off again and damage was inflicted on the airframe. Pilot F/Sgt H Ignatowski (Polish) and crew were unhurt. |
| 25/07/1943 | Spitfire | P7989 | 53OTU | nr Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 1600hrs when it force-landed wheels-up ina field after the engine cut out in flight. Pilot Sgt FG Calder (Australian) was unhurt. |
| 25/07/1943 | Lancaster | ED994 | 57sqn | Scampton | This aircraft was damaged by a taxying Lancaster, no further details recorded. |
| 25/07/1943 | Lancaster | LM322 | 57sqn | Scampton | This aircraft was damaged at 2230hrs on takeoff for operations. The aircraft failed to get airborne due to the engine inlets being left in the 'hot' position, and under heavy braking to prevent overrunning the airfield the mainwheel tyres burst, damaging the undercarriage. Pilot P/O JH Pratt (Canadian) and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 25/07/1943 | Lancaster | ED430 | 50sqn | Skellingthorpe | This aircraft was severely damaged at 2149hrs on take off for operations. The aircraft swung on the runway and the undercarriage collapsed under strain. Pilot Sgt EC Weatherstone and crew were uninjured in the incident. |
| 25/07/1943 | Lancaster | ED808 | 1660CU | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged at 1900hrs whilst parked when it was struck by taxying Lancaster R5875. |
| 25/07/1943 | Lancaster | R5875 | 1660CU | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged at 1900hrs when it taxied into parked Lancaster ED808. Intructor F/O NF Turner, pupil P/O EK Williams and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 25/07/1943 | Wellington | HF472 | 305sqn | Trusthorpe | Coded SM-S, airborne at 2249hrs 24Jul43 from Ingham for Hamburg. On return, the aircraft was wrecked when it crash-landed at Trusthorpe at 0420hrs due to fuel shortage. No injuries reported to the crew: F/Sgt S.M.Grzeskowiak (Polish) F/O L.Lewicki (Polish) Sgt W.Paluszkiewicz (Polish) Sgt W.Taraskiewicz (Polish) Sgt S.Rutkowski (Polish). |
| 26/07/1943 | Lancaster | JA688 | 460sqn | Binbrook | Coded AR-G2, Airborne 2158 25Jul43 from Binbrook for Essen. Hit by incendiaries and flak over the target, and on return to base at 0224hrs, the Lancaster stalled on short finals and crashed. The aircraft caught fire on impact and was destroyed. Three crew members needed treatment for superficial injuries. F/Sgt L.J.Christensen (Australian) F/O R.H.Chadwick Sgt P.A.Moore Sgt W.C.Hart Sgt K.W.Hewitt Sgt G.W.R.Moyse Sgt J.H.Shaughnessy |
| 26/07/1943 | Lysander | T1459 | CGS | Holbeach Range LG | This aircraft was damaged on landing at 0940hrs when the tail oleo collapsed due to fatigue caused by several heavy landings on rough ground. Pilot F/Sgt RP Wilson was uninjured. |
| 26/07/1943 | Lancaster | ED698 | 57sqn | Scampton | This aircraft was damaged at 0210hrs whilst parked when it was struck by taxying Lancaster ED827. |
| 26/07/1943 | Lancaster | ED827 | 57sqn | Scampton | This aircraft was damaged at 0210hrs whilst taxying back to dispersal after an operational flight when it struck parked Lancaster ED698. Pilot S/Ldr RES Smith and crew were uninjured in the incident. |
| 26/07/1943 | Lancaster | LM336 | 57sqn | Scampton | This aircraft was damaged on landing from operations at 0240hrs. The port outer engine failed in flight and caught fire on approach to land. The aircraft swung on landing and the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot F/O EG Gobbie and crew were uninjured. |
| 27/07/1943 | Oxford | X6800 | 288sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged on landing from a daytime antiaircraft cooperation sortie when the pilot accidentally selected undercarriage up at the end of his landing run. Pilot Sgt JJ Lee-Warner was unhurt. |
| 27/07/1943 | Martinet | HP321 | 1485TTGFlt | Fulbeck | This aircraft was damaged at 1230hrs on return from a training flight. The undercarriage could not be lowered due to a fractured locking structure, so the pilot belly-landed on the airfield. Pilot S/Ldr DJB Cross was uninjured. |
| 27/07/1943 | Spitfire | P7318 | 53OTU | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was damaged on return from a training flight at 1155hrs when the undercarriage collapsed during a heavy landing. Pilot Sgt LM Stockwell (Canadian) was unhurt. |
| 27/07/1943 | Martinet | HP436 | 29OTU | Westmere Farm, Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was damaged at 1605hrs after force landing wheels up in a field after the engine failed in flight due to fuel starvation whilst on a drogue towing sortie. Pilot F/Sgt M Pederson was uninjured in the incident. |
| 28/07/1943 | Lancaster | W4275 | 101sqn | Ludford Magna | This aircraft was damaged in a heavy landing on this date, no further details available. |
| 28/07/1943 | Lancaster | EE193 | 57sqn | Scampton | This aircraft was damaged at 0357hrs on return from operations when the pilot made a heavy landing, causing a tyre to burst. The aircraft swung and the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot F/Sgt RD Hazelwood and crew were uninjured. |
| 29/07/1943 | Blenheim | Z6256 | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | This aircraft was damaged at 1800 hours on take-off for a training exercise. The starboard engine failed on take-off causing the aircraft to run through the hedge. The engine failure was due to an intermittent short circuit on the magneto which had been caused by accidental damage with a sharp instrument during maintenance. Pilot Sgt D. MacDonald (Canadian) was uninjured in this incident. |
| 29/07/1943 | Blenheim | L1295 | 12(P)AFU | Harlaxton | This aircraft was destroyed at 0955 hours on a training flight when it experienced an engine failure on take-off. The pilot retracted the undercarriage and belly-landed straight ahead. Instructor F/O RG young and pupil F/O F. Butterworth were uninjured in this incident. |
| 29/07/1943 | Lancaster | ED468 | 50sqn | nr Skellingthorpe | Coded VN-A, Airborne from Skellingthorpe for Hamburg at 2310hrs, the aircraft was destroyed when it crashed after swinging during takeoff. The wreckage caught fire and with a full bomb and fuel load, eventually exploded. All 7 of the crew were slightly injured. Sgt E.W.A.Clarke Sgt H.S.Cammish Sgt J.H.Jowett Sgt J.Barough Sgt F.J.Hobbs Sgt R .Stokes Sgt R.V.Pooley |
| 29/07/1943 | Wellington | HW595 | 429sqn | Sandtoft | This aircraft was damaged at 1600hrs when it belly-landed on the airfield during a delivery flight due to failure of the port engine. Pilot P/O SA Woods and crew were unhurt in the incident. |
| 29/07/1943 | Lancaster | ED562 | 100sqn | Waltham | This aircraft was severely damaged at 2233hrs on takeoff for operatons. The aircraft swung and the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot F/Sgt CA Cox and crew were uninjured, though F/Sgt Cox was given further instruction at a Conversion Unit due to his inexperience on type. |
| 30/07/1943 | Master | DL418 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1630hrs when the pilot selected undercarriage up whilst on the ground, causing the undercarriage to retract . Pilot LAC JW Lindeman was unhurt. |
| 30/07/1943 | Oxford | LZ279 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged on landing from a training flight at 1150hrs when the aircraft swung on the runway and the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot LAC JH MacDonald was unhurt in the incident. |
| 30/07/1943 | Spitfire | P7367 | 53OTU | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was damaged on return from a training flight at 1330hrs when the undercarriage collapsed after the aircraft swung whilst landing with drift. Pilot Sgt RA Heggie (Canadian) was unhurt. |
| 31/07/1943 | Blenheim | L4933 | 12(P)AFU | Harlaxton | This aircraft was destroyed at 0200 hours during a training flight on a dark night. The port engine caught fire in flight, and on approach to land the starboard engine also caught fire. The aircraft crashed and burnt. Sgt SS Reah and his instructor were injured in this crash. |
| 31/07/1943 | P-47 Thunderbolt | 42-22470 | 352FS/353FG | Goxhill | This aircraft suffered repairable (cat 3) damage in a landing accident on this date and was subsequently returned to service. Pilot Lt Edmund M Fogarty |
| 31/07/1943 | Wellington | HE147 | 300sqn | Ingham | This aircraft was damaged at 1830hrs whilst taxying back to dispersal. One engine caught fire, but the flames were extinguished by the station fire tender. Pilot F/Sgt E Ekiert (Polish) and crew were uninjured. |
| Date | Type | Serial | Unit | Location | Notes |
|---|
| 02/08/1943 | Wellington | HE455 | 166sqn | Audleby, nr Clixby | This aircraft was wrecked at 0032hrs when the aircraft was force-landed fully loaded in a field after the port engine failed at 200 feet on takeoff for operations. Pilot A/W/O JAC Newman and crew were unhurt in the crash. |
| 02/08/1943 | Spitfire | K9801 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1405hrs when the engine failed on takeoff due to faulty cockpit drill by the pilot. Whilst trying to stop, the aircraft tipped onto its nose. Pilot Lt C Engin (Turkish) was unhurt. |
| 02/08/1943 | Tiger Moth | DE745 | HQ Sqn/79SrG | Goxhill | This aircraft suffered repairable (cat 3) damage in a landing accident on this date and was subsequently returned to service. Pilot James P Cole was uninjured. |
| 02/08/1943 | Lancaster | EE180 | 100sqn | Waltham | This aircraft was damaged in a taxying accident on this date, no further details recorded. |
| 02/08/1943 | Lancaster | ED392 | 12sqn | Wickenby | This aircraft was damaged in a taxying accident on this date, no further details recorded. |
| 02/08/1943 | Wellington | X3800 | 18OTU | Wroot | Airborne at 1510hrs from Finningley to practice single-engine flying. At 1530hrs the aircraft dived to earth and crashed at Wroot. Sgt L.A. Charlton killed, Sgt R.H. Smith killed, F/Sgt E.H. Sherman (Australian) killed, Sgt J.W. Perry killed. |
| 03/08/1943 | Blenheim | AZ960 | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | This aircraft was damaged at 1550 hours on a training flight when the pilot retracted the undercarriage to abort the take-off after a tyre burst during the take-off run. Instructor F/O UJG Davis and pupil Sgt AC Lewis were uninjured in this crash. |
| 03/08/1943 | Blenheim | L6762 | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | This aircraft was destroyed at 1830 hours on landing from at a training exercise when the aircraft overshot on approach due to attempting to land downwind because of a sudden change of wind direction. Pilot Sgt E Osborne was uninjured in this crash. |
| 03/08/1943 | Oxford | T1016 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged when the undercarriage collapsed after landing from a training flight at 1040hrs. The accident was caused by a defective oleo mounting bracket. Pilot LAC PJ Johnson was uninjured. |
| 03/08/1943 | Lancaster | LM322 | 57sqn | Scampton | Coded DX-X. Airborne 0111hrs 3Aug43 for Hamburg and crashed almost immediately after the aircraft swung, pilot overcorrected and swung the opposite way during the takeoff run. The undercarriage collapsed and the wreckage caught fire. Pilot F/O E.J Hodgkinson and crew escaped uninjured. |
| 03/08/1943 | Lancaster | DV190 | 12sqn | Wickenby | Whilst evading enemy flak over target, this aircraft flew into cloud and severe icing developed, causing the aircraft to spin at 400mph. Both ailerons were torn off in the recovery from the sping, but the aircraft was able to return to Wickenby safely. Pilot Sgt JAL Currie and crew were uninjured apart from concussion to Sgt Walker, the flight engineer. Sgt Currie, P/O Cassidy and Sgt Lanham were awarded the DFC and Sgt Fairbairn was awarded the DFM for this incident |
| 04/08/1943 | Magister | P6363 | 467sqn | Great Gonerby | This aircraft was damaged at 1800hrs on a comms flight from Bottesford. The engine failed in flight and the pilot put down in the last available field. The aircraft overran and crashed into a hedge. |
| 04/08/1943 | Beaufighter | JM159 | 143sqn | North Coates | Landing at 2100hrs from a 30 minute ferry flight, this aircraft was damaged when pilot F/O G F Browne landed with the tailwheel retracted due to a fault in the tailwheel assembly. |
| 04/08/1943 | Lancaster | DV202 | 44sqn | Nr Dunholme Lodge | This aircraft was damaged at 1210hrs during a formation training flight when it collided with another Lancaster in the formation, JA700. Pilot F/Sgt RL Ash and crew were uninjured. |
| 04/08/1943 | Lancaster | JA700 | 44sqn | Nr Dunholme Lodge | This aircraft was damaged at 1210hrs during a formation practice flight when it was struck by another Lancaster in the formation, DV202. Pilot P/O RC Harding (Canadian) and his crew were uninjured in the incident. |
| 05/08/1943 | Spitfire | AD194 | 402sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged at 1445hrs whilst taking off on a rough airfield in poor weather. The pilot raised the undercarriage too soon, the propellors struck the runway and the aircraft belly-landed. Pilot P/O BE Innes (Canadian) was unhurt. |
| 05/08/1943 | Beaufighter | JM893 | 143sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged in flight at 0915hrs during an air-to-ground gunnery practice sortie when a 20mm cannon round broke up immediately after leaving the gun barrel. Pilot S/Ldr R A Ullman was uninjured. |
| 06/08/1943 | Martinet | HP318 | 1485TTGFlt | Eagle | Airborne at 1621hrs from Fulbeck for a fighter affiliation exercise. The aircraft was destroyed when it spun in and crashed at 1645hrs near eagle village, catching fore on impact. Pilot W/O K. Felus (Polish) was killed. |
| 06/08/1943 | Lancaster | EE181 | 100sqn | | This aircraft was damaged on the ground at 1100hrs whilst bombs unused on the previous night's operation were being unloaded. The tail of the 4000lb bomb swung upwards and damaged the airframe. |
| 07/08/1943 | Lancaster | W4133 | 9sqn | Bardney | Coded WS-Z. After taking off for a night-cross-country exercise, this aircraft was destroyed when it crashed at 0140hrs and burst into flames near the airfield. Sgt Wyatt and Sgt Meres (Australian) are buried in Lincoln (Newport) Cemetery. Sgt J.B.Davis killed, Sgt J.D.Lofthouse killed, Sgt P.C.Wyatt killed, Sgt S.Robertson killed, Sgt J.H.Stevens killed, Sgt E.Taylor killed, Sgt F.Meres (Australian) killed |
| 07/08/1943 | Spitfire | P7983 | 53OTU | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was damaged at 1225hrs when it belly-landed on the airfield after the undercarriage had been torn off on the previous landing attempt. Pilot Sgt JC Van Roosendall (Dutch) was unhurt. |
| 08/08/1943 | Boston | AE461 | USAAF Thurleigh | Woodhall Spa | This aircraft was damaged at 1900 hours when it struck a barbed wire fence whilst taxying on the airfield. Pilot was Lt William H McWhorter. |
| 09/08/1943 | Master | DL851 | RAFC | Northorpe | This aircraft was destroyed when it crashed after catching fire in the air. The aircraft dived into the ground under power at 1745hrs with the pilot making no attempt to escape. Pilot LAC A Jackson was killed. |
| 10/08/1943 | Blenheim | K7050 | 12(P)AFU | near the Great North Road, Bottesford | This aircraft was destroyed at 0135 hours during a night exercise when the pilot attempted to land at a Q site. The pilot lost sight of the airfield he was trying to land at and attempted to put down at the decoy site instead. It was a moonlit night, and the pilot had only 1 hour of night flying on this type of aircraft. The aircraft crashed and burned on impact. Pilot P/O SJ Christopherson (Danish) was killed in this crash. |
| 10/08/1943 | Halifax | HR981 | 51sqn | Snitterby Cliff Farm | Airborne 2140 10Aug43 from Snaith for Nuremburg. Crashed 2210 into a building at Snitterby Cliff Farm near Kirton in Lindsey, Lincolnshire. The aircraft was unable to retract the undercarriage or flaps due to a hydraulic system failure immediately after takeoff, and the starboard outer constant speed unit failed in flight shortly afterwards. The pilot attempted to crash land the aircraft but it swung into a house and caught fire. This set the house on fire killing two civilians in the house - Olive Dickinson (38) and her son John Dickinson (15 weeks old). Both are buried in Glentworth cemetery. P/O Silvester is buried in Clacton Cemetery. P/O W.J.McPherson injured, P/O F.S.Moores injured, P/O A.T.Ellis injured, Sgt R.T.Payne injured, P/O C.A.H.Silvester killed, P/O J.Grudzien injured, P/O W.E.Clow injured, |
| 11/08/1943 | Master | DK835 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged when it belly-landed on the airfield at 1725hrs after the pilot was unable to lower the undercarriage due to a leak in the hydraulic system. Pilot LAC DRF Ray was uninjured. |
| 11/08/1943 | Lancaster | W4380 | 12sqn | Wickenby | This aircraft was damaged on landing from operations at 0100hrs. The ndercarriage had been damaged on take-off and collapsed on landing. Pilot F/Sgt NE Gardiner (New Zealander) and crew were uninjured. |
| 12/08/1943 | Master | AZ606 | RAFC | 3 miles southwest of Donington | This aircraft was damaged at 1235hrs during a wheels-up forced landing in a field caused by the pilot becoming lost and the aircraft running out of fuel. Pilot LAC N Bowen was unhurt in the incident. |
| 13/08/1943 | Master | DL565 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was involved in a collision with a car driven by a WAAF on the peritrack whilst the aircraft was taxying back to dispersal after a training flight. Pilot W/O R Downing (South African) and pupil Sgt DS Mackellar (Canadian) were uninjured. |
| 13/08/1943 | Spitfire | P7919 | AFDU | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged whilst taxying close to a hangar at 1510hrs. A gust of wind caught the aircraft and swung it into the hangar. Pilot F/O CF Bush was unhurt. |
| 14/08/1943 | Wellington | HE780 | 23OTU | Elsham Wolds | This aircraft was damaged at 0020hrs during a night training sortie. The port engine caught fire in the air, the pilot jettisoned the bombload and selected bombdoors closed. These runoff the port engine and did not close. Whislt manually pumping the undercarriage down ahead of making an emergency landine, the pilot was also inadvertently closing the bomb bay doors too. This meant that the undercarriage had not fully lowered before landing. The pilot attempted to go around again for another approach but the aircraft crashed into a field. Pilots Sgt SJ Oullette (Canadian), F/Lt RA Anderson (Canadian) and crew were unhurt in the accident. |
| 14/08/1943 | Lancaster | EE148 | 617sqn | Scampton | This aircraft was damaged at 1500hrs on takeoff for a dual instruction sortie. The flight engineer raised the undercarriage too soon and the aircraft sank backonto the runway on its belly. Pilots F/Lt JL Munro DFC (New Zealander), F/O DJ Stewart (Canadian) and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 16/08/1943 | Lancaster | LM341 | 101sqn | Ludford Magna | This aircraft was damaged at 1645hrs by an out of control airfield tractor which struck the aircraft whilst it was parked. The tractor driver was injured. |
| 16/08/1943 | Lancaster | JA896 | 57sqn | Scampton | Coded DX-D. Airborne 2029hrs 15Aug43 from Scampton for Milan. Overshot the runway on return to Scampton and crashed 0420hrs. The aircraft had suffered an engine failure in flight and bounced due to a heavy landing from the first approach. The pilot attempted to perform a 3-engined overshoot to try landing again, but failed to correct the swing which developed as the aircraft gained speed. The aircraft crashed, caught fire and was destroyed. Pilot P/O J.Smithers (Australian and 3 of his crew died in the crash. Rear gunner F/Sgt Haskins was critically injured and died within a few hours of the accident. Along with P/O Smithers, he is buried in Scampton (St.John the Baptist) Churchyard. P/O J.Smithers (Australian) killed, Sgt D.J.Rose killed, F/O A.J.Organ killed, Sgt A.G.Luxford killed, P/O Bladen injured, Sgt Burgess injured, F/Sgt R.H.Haskins (Australian) injured. (later died). |
| 17/08/1943 | Do217 | U5+AK | 2/KG2 | over North sea off Lincolnshire | This aircraft was attacked and damaged by a nightfighter, the pilot briefly lost control, 2 crew baled out. Uffz W Schneider killed, Uffz G Arlt was taken prisoner. |
| 17/08/1943 | Do217E-4 | U5+KN | 5/KG2 | over North sea off Lincolnshire | This aircraft was shot down by a nightfighter, Lt Rechberger's body recovered from the sea on 23/Aug/42 and was buried at North Coates. Uffz H Muller killed, Obergefr M Haeschke killed, Obergefr Musselek killed. |
| 18-Aug-43 | Do217M-1 | U5+DR | 7/KG2 | Walk farm, Irby-upon-Humber | This aircraft was shot down by AA fire from Humber battery H18 at Fulne after being caught by searchlights at 9600 feet. It crashed at 0005hrs and was destroyed when it exploded on impact. The engines were reported to have still been burning underground 36 hours after the crash. Fw R Holz, Lt F Guse, Uffz R Monden, Uffz J Heider all baled out and were taken prisoner. |
| 19/08/1943 | Oxford | X6770 | RAFC | Caistor | This aircraft was written off at 1920hrs after it struck a building and a vehicle after landing too fast on the wrong runway. Pilot Lt H Morgul (Turkish) was uninjured in the incident. |
| 19/08/1943 | Spitfire | P7374 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged in a mid-air collision with Spitfire X4936 whilst practising air combat. Pilot Lt S Ural (Turkish) was unhurt. |
| 19/08/1943 | Spitfire | X4936 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged in a mid-air collision with Spitfire P7374 whilst practising air combat. Pilot Lt C Vaziciorlu (Turkish) was unhurt. |
| 19/08/1943 | Spitfire | W3825 | 349sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged at 1545hrs when it collided with a grass mower on the airfield whilst taxying. Pilot Sgt CEJ Brahy (Belgian) was unhurt. |
| 19/08/1943 | Lancaster | DV175 | 460sqn | Wickenby | This aircraft was damaged at 200hrs on startup prior to an operational sortie when the undercarriage collapsed due to the selector lever being inadvertently moved. No injuries reported, pilot is not named but the F1180 records that he had been lost on operations by the time the card was written. |
| 20/08/1943 | Wellington | HE481 | 3OTU | Barkston Heath | This aircraft was damaged at 1250hrs when it made a frced landing on the airfield after engine failure in flight. The pilot swung the aircraft on landing to avoid an obstruction on the airfield and the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot P/O PI Brooke was injured, the rest of the crew were unhurt. |
| 20/08/1943 | Master | W9094 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was destroyed at 1520hrs when it landed heavily, bounced, cartwheeled and caught fire. Pilot Lt D Aras (Turkish) was injured in this crash. |
| 20/08/1943 | Spitfire | P7915 | 53OTU | nr Scunthorpe | this aircraft was damaged when it force-landed wheels-up in a field 1 mile from Appleby station after the engine failed in flight. Pilot F/O MW Grierson-Jackson was unhurt. |
| 21/08/1943 | Master | DK860 | RAFC | Barkston Heath | This aircraft was written off at 0650hrs after overshooting on landing due to the undercarriage failing to lock into position because of a hydraulic problem. Pilot LAC SS Helett was uninjured. |
| 21/08/1943 | Lancaster | ED732 | 100sqn | Wickenby | Coded HW-L On take-off from Wickenby at 2157hrs during a training cross-country exercise, the Lancaster swung and collided with a parked Lancaster JA922 belonging to No.12Sqdn. This aircraft was subsequently repaired on station. ED732 was written off. F/Sgt Simes injured, Sgt V.H.Pears killed, Sgt J.G.Wookey injured, Note. As in so many training accidents, full details of the crew have not been recorded, but it is believed that six were injured in what was a very serious crash. F AM78 shows the Lancaster as arriving with 100 Sqdn 14Mar43 and having a trouble free service until this crash. |
| 21/08/1943 | Lancaster | JA922 | 12sqn | Wickenby | This aircraft was damaged at 2157hrs whilst parked on dispersal when Lancaster ED732 of 100sqn struck it after crashing. |
| 22/08/1943 | Spitfire | R6706 | 53OTU | Barrow-on-Humber | This aircraft was destroyed at 1230hrs when it crashed near Bell Cemetery after the pilot was unable to recover the aircraft from a spin due to failure of the port aileron after it had been incorrectly fitted. Pilot F/O JH Johnson was killed in the crash. |
| 22/08/1943 | Spitfire | BL563 | 350sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged at 1750hrs when a tyre burst on takeoff, causing the starboard oleo to collapse. Pilot P/O AML Herreman (Belgian) was unhurt. |
| 22/08/1943 | Spitfire | BL778 | 350sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged on return from a training flight at 1211hrs when the undercarriage collapsed during a heavy landing. Pilot Sgt JWL Laloux (Belgian) was unhurt. |
| 22/08/1943 | Spitfire | X4771 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 1200hrs when it belly-landed on the airfield after the undercarriage selector lever jammed, preventing the undercarriage from lowering. Pilot F/O WA Newenham (New Zealander) was unhurt. |
| 22/08/1943 | Spitfire | JL359 | AFDU | nr Market Deeping | This aircraft was damaged at 1110hrs when it force-landed in a field at Stonehouse Farm between Market Deeping and Deeping St Nicholas. The pilot was on a test flight after 9 months of non-flying work and forgot to check his fuel gauge. The aircraft ran out of fuel during the flight. Pilot S/Ldr RA Mitchell was uninjured. |
| 22/08/1943 | Spitfire | P8168 | RAFC | nr Sibsey | This aircraft was damaged at 1120hrs when it force-landed wheels-up in a field after running out of fuel due to an abnormally high rate of consumption whilst on a training flight. Pilot Lt Gunkut (Turkish) was unhurt. |
| 22/08/1943 | Spitfire | P8704 | 53OTU | Scampton | This aircraft was damaged at 1400hrs when it belly-landed on the airfield following engine failure in flight. Pilot F/Sgt FM Lippiatt was unhurt. |
| 22/08/1943 | Tiger Moth | R5138 | 25(P)EFTS | Scampton | This aircraft made a heavy landing in high winds, damaging the propellor and wing. Pilot LAC W Pawlowicz (Polish) was unhurt. |
| 23/08/1943 | Lancaster | ED417 | 103 Sqn | Elsham Wolds | This aircraft was damaged at 1945hrs whilst stood on dispersal by the explosion of Lancaster W4323's bombload. Pilot F/Sgt DF Carter and crew were uninjured. |
| 23/08/1943 | Lancaster | ED767 | 103 Sqn | Elsham Wolds | This aircraft was severely damaged at 1945hrs whilst attempting to taxy out of the way of the wreckage of Lancaster W4323 in the next dispersal which was alight after jettisoning its bombs whilst parked. The bombload then exploded, severely damging ED767. Pilot F/Lt DW Finlay and 5 of the crew were uninjured, but the wireless operator, Sgt H Wheeler, was killed by shrapnel from the exploding aircraft. |
| 23/08/1943 | Lancaster | W4323 | 103 Sqn | Elsham Wolds | Coded PM-C. While being started at Elsham Wolds for the Berlin operation of that night at 1945hrs, the bomb load was accidentally jettisoned, the incendiary load ignited and the aircraft was totally destroyed. No crew injuries. |
| 23/08/1943 | Beaufighter | LX858 | 236sqn | North Coates | Taxying back to dispersal at 2100hrs after a 2h40m operational sortie, this aircraft was damaged when the tailwheel was torn off as the aircraft taxied over a ridge onto an area of hardstanding. Pilot F/Sgt S R Simpson was uninjured in the incident. |
| 23/08/1943 | Oxford | T1141 | 16SFTS | nr Sedgebrook | This aircraft was destroyed when it crashed after being abandoned due to the aircraft breaking up when the pilot lost control in cloud. Pilot LAC JH Szylling (Polish) was killed in this accident. |
| 23/08/1943 | Boston | BZ288 | 13OTU | Skellingthorpe | This aircraft was damaged in flight when it hit an obstruction whilst practicing a low level attack. One wing tip was damaged but the aircraft landed safely at base. Pilot F/Sgt AP Jenkins (New Zealand) was uninjured in this accident. |
| 23/08/1943 | Lancaster | ED652 | 100sqn | Waltham | Coded HW-C, Started take-off roll 2040 23Aug43 at Waltham bound for Berlin but swung off the runway out of control and came to a stop when its undercarriage collapsed. the aircraft was written off in this accident. No injuries reported. F/Sgt D.C.Dripps (Australian) Sgt H.Jones P/O J.E.Stewart (Canadian) Sgt W.T.Sibley Sgt D.Campbell Sgt R.Gillies Sgt A.F.W.N.Croft |
| 23/08/1943 | Master | DL284 | RAFC | Welbourne Heath | This aircraft was destroyed at 1355hrs when it spun into the ground and caught fire after failing to recover from a spin during a routine aerbatics sortie. The pilot may not have been able to recover from the spin due to a back injury he sustained the previous day. Pilot Lt E Sasmaz (Turkish) was killed in the crash. |
| 25/08/1943 | Wellington | HE349 | 166sqn | Kirmington | Coded AS-? Airborne at 2012hrs from Kirmington for a mining sortie off the Frisian Islands. The aircraft was damaged on return to base at 0001hrs when it hit a vehicle whilst taxying to dispersal. The brakes were ineffective due to loss of pressure caused by the long, winding taxiway. PIlot F/Sgt WP Knight and crew were unhurt. |
| 26/08/1943 | Beaufighter | JM210 | 254sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged at 1100hrs during an air-to-sea firing practice sortie. One of the forward blast tubes for the cannon was blown open during firing, ripping the side panel of the fuselage open. Pilot F/Sgt R J O'Connor landed safely at base. |
| 26/08/1943 | Beaufighter | JM333 | 254sqn | North Coates | Whilst taxying across the airfield this aircraft was damaged when the tailwheel collapsed due to damage inflicted when it had been taxied with a flat tailwheel tyre on a previous sortie. Pilot F/O I F Stamper was uninjured. |
| 27/08/1943 | Beaufighter | JM216 | 254sqn | 2 miles off North Coates | This aircraft was destroyed when it crashed into the sea in a shallow dive during an air-to-sea gunnery practice flight. Pilot F/O I F Stamper and F/O D P McGee were killed in the crash. |
| 27/08/1943 | Mosquito | HJ826 | 410sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged at 2210hrs after overshooting on landing. The pilot swung the aircraft on crossing the peritrack to prevent it from running through the airfield boundary, and the undercarriage collapsed under the strain of turning sharply at speed. Pilot Lt AA Harrington (American) was slightly injured in this accident. His navigator, Sgt DG Tongue, was unhurt. |
| 27/08/1943 | Mosquito | DZ305 | 410sqn | in the Wash | This aircraft was destroyed at 1620hrs whilst in a tailchase with another Mosquito as part of a cine-gun exercise. The aircraft followed the lead Mosquito into a sharp, steep dive, trying to stay on its tail and crashed into the sea, possibly after entering cloud and losing contrl in the other aircraft's slipstream. Pilot F/Sgt WT Cheropita (Canadian) and his navigator WO NM Dalton (Canadian) were killed in this crash. The crew had only arrived on the squadron from OTU 10 days earlier, F/Sgt Cheropita is recorded as having only 10 hours on Mosquitoes at the time of the crash. |
| 28/08/1943 | Lancaster | ED946 | 57sqn | nr Norton Disney | Coded DX-E. This aircraft was airborne at 1258hrs from Swinderby to return to Scampton on a training flight, but due to lack of fuel in the number 2 fuel tank, both inboard engines cut and the Lancaster crash-landed at 1301hrs in a field 1 mile from the airfield, just avoiding Hawdin's Wood. The aircraft was destroyed in the crash. Pilot Sgt JB Josling and crew were uninjured. |
| 28/08/1943 | Lancaster | ED827 | 57sqn | Scampton | Coded DX-Z, Airborne 2103hrs 27Aug43 from Scampton for Nuremburg. On return, the aircraft landed heavily, swung 90 degrees and the undercarriage collapsed. The aircraft caught fire and was destroyed. No injuries reported. P/O R.D.Hazelwood Sgt L.H.Howling F/O J.Simms F/O G.Johnson Sgt J.Sherriff Sgt J.L.Brooks Sgt J.McFalls |
| 31/08/1943 | Halifax | HR782 | 51sqn | Skellingthorpe | This aircraft was damaged in a mid air collision with Lancaster W4260 of 1654CU at 0410 hours caused by congestion due to aircraft returning from operational sorties on a dark night with no navigation lights. Neither crew sortie other. Pilot F/O R Murchett and his crew were uninjured in this collision. The Lancaster was destroyed. |
| 31/08/1943 | Lancaster | W4260 | 1654CU | Skellingthorpe | This aircraft was destroyed in a mid air collision with Halifax HR782 of 51squadron at 0410 hours due to congestion caused by aircraft returning from operations sortie on a dark night with no navigation lights. Neither crew saw the other, the Lancaster caught fire and crashed. Pilot F/Sgt AB Simpson (Australian) was injured, the remainder of his crew are not mentioned but are believed uninjured in this incident. |
| 31/08/1943 | Lancaster | R5634 | 1677CU | Elsham Wolds | This aircraft was damaged at 1145hrs during a training circuits and landings sortie. The starboard tyre burst on landing and appears to have caused the aircraft to be seriously damaged, though further detail is not recorded. Pilot Sgt GA Crosby (Australian) and crew were uninjured. |
| Date | Type | Serial | Unit | Location | Notes |
|---|
| 01/09/1943 | Blenheim | T2356 | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | This aircraft was damaged at 0940 hours on take-off for a dual instruction sortie. A tyre burst on take-off and the instructor retracted the undercarriage to avoid crashing into parked aircraft. Instructor F/O ER Millington and pupil Sgt GR Parker were uninjured in this incident. |
| 01/09/1943 | Lancaster | W4314 | 1662HCU | Laughton | Airborne from Blyton for a night cross-country exercise. The aircraft flew into the ground near Laughton at 0325hrs and burst into flames. F/Sgt L.W. Martin (Australian) killed, F/Sgt W. Bradshaw killed, F/Sgt J.M. Borthwick (Australian) killed, F/Sgt P.R. Good (Australian) killed, F/Sgt S.A. Grant (Australian) killed, Sgt T. Stearman killed, Sgt G. Howard killed. |
| 01/09/1943 | Beaufighter | L2172 | 254sqn | North Coates | Whilst on a slow approach to land at 1615hrs after a training flight, pilot F/Sgt R Sanford landed heavily, causing the aircraft to bounce and the tailwheel to break off. F/Sgt Sandford had been distracted by people crossing the runway ahead of him. |
| 01/09/1943 | Lancaster | JA690 | 49sqn | Scampton | This aircraft was damaged at 1630hrs when it landed heavily, injureduring a passenger. Pilot P/O RE Hidderley and the remaining crew were uninjured. |
| 02/09/1943 | Master | AZ792 | 7PAFU | 3 miles north of Crowland | This aircraft was damaged at 1220hrs during a forced landing on a low-flying sortie caused by engine failure in flight. Pilot Sgt DR Davies was uninjured, pupil Sgt PV StAlbansteen was injured slightly |
| 03/09/1943 | Lancaster | JB134 | 619sqn | Woodhall Spa | On return from operations at 2145hrs, this aircraft was damaged on landing. Owing to an unusual fuel consumption pattern, the aircraft had an abnormal loading configuration. The aircraft landed heavily, bounced, swung to starboard and the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot F/Sgt JH Mason and crew were uninjured. |
| 04/09/1943 | Master | W9017 | RAFC | Cabourne Parva nr Caistor | This aircraft was destroyed when it was shot down by an intruder aircraft. Instructor F/O LF Chapman and pupil Lt H Arkacay were both killed in this incident. |
| 04/09/1943 | Master | DL880 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged when it belly-landed on the airfield at 0750hrs after the pilot forgot to lower the undercarriage. Pilot W/O RN Cooper was uninjured. |
| 06/09/1943 | Blenheim | L1301 | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | This aircraft was destroyed at 1015 hours on landing from a day flying exercise when the pupil selected undercarriage up instead of flaps up on landing. Instructor F/Lt KG Hubbard and pupil Sgt AC MacLeod were uninjured in this incident. |
| 07/09/1943 | Oxford | HM944 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1650hrs when the pilot was forced to crash-land on the airfield after bein unable to fully lower the port wheel. Pilot F/O HA Aykroyd was unhurt in the crash. |
| 07/09/1943 | Lancaster | ED975 | 9sqn | Minting | Coded WS-Y, Airborne 1949hrs 6Sep43 from Bardney. Crashed on return from Munich 0435hrs at Minting, 5 miles NW of Horncastle. The starboard outer engine failed in flight, followed by the starboard inner as a forced landing was being attempted. The starboard wing dropped, hit an obstruction and the aircraft crashed and was damaged beyond repair. P/O W.E.Siddle injured, Sgt R.W.Moseley injured, Sgt R.C.T.Lodge injured, P/O K.J.H.Hills injured, Sgt J.W.Culley Sgt R.e.Jones injured, Sgt C.C.Moore (Canadian) injured |
| 07/09/1943 | Lancaster | JB125 | 619sqn | Woodhall Spa | This aircraft was damaged at 0418hrs on return from operations. The aircraft landed normally, but the port undercarriage fractured and collapsed. Pilot F/O RD Rayment and crew were uninjured in the crash. |
| 08/09/1943 | Blenheim | AZ996 | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | This aircraft was destroyed on landing at 1230 hours when the port engine failed on approach to land. The failure was due to a faulty ignition system and the pilot partially lost control causing the aircraft to crash on the airfield boundary. Instructor F/O WJF Legon and pupil F/Sgt Robinson (New Zealand) were injured in this crash. |
| 08/09/1943 | Blenheim | L6745 | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | This aircraft was damaged at 1600 hours during a dual training sortie when the undercarriage was strained after the aircraft swung due to a burst tyre on take-off. Instructor F/Sgt W Mepham and pupil Sgt R Oddie were uninjured in this incident. |
| 08/09/1943 | Lancaster | W4773 | 1662HCU | Blyton | Airborne from Blyton at 2210hrs for a night exercise. On return at 0255hrs the aircraft clipped a house roof with the main wheels and landed on one wheel, causing the undercarriage to collapse. The aircraft was written off in the subsequent crash. Pilot P/O GS Morgan and crew were uninjured. |
| 08/09/1943 | Lancaster | DV165 | 1667CU | Faldingworth | On return from a training flight, this aircraft was damaged at 0013hrs when it struck unlit parked Lancaster L7544 whilst taxying from the runway to dispersal. Pilot F/Sgt PA Crosby and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 08/09/1943 | Lancaster | L7544 | 1667CU | Faldingworth | This aircraft was damaged at 0013hrs whilst parked in an unlit dispersal when it was struck by taxying Lancaster DV165. |
| 09/09/1943 | Proctor | P6238 | 1RS | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 0935hrs whilst taxying in poor visibility. The aircraft struck parked Proctor R7534. Pilot Sgt FV Brade was unhurt in the collision. |
| 09/09/1943 | Proctor | R7534 | 1RS | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged whilst parked unoccupied at 0935hrs when it was struck by taxying Proctor P6328 in poor visibility. |
| 09/09/1943 | Spitfire | P7289 | CGS | nr Long Sutton | This aircraft was wrecked at 1055hrs when it crashed and burned out after the port wing struck the ground near Red House Farm, 3 miles north of Long Sutton. The pilot, A/S/Ldr RC Dafforn DFC was killed in the crash. |
| 12/09/1943 | Beaufighter | LX942 | 236sqn | North Coates | Returning from an operational sortie at 1600hrs Sgt D Lowe landed this aircraft heavily in bad weather after holding off too high and allowing the aircraft to stall onto the runway |
| 12/09/1943 | Wellington | HE925 | 1481BGflt | Rothwell Top | Airborne at 1451hrs on an air test from Binbrook, this aircraft was wrecked when it crash-landed wheels-up at 1500hrs on Rothwell Top after the starboard engine failed on takeoff, causing the pilot to lose control. Pilots F/Sgt A Orr, F/Sgt TC Smith and crew were unhurt. |
| 13/09/1943 | Spitfire | P7927 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 1710hrs after it overshot on landing, hit an obstruction and tipped onto its nose. Pilot Sgt TK Clanzy was unhurt. |
| 14/09/1943 | Master | AZ670 | RAFC | nr Glentham | This aircraft was destroyed at 1030hrs when it dived in during aerobatics. The aircraft began a roll at 4000 feet, but when it was inverted, the aircraft dived towards the ground, completing the roll in the vertical, but with insufficient height to recover from the dive as speed had built up. It crashed at Cross Lane Bridge, 1 mile northeast of Glentham. Pilot F/O H Rooney (Canadian) was killed in the crash. |
| 14/09/1943 | Wellington | HF541 | 1485BGflt | Skellingthorpe | This aircraft was involved in a collision on the ground at 1045hrs when it taxied into the back of Martinet HN876. Pilot F/O Jeavons and crew were unhurt. |
| 14/09/1943 | Martinet | HN876 | 1485BGflt | Skellingthorpe | This aircraft was damaged at 1045hrs when it was struck by taxying Wellington HF541. Pilot F/Sgt E Broadbent was uninjured. |
| 15/09/1943 | Blenheim | AZ952 | 12(P)AFU | Grimsby | This aircraft was destroyed on landing from a training flight at 1715 hours after the pilot became lost in flight. The aircraft swung after landing heavily, the undercarriage collapsed and the port engine caught fire. The aircraft subsequently burnt out. Pilot F/O DN Relf was uninjured in this incident. |
| 15/09/1943 | Lancaster | ED448 | 49sqn | Dunholme Lodge | Coded EA-M. This aircraft was damaged at 2058hrs on return from a training flight. The aircraft landed heavily, causing the undercarriage to collapse. Pilot F/Sgt E.G.Oglesby and crew were uninjured. |
| 15/09/1943 | Lancaster | W4132 | 1667CU | Faldingworth | This aircraft was damaged at 1229hrs during a dual instruction sortie. On landing, the pupil failed to give back control to the instructor, resulting in the aircraft bouncing, swinging and the undercarriage collapsing. Instructor P/O AG Harrower (Canadian), pupil Sgt Hawksley-Hill and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 16/09/1943 | Oxford | EB219 | RAFC | Fulbeck | This aircraft was damaged when it ran into Oxford V4197 at 0315hrs whilst taxying, after the pilot failed to notice a loss of brake pressure after taxying a long distance. Pilot Lt N Dincer (Turkish) was unhurt in the crash. |
| 16/09/1943 | Oxford | V4197 | RAFC | Fulbeck | This aircraft was damaged at 0315hrs when it was struck by taxying Oxford EB219 which was unable to stop. Pilot F/O E Zisserman was unhurt in the collision. |
| 18/09/1943 | Spitfire | P7882 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged when it struck parked Spitfire P8356 whilst taxying at 1230hrs. Pilot F/O LM Cameron (Canadian) was unhurt. |
| 18/09/1943 | Spitfire | P8356 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged whilst parked at 1230hrs when it was struck by taxying Spitfire P7882. |
| 18/09/1943 | Whitley | LA848 | 24OTU | Woodhall Spa | This aircraft was damaged at 2245hrs whilst taxying when the tailplane struck a glidepath indicator marker. Pilot Sgt RM McKay (Canadian) and crew were unhurt. |
| 19/09/1943 | Blenheim | L6710 | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | This aircraft was destroyed on landing from a training flight at 1900 hours. The pilot belly-landed after being unable to lower the undercarriage due to damage caused to it by premature retraction of the wheels on take-off. Pilot F/O GR Millington was uninjured in this incident. |
| 19/09/1943 | Blenheim | L1323 | 12(P)AFU | near Boothby Pagnell | This aircraft was destroyed at 1240 hours in a mid air collision with Blenheim L6796 whilst on a day training exercise. Both aircraft were probably flying into the sun in poor visibility conditions. Instructor F/O VE Lowe (Australian) and pupil Sgt DH Owen were killed in this crash, as were the occupants of the other aircraft. |
| 19/09/1943 | Blenheim | L6796 | 12(P)AFU | near Boothby Pagnell | This aircraft was destroyed at 1240 hours in a mid air collision with Blenheim L1323 whilst on a day training exercise. Both aircraft were probably flying into the sun in poor visibility conditions. Instructor WO A Bayman and pupil Sgt WK Craig were killed in this crash, as were the occupants of the other aircraft. |
| 20/09/1943 | Wellington | HE350 | 1485BGflt | 2.5 miles north-west of Skellingthorpe airfield | Airborne from Skellingthorpe at 1537hrs for air gunnery training. As the aircraft climbed out, both engines cut out. The pilot was unable to turn back and crash-landed 2 1/2 miles northwest of the airfield. P/O W.G. Baker injured, Sgt J. Pemberton injured, Sgt A. Kirkman injured, P/O R.A. Baker DFC killed, Sgt T.C. Newton injured, Sgt A. Bracey killed, Sgt T. Baker killed. |
| 20/09/1943 | Martinet | HP316 | 1481TTGFlt | Binbrook | This aircraft was damaged at 1530hrs whilst being taxied in a strong gusty wind. The wind caught the tail of the aircraft and swung it into a glideslope indicator, causing the undercarriage to collapse. Pilot P/O G Kentish was uninjured. |
| 20/09/1943 | Spitfire | P7690 | AFDU | Ludford Magna | This aircraft was damaged at 1040hrs whilst taxying out for a fighter affiliation sortie. The aircraft was caught in the slipstream of a Lancaster, depressing one wing and causing the undercarriage to collapse. Pilot F/O EH Francis was unhurt. |
| 21/09/1943 | Lancaster | JA902 | 467sqn | Bottesford | This aircraft was damaged at 2230hrs when it bounced on landing and overshot the runway. Pilot P/O DC Dunn and crew were uninjured. |
| 21/09/1943 | Master | DL409 | RAFC | Caistor | This aircraft was damaged at 1105hrs on return from a training flight when the undercarriage collapsed as the aircraft landed with drift. Pilot LAC JL Holland was uninjured. |
| 21/09/1943 | Oxford | LX327 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was destroyed when it spun in and crashed after attempting to avoid another aircraft at 1645hrs. Pilot Lt O Sumercan (Turkish) was killed in the crash. |
| 21/09/1943 | Oxford | V4216 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged after overshooting on landing on a short runway at 1630hrs. It ran into a patch of soft ground and overturned. Pilot LAC KS Pearce was unhurt. |
| 21/09/1943 | Spitfire | P8199 | CGS | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was damaged at 1545hrs whilst taxying after a normal landing when the undercarriage collapsed due to a faulty bolt. Pilot Lt GJ LeGal was unhurt. |
| 21/09/1943 | Spitfire | AB203 | 416sqn | Wellingore | This aircraft was found to be damaged on return from an operational flight after it exceeded airframe limitations in a dive and subsequent pull-out whilst pursuing an enemy aircraft. Pilot F/Lt HJ MacDonald (Canadian) was unhurt. |
| 22/09/1943 | Blenheim | L6760 | RAFCSFTS | near Honington village | This aircraft was destroyed in a crash at 1400 hours following an engine failure on take-off. The pilot mishandled the engines due to an experience on the type and the aircraft crashed just off the airfield. Pilot Sgt DJ MacPhie was injured in this incident. |
| 22/09/1943 | Lancaster | L7582 | 1667CU | Faldingworth | This aircraft was damaged at 1130hrs during a dual instruction sortie. The pupil pilot undershot whilst landing and struck a hedge, bursting one of the mainwheel tyres. The instructor took control and made a precautionary landing, during which the aircraft began to swing. The instructor allowed the swing to continue so that the aircraft would avoid an airman on the airfield, and the undercarriage collapsed. Instructor F/Lt WE Hull, pupil Sgt ST Wells and crew were uninjured. |
| 22/09/1943 | Spitfire | P7557 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 1225hrs when the undercarriage broke off during a normal landing due to damage inflicted in a previous heavy landing. Pilot F/Sgt DC Wilson (Australian) was unhurt. |
| 22/09/1943 | Wellington | HE869 | 300sqn | Ingham | This aircraft was damaged at 1440hrs when a tyre burst whilst the aircraft was taking off for an air test, causing the starboard undercarriage to collapse. Pilot Sgt J Kalfas (Polish) and crew were unhurt. |
| 23/09/1943 | Beaufighter | JM350 | 254sqn | 2 miles off Donna Nook | This aircraft was damaged during an air-to-sea gunnery practice sortie at 1400hrs. The co-pilot fired too long a burst causing cannon blast tubes to fracture, damaging the aircraft. Pilot F/Sgt E J Hann DFC was able to land safely at base. |
| 23/09/1943 | Spitfire | P8312 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1730hrs whilst parked when it was struck by taxying Spitfire P8646. |
| 23/09/1943 | Spitfire | P8646 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged when it struck parked Spitfire P8312 whilst taxying at 1730hrs. Pilot F/Lt GK Malcolmson (New Zealander) was unhurt. |
| 23/09/1943 | B-17 Fortress | 42-3183 | 327BS/92BG | Deeping St Nicholas | Coded UX:O, this aircraft took off from Podington at 0459 bound for a target in the port area of Nantes in France. During the assembly of the bomber formation, the aircraft caught fire and exploded, subsequently crashing due to structural failure caused by the explosion and fire. 7 of the crew baled out and were able to return to duty - pilot 2nd Lt Henly M Ogburn, Co-pilot 2nd Lt Sam J Lucas, navigator 2nd Lt Victor E Barnett, bombardier 2nd Lt James T Corrigan, top turret gunner S/Sgt Paul Q Tumblin, waist gunner S/Sgt Ed R Eubank and tail gunner S/Sgt Raphael C Simeroth. 3 of the crew were unable to escape and were killed - radio operator S/Sgt Edward A Komski, ball turret gunner S/Sgt William H Wills and waist gunner T/Sgt Joseph E Martin. The aircraft crashed at Deeping St Nicholas. |
| 23/09/1943 | Lancaster | W4948 | 57sqn | Driby | Coded DX-S. Airborne 1918hrs 22Sep43 from East Kirkby for Hanover. Intercepted by an intruder on the return to base and shot down at 0043hrs over Driby, 9 miles SSE of Louth. The two survivors managed to parachute as the bomber fell out of control. P/O G.A.Duff (Australian) killed, Sgt A.Cherrington F/O P.N.Rolfe killed, Sgt R.C.Brown Sgt H.R.Ellmer killed, Sgt R.P.Smith (Australian) killed, F/Sgt W.Pryde (Australian) killed. |
| 23/09/1943 | Beaufighter | JM349 | 254sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged during an air-to-sea gunnery practice sortie at 0900hrs. Too long a burst was fired causing cannon blast tubes to fracture, damaging the aircraft. Pilot P/O N A Hattersley was able to land safely at base. This was the 30th similar occurrence on the squadron in a few months. |
| 23/09/1943 | Wellington | HE265 | 82OTU | Skellingthorpe | Coded -Y, this aircraft was airborne at 0957hrs from Ossington. Whilst in flight, the port engine began misfiring and was shut down at 1500 feet. The crew decided to head for Skellingthorpe and on approach, the undercarriage was manually pumped down. On being notified that they were trying to land downwind, the pilot attempted to overshoot but stalled and crashed into a wood at 1027hrs, after which the aircraft caught fire and was destroyed. F/L W.S. Meyer DFC injured, Sgt A.G.S. Watkins injured, Sgt J.W. Eunson injured, Sgt W.J. Saxby injured. |
| 23/09/1943 | Wellington | X9754 | 28OTU | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged when it belly-landed at 2253hrs after engine failure in flight caused by fuel starvation. The aircraft had been on an operational flight dropping leaflets over enemy territory. Pilot Sgt J Miller and crew were unhurt in the accident. |
| 24/09/1943 | Lancaster | W4923 | 101sqn | Ludford Magna | Coded SR-N2, Airborne 1835 23Sep43 from Ludford Magna. Returned safely at 0335 albeit badly damaged by Flak. Following a technical inspection W4983 was SOC 12Oct43. AM Form 78 reports that W4923 was damaged on operations 28Sep43. This report is noted but discounted as it is most likely that the 8 is a misprint of 3. F/O C.P.McManus Sgt K.Jones P/O G.D.Spyers P/O B.K.Petyt Sgt A.E.Rosen Sgt C.H.Downs Sgt Kent. |
| 24/09/1943 | Beaufighter | LX856 | 236sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged when the undercarriage collapsed on landing at 1530hrs from a rocket projectile practice firing sortie. The pilot Sgt R F Hollands made a heavy landing on a very rough surface. |
| 24/09/1943 | Halifax | LW283 | 158sqn | Wragby | Coded NP-V. Airborne 1851 23Sep43 from Lissett for Mannheim. Homebound, crashed 0220 at Wragby, 11 miles NE of Lincoln. The aircraft crashed after running out of fuel because the aircraft’s flight filler cap was missing combined with the flight engineer mishandling the fuel system. F/O Clapson was very seriously injured and he was admitted to Lincoln Military Hospital. Sgt Sykes needed attention to a fractured ankle. It is believed that F/O Clapson made a good recovery, but he did not fly again on operations with 158 Sqdn. F/O D.H.w.Clapson (Australian) injured, Sgt M.C.Scully Sgt R.A.Neild (Australian) Sgt G.Sykes injured, Sgt G.P.Finlay Sgt C.H.M.Wilson P/O E.A.Harris (Australian) F/Sgt Neild, Sgt Finlay; Sgt Wilson and F/O Harris were destined to be killed, 23Oct43 in LW259 |
| 25/09/1943 | Beaufighter | LX980 | 236sqn | North Coates | This aircraft suffered damage to the engine nacelles when it landed heavily after a faster than normal approach on return from operations at 1300hrs. Pilot F/Sgt E G Savage was uninjured in the incident. |
| 25/09/1943 | Spitfire | P8579 | 53OTU | nr Worlaby | This aircraft was damaged at 1625hrs when it force-landed wheels-up in a field near Worlaby after the engine failed in flight due to fouled spark plugs. Pilot F/O EL Bishop (American) was unhurt in the incident. |
| 26/09/1943 | Wellington | T2884 | 11OTU | Castle Bytham | Coded OP-L, this aircraft was airborne from Westcott for a night cross-country sortie. The starboard engine failed in flight, but the pilot was able to maintain altitude until 2240hrs when the lower cylinders partially detached from the port engine. The aircraft was abandoned by all crew apart from the rear gunner, and crashed at Park Ground Farm. Sgt H.G. Bright was killed, but pilot Sgt J Dunman and the rest of the crew escaped uninjured. |
| 26/09/1943 | Wellington | R1666 | 28OTU | Dunholme Lodge | This aircraft was damaged at 2100hrs when the pilot had to make a forced landing on the airfield after he lost control due to the port petrol filler cap opening in flight. Pilot Sgt Holgate and crew were uninjured. |
| 26/09/1943 | Lancaster | W4937 | 1660CU | Swinderby | Airborne at 2014hrs from Swinderby for night conversion training. On touchdown at 2209hrs, the aircraft began to swing, but the trainee pilot corrected the swing successfully. Unfortunately, just as the rudders were again centralised, the instructor's foot jammed between the rudder pedals and the aircraft ran off the runway, causing the undercarriage to collapse. Instructor P/O MFC Guelenaere (Canadian) was slightly injured in the incident, whilst pupil Sgt G Bloney (Canadian) and the crew were uninjured. |
| 28/09/1943 | Halifax | DK252 | 428sqn | Ludford Magna | Coded NA-O. Airborne 1919 27Sep43 from Middleton St.George for Hanover. Turned back at 2215 after encountering very severe icing. On reaching Hull the port inner engine failed, followed almost immediately by the air speed indicator and starboard inner. The pilot saw the airfield and belly-landed at 0030hrs because the undercarriage uplocks were still in position and he had no assistance to release them. The aircraft’s airspeed indicator was also unserviceable. The icing was due to the hot air feed not being engaged and pitot heating not being switched on. No injuries reported. P/O K.Kogan (Canadian) Sgt L.F.Edmonds F/O F.D.Jackman (Canadian) P/O M.J.Johnson (Canadian) Sgt E.O.H.Knowles Sgt J.Silverman (Canadian) Sgt J.M.Custeau (Canadian) |
| 28/09/1943 | Lancaster | W4158 | 9sqn | Bardney | This aircraft was damaged at 0030hrs on return from operations. Landing in gusty winds and very heavy rain, the aircraft touched down 10 feet short of the end of the runway and the wheels sank in the soft ground. On hitting the edge of the concrete runway, the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot F/O J Anstee and crew were uninjured. |
| 28/09/1943 | Lancaster | JA957 | 103 Sqn | Elsham Wolds | This aircraft was damaged at 0050hrs on return from operations. It had swung off the runway whilst landing in heavy rain and came to rest by the side of the taxiway, where it was struck by Lancaster JB349, whose pilot was unable to see the aircraft. Pilot F/Lt FJ Hopps and crew were uninjured. |
| 28/09/1943 | Lancaster | JB349 | 103 Sqn | Elsham Wolds | This aircraft was damaged at 0050hrs whilst taxying back to dispersal in heavy rain and poor visibility after operations. The aircraft struck the port wing of Lancaster JA957 which had swung off the runway after landing and had come to rest by the side of the taxiway. Pilot A/W/O JE Rule (NewZealander) and crew were uninjured. |
| 28/09/1943 | Wellington | HE813 | 300sqn | Faldingworth | This aircraft was damaged after landing at 0140hrs on return from operations. The rear gunner reported a Lancaster landing behind them and told the pilot to get off the runway to avoid a collision. The pilot taxied off the runway onto soft ground, allowed the Lancaster to pass, and on returning to the runway the step between the soft ground and hard surface caused the aircraft to tip onto its nose. Pilot F/Sgt K Artymiuk (Polish) and crew were unhurt. |
| 28/09/1943 | Lancaster | W4794 | 1667CU | Faldingworth | This aircraft was damaged at 0205hrs on return from a training flight. Whilst attempting to land in gusty winds and driving rain, the aircraft swung on touchdown causing the undercarriage to collapse. Pilot Sgt DJ Bell and crew were uninjured. |
| 28/09/1943 | Lancaster | ED941 | 57sqn | High Barn Farm near West Keal | Coded DX-V, On return from the Hannover raid the previous night, the crew diverted to RAF Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire. In the late afternoon of the 28th whilst returning to East Kirkby in poor visibility, eye-witnesses reported the Lancaster aproaching base, but while preparing to land, both port engines cut, the aircraft clipped a tree, dived into the ground and caught fire to the north of the airfield. Pilot P/O GM Hargraves and 2 of his crew were killed, the remaining 4 were injured in the crash. P/O G.M.Hargraves killed, Sgt W.Reeve killed, F/Sgt G.E.Penny killed, Sgt J.S.whittle Sgt G.Huxtable Sgt D.F.Hall Sgt A.A.Smith |
| 28/09/1943 | Lysander | V9813 | CGS | Holbeach Range LG | This aircraft was written off at 1200hrs whilst making a forced landing after the engine failed at 800 feet altitude during a drogue-towing sortie. The pilot was able to clear the sea bank but had to put down in a potato field near the landing ground. The aircraft struck a plough that had been left in the field and overturned into a ditch. Pilot Sgt H Mantell was slightly injured in this incident. |
| 28/09/1943 | Tiger Moth | DE484 | 350sqn | nr Bourne | This aircraft was slightly damaged when the pilot made a forced landing in a field after the engine failed in flight on a cross-country sortie. Pilot F/lt L Collignon (Belgian) was unhurt. |
| 28/09/1943 | Lancaster | ED875 | 166sqn | nr Caistor | Coded AS-? Airborne 1943hrs from Kirmington for Hanover. Returned early, made an attempt to land and overshot, so went round again. After acknowledging landing instructions, the aircraft undershot and hit trees, crashing on Cain Hill just to the S of Caistor. W/O C.J.W.Boone killed, Sgt D.L.Dick killed, Sgt E.A.Pack killed, Sgt T.Warhurst killed, Sgt R.Davis killed, Sgt JP Nyland killed, Sgt G.R.Smith (Canadian) killed |
| 28/09/1943 | Lancaster | JA965 | 101sqn | nr Wickenby | Coded SR-K2, Airborne 1937 27Sep43 from Ludford Magna. Homebound from operations, it was shot down by an intruder aircraft and crashed 0120hrs near Wickenby airfield. Sgt Phillips was the ABC Operator. P/O D.W.Skipper (Australian) killed, Sgt P.L.Hands killed, Sgt T.C.Kerr killed, Sgt J.D.Gulliver killed, Sgt P.Meredith killed, Sgt W.J.Phillips killed, Sgt S.Harris killed, P/O R.V.Liersch (Australian) killed |
| 28/09/1943 | Lancaster | DV200 | 12sqn | Wickenby | This aircraft was damaged on return from operations at 0034hrs. The aircraft landed heavily on the short runway in heavy rain and minimal lighting due to nearby intruder aircraft. The undercarriage collapsed on landing. Pilot A/F/Lt PGR Weeks and crew were uninjured. |
| 28/09/1943 | Lancaster | W4881 | 12sqn | Wickenby | This aircraft was damaged at 0100hrs whilst taxying back to dispersal after landing from operations. In heavy rain and blackout conditions due to enemy intruder aircraft operating in the area, this aircraft struck Lancaster W4944 which was parked close to the runway due to lack of brake pressure. Pilot A/W/O FR Joy and crew were uninjured in the incident. |
| 28/09/1943 | Lancaster | W4944 | 12sqn | Wickenby | This aircraft was damaged at 0100hrs whilst parked near the runway due to lack of brake pressure for taxying after landing from operations. In heavy rain and blackout conditions due to intruder activity, this aircraft was struck by taxying Lancaster W4881. Pilot F/Sgt HW Cumbrell and crew were uninjured. |
| 28/09/1943 | Leopard Moth | X9295 | 1Gp Comms Flt | Wickenby | This aircraft was written off when it was caught by a gust of wind on landing at 1245hrs. One wing hit the ground and the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot W/Cdr I newbigging was unhurt in the incident. |
| 29/09/1943 | Lancaster | JB187 | 83sqn | 3miles north of South Kelsey | This aircraft was destroyed at 2008hrs whilst outbound on operations. The aircraft began to dive steeply without input from the pilot. The pilot and flight engineer managed to pull out of the dive at 1100 feet by pulling back on the controls. Bombs were jettisoned at sea, and with the aircraft still losing height, they turned back and flew inland. The crew were ordered to bale out, and the pilot followed after wedging a bag between the control column and the instrument panel to keep the aircraft flying for long enough to allow him to escape. The aircraft continued to fly and came down near South Kelsey. Pilot F/O CF McDonald (Canadian) and flight engineer F/Sgt TJ Farrington were slightly injured, the remainder of the crew were unhurt. |
| 29/09/1943 | Master | DK948 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1500hrs when the undercarriage collapsed on landing due to a retaining pin shearing and allowing the wheel to swivel out of track. Pilot Lt Yurdak (Turkish) was uninjured in the incident. |
| 29/09/1943 | Lancaster | DV286 | 44sqn | Dunholme Lodge | This aircraft was damaged at 2314hrs on return from operations whn it landed heavily and burst a tyre, causing the undercarriage to collapse. Pilot F/O GA West and crew were uninjured in the incident. |
| 29/09/1943 | Beaufighter | LX854 | 236sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged on return from a rocket projectile firing practice sortie. Pilot S/Sgt A W S Hazell landed heavily at 1200hrs causing failure of the tail assembly. The squadron CO recommended that the tail units of the type be strengthened. |
| 29/09/1943 | Lancaster | ED648 | 9sqn | off Mablethorpe | Coded WS-D, Airborne at 1820hrs 29Sep43 from Bardney for Bochum. Crashed in sea on return at 2255hrs due to a defective altimeter at a point some 5 miles off Mablethorpe. Roughly nine hours later the survivors were found by an Air Sea Rescue High-Speed Launch. Sgt Taylor's body was recovered from the sea on 16Oct43 and he is buried in Manby (St.Mary's) churchyard. P/O Beames' body was not recovered - he is commemorated on panel 123 of the Runnymede Memorial. F/L L.G.A.Hadland F/O R.V.Comans (P2) Sgt K.N.Taylor killed, Sgt D.S.Greenwood P/O K.H.Beames killed, Sgt J.Gaskell Sgt A.D.Tirel Sgt C.Davis |
| 30/09/1943 | Halifax | LW263 | 78sqn | Goxhill Road near Barrow Haven. | Coded EY-E. Airborne 1804 29Sep43 from Breighton for Bochum. Homebound, on regaining the east coast, the crew were unable to pin-point their position and after searching for some while, crashed into a wooded area on the Goxhill Road near Barrow Haven, Lincolnshire. Sgt Cherry's DFM was Gazetted 10Dec43. P/O E.E.Kitchen DFC Sgt R.Cherry DFM P/O D.J.Polman killed, Sgt T.H.Sharpe killed, Sgt H.E.M.Watson injured, F/Sgt D.F.Booth P/O G.T.Gilby DFC |
| 30/09/1943 | Lancaster | ED983 | 619sqn | Cold Harbour Farm, Maidenwell Warren, nr Cadwell | Coded PG-W. Airborne 1821 29Sep43 from Woodhall Spa for Bochum. On return and while flying in low cloud, struck high ground at Cadwell Hill, some 5 miles W of Mablethorpe. The accident happened at 0005hrs after the pilot crossed the coast without knowin his exact location and had to circle at low level in low cloud to try to work ot where he was. The aircraft lost height whilst he did so and flew into the ground, catching fire on impact. P/O E.Mearis killed, Sgt P.Bowditch killed, Sgt R.L.Cooper injured, F/O A.C.McKay (Canadian) killed, Sgt R.Armstrong injured, Sgt J.A.G.Billingham killed, Sgt R.T.E.Davies killed |
| 30/09/1943 | Lancaster | R5685 | 1667HCU | Faldingworth | Airborne from Faldingworth at 1142hrs for a training flight, but the port outer engine lost power on takeoff, and the aircraft crashed 1 mile east of the airfield at 1218hrs whilst trying to land. W/O R.F. Quarterman injured, Sgt C.J. Adair injured, F/Sgt T.D. Crossland (Canadian) killed, Sgt H.M. Greene (Canadian) injured, Sgt T.P. Duffy (Canadian) injured, Sgt T.H. Kennedy injured, Sgt Naney unhurt |
| Date | Type | Serial | Unit | Location | Notes |
|---|
| 01/10/1943 | Halifax | DG275 | 1660CU | Nocton Washway | This aircraft was destroyed at 1020 hours on a conversion training flight when the aircraft disintegrated in mid air whilst recovering from a spin. The instructor was demonstrating rudder control on an aircraft without a modified rudder, which caused rudder over-balance. Control was lost and the aircraft spun into the ground at Nocton Washway, by the River Witham near Southrey . Instructor acting F/Lt V. Duxbury DFC, F/O JW Moore, Sgt HWF Russell, Sgt RH Bassett, Sgt DR Pavitte, Sgt GC Edwards, Sgt JB Eastman, F/Sgt FH Roe (Canadian) and Sgt WE Ellwood were all killed in this crash. |
| 02/10/1943 | JU188 | Z6+GK | | in the Humber | This aircraft was wrecked at 2344hrs when it was shot down at 50 feet into the sea by battery H24 of the Humber AA belt at East Halton. This was the first JU188 downed in England. The dinghy was recovered from a beach near East Halton. Lt G Beubler killed, Uffz H Urban killed, Uffz A Fischer killed, Uffz E Pausch killed. |
| 02/10/1943 | Beaufighter | LZ191 | 254sqn | North Coates | Whilst taxying across the airfield prior to a training flight at 1220hrs, this aircraft's tail wheel was damaged by the rough surface. The pilot, F/Sgt T A Cochrane was uninjured in the incident. The Station Commander expressed concern at the state of the airfield surface and the number of aircraft damaged on it. The AOC requested that the aircraft be operated at a lighter weight until the airfield surface was sorted out. |
| 03/10/1943 | Spitfire | AB278 | 316sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged at 0815hrs when the undercarriage collapsed on touchdown due to not having been locked in place. Pilot W/O KA Gawlewicz (Polish) was unhurt. |
| 03/10/1943 | Spitfire | W3443 | 402sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged when the undercarriage collapsed in a heavy landing at 1515hrs. Pilot Sgt JN Thorne (American) was unhurt in the incident. |
| 03/10/1943 | Spitfire | X4490 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 0930hrs when the undercarriage collapsed as the aircraft was landing with drift. Pilot F/Sgt MH Eyre (New Zealander) was unhurt. |
| 03/10/1943 | Beaufighter | LX827 | 236sqn | North Coates | On return from a training sortie at 1700hrs pilot Sgt D J Lowe made a heavy landing on a rough part of the airfield damaging the tail empennage. |
| 03/10/1943 | Lancaster | JB346 | 103 Sqn | Turnpike Farm nr Elsham Wolds | Coded PM-? Airborne at 0900 from Elsham Wolds on an air-test sortie. The aircraft crashed just after takeoff after fire broke out in the starboard outer engine and the flight engineer feathered the starboard inner by mistake. Location given as Turnpike Farm, the aircraft caught fire on impact and burned out. Sgt E.J. Andrews killed, Sgt T.H. Clapp killed, Sgt A.J. Tait killed, Sgt W.G. Parker (Canadian) killed, Sgt H. Featherstone killed, Sgt S. Otty killed. Rear gunner Sgt J Jones survived with severe burns but recovered and was posted to other duties. |
| 04/10/1943 | Lancaster | ED583 | 100sqn | North Thoresby | Coded HW-X, Disintegrated in the air 1250 during altitude test and familiarisation exercises near North Thoresby, 7 miles SE of Cleethorpes, scattering debris over a wide area. some of the wreckage fell in the village, destroying a chapel and damaging a number of houses. The crew composition was unusual in that the seven men comprised , two pilots, two Flight engineers, a Navigator, a Bomb aimer and a Wireless Operator, but no Air Gunners. The structural failure was found to have almsot certainly been the result of a high-speed dive - the wingtips and wings outboard of the engines failed. The outer engines were torn away and the fuselage failed. F/Sgt J.T.Goozee killed, Sgt R.F.Worsey killed, Sgt C.A.Green killed, Sgt W.E.J.Giles DFM killed, Sgt J.A.Baker killed, Sgt J.A.Rogers killed, Sgt W.F.Bristow killed. The F1180 also lists F/O TH Morgan DFC (American) as a pilot on this aircraft, being killed in the crash too. |
| 05/10/1943 | Blenheim | L1169 | 12(P)AFU | 1½ miles southwest of Harlaxton landing ground | This aircraft was destroyed at 0430 hours shortly after take off for a night exercise. The pilot took off with full flap selected and on selecting undercarriage up also retracted the flaps. The aircraft crashed and burned on the ground. The pilot Sgt LA Williams (New Zealand) was injured in this crash. |
| 05/10/1943 | Lancaster | ED841 | 101sqn | Ludford Magna | On landing from operations at 0033hrs, this aircraft was damaged when it struck Lancaster W4997 on the runway after making an emergency approach due to running out of fuel. Pilot W/O AD Groome and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 05/10/1943 | Lancaster | W4997 | 101sqn | Ludford Magna | This aircraft was damaged at 0033hrs on return from operations when it was struck on the runway by Lancaster ED841 which made an emergency landing due to running out of fuel. Pilot W/O DJF Syme and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 05/10/1943 | Manchester | L7386 | 57sqn | Scampton | This aircraft was destroyed at 1445hrs when the starboard engine caught fire during an air test flight. The pilot attempted to land back at the airfield, but was unable to do so, making a forced landing in a field nearby. The undercarriage collapsed on landing. Pilot P/O ME Walsh and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 06/10/1943 | Spitfire | AD413 | 416sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged at 1615hrs whilst practising deck landings. The aircraft was waved off, but the engine failed to pick up and the aircraft landed heavily causing the undercarriage to collapse. Pilot Sgt HV West (Canadian) was unhurt. |
| 06/10/1943 | Spitfire | P7385 | Digby Station Flight | Digby | This aircraft was damaged when the port undercarriage leg collapsed in a heavy landing at 1515hrs. Pilot Gp Cpt HL Campbell (Canadian) was unhurt in the incident. |
| 06/10/1943 | Manchester | L7473 | 1485flt | Dunholme Lodge | This aircraft was destroyed at 1400hrs following an engine failure at 50 feet immediately after takeoff for an air gunnery exercise. The pilot made a short circuit and crash-landed on the airfield. Pilot F/Sgt HH Taylor and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 07/10/1943 | Blenheim | BA209 | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | This aircraft was destroyed at 1120 hours during a training sortie when the pupil took off with the port engine gills open. The aircraft failed to become airborne and crashed due to the instructor’s failure to correct the issue. Instructor F/Sgt H Burkitt and pupil F/O JW Roberts were uninjured in this crash. |
| 07/10/1943 | Blenheim | L8367 | 12(P)AFU | Harlaxton | This aircraft was destroyed at 1000 hours when the undercarriage collapsed in a heavy landing. The incident was probably due to the pupil pilots are forgetting to lock the flaps down. Instructor WO C Laschke and the pupil P/O B Benstead were uninjured in this incident. |
| 07/10/1943 | Wellington | HF452 | 1481TTGFlt | Binbrook | This aircraft was damaged in a collision with Martinet HP325 at 1500hrs. No further details are recorded. |
| 07/10/1943 | Martinet | HP325 | 1481TTGFlt | Binbrook | This aircraft was damaged in a collision with Wellington HF452 at 1500hrs. No further details are recorded. |
| 07/10/1943 | Spitfire | AB284 | 416sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged when the undercarriage collapsed after landing on a very rough part of the airfield at 1155hrs. Pilot W/O DJ Love (Canadian) was unhurt in the incident. |
| 07/10/1943 | Spitfire | BM178 | 416sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged at 0955hrs whilst practising deck landings. The aircraft was waved off, but the engine failed to pick up and the aircraft landed heavily causing the undercarriage to collapse. Pilot P/O EG Gall (Canadian) was unhurt. |
| 07/10/1943 | Beaufighter | JM210 | 254sqn | Donna Nook | Whilst returning from an operational sortie at 2150hrs this aircraft overran the flarepath after skidding on heavy dew that had formed during the evening. The pilot, W/Cdr A W D Miller (squadron CO) had landed at 100 kts airspeed whilst the aircraft was carrying a torpedo. The aircraft's undercarriage collapsed when it came to rest in a ditch. The aircraft was written off in this accident. |
| 07/10/1943 | Master | DK975 | CGS | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was damaged at 1500hrs when the tailwheel and starboard oleo collapsed during a heavy landing. Pilot F/Lt GJ Gray and passenger F/Lt R Reid were unhurt in this incident. |
| 08/10/1943 | Wellington | HF590 | 300sqn | Ingham | Coded BH-X, this aircraft was airborne at 2316hrs 7/Oct/43 from Ingham on a minelaying sortie. On return, it crash-landed at 0236hrs and was damaged beyond repair when the undercarriage collapsed after a heavy landing, having returned to base with its mine load intact. Weather conditions were poor. No injuries reported. F/Sgt J.Zoltznski (Polish) Sgt F.Janicki (Polish) Sgt J.Pulaski (Polish) Sgt Ratajczak (Polish) Sgt J.Szczeblewski (Polish) |
| 08/10/1943 | Beaufighter | LX857 | 236sqn | North Coates | On landing from an operational sortie at 0825hrs this aircraft was damaged when the pilot P/O G M Markle (Canadian) retracted the undercarriage whilst overrunning the runway after landing onto wet grass without full flap. |
| 08/10/1943 | Lancaster | JB281 | 12sqn | Wickenby | This aircraft was damaged at 0330hrs on return from operations. The port outer engine caught fire in flight, the port inner engine cut out on approach due to fuel starvation, and the pilot belly-landed the aircraft on the airfield. Pilot Sgt RS Yell (Australian) and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 08/10/1943 | Lancaster | JB285 | 12sqn | Wickenby | This aircraft was involved in an incident on takeoff for operations at 2302hrs. The aircraft swung violently on takeoff, the pilot did not correct the swing, and the aircraft struck LAC RG Outlaw, a guard on the airfield perimeter, killing him instantly. Pilot W/O HH Adams & crew were uninjured in the incident and the aircraft undamaged. The crew were unaware of the incident until their return. |
| 08/10/1943 | Lancaster | ED839 | 619sqn | Woodhall Spa | Coded PG-C, airborne at 2258 from Woodhall Spa for Hannover. The aircraft swung on takeoff, the undercarriage collapsed and the aircraft slid to a halt. A fire broke out which totally destroyed the aircraft. This incident was blamed on an unevenly distributed fuel load. Pilot F/O JG Thompson (Canadian) and 5 of the crew escaped uninjured, the seventh received slight injuries in this incident. |
| 09/10/1943 | Halifax | DK133 | 1660CU | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged at 1045 hours on take-off for an instructional training sortie. The aircraft swung on take-off and the port oleo was torn off. The pilot had handed control to the flight engineer before the aircraft had gained proper speed for rudder control. The pilot was blamed as he relied on verbal instructions to the flight engineer to check the swing with the throttle, instead of doing it himself. The pilot was removed from training and his pilots badge was withdrawn. Pilot Sgt MR Lawler was uninjured in this crash. |
| 09/10/1943 | Lancaster | ED886 | 617sqn | 25 miles southwest of Lincoln | This aircraft was damaged at 1515hrs during a low-level training sortie when it struck a tree after the pilot became distracted looking for a navigation point. Pilot W/O G Bull and 5 crew were uninjured, with one crewmwmber suffering slight injury in this incident. |
| 09/10/1943 | Spitfire | P7899 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 0900hrs when the undercarriage collapsed after the aircraft made a heavy landing on the pilot's first flight on the type. Pilot Lt Boner (Turkish) was unhurt. |
| 09/10/1943 | Lancaster | ED993 | 166sqn | Kirmington | Coded AS-? Airborne 2240hrs 8Oct43 from Kirmington for Hanover. Outbound, a fire broke out in the port outer, necessitating an early return. While preparing to land, the port inner cut and the Lancaster crashed at 0025hrs and burst into flames. Sgt Croxon was thrown clear on impact, while Sgt Davidson survived after the tail section broke away from the fuselage and was carried clear of the fire. W/O R.P Rabett killed, Sgt T.Roberts killed, Sgt R.Gratwick killed, Sgt J.O'Reilly killed, Sgt R.Davies killed, Sgt E.Croxon Sgt L.Davidson |
| 11/10/1943 | Hurricane | KZ242 | 288sqn | Appleby | This aircraft was damaged at 1458 hours after 15 minutes on a non-operational flight. The aircraft force landed in a field after the engine cut out in flight and multiple restart attempts failed. The aircraft turned over on landing, pilot Sgt G Worsley was uninjured in this crash. |
| 13/10/1943 | Spitfire | R7162 | 53OTU | Caistor | This aircraft was damaged whilst landing after an engine failure in flight at 1210hrs. The aircraft touched down safely but drifted on the landing run, causing the undercarriage to collapse. Pilot P/O MCP Jones (Canadian) was unhurt. |
| 15/10/1943 | Barracuda 2 | BV825 | Blackburn's | nr Scunthorpe | Dived in from cloud after engine fire, crashed 2 miles south of Scunthorpe killing Blackburn's test pilot, Mr D A Terrill - no accident record card for this crash. |
| 16/10/1943 | Lancaster | ED532 | 467sqn | Bottesford | This aircraft was damaged at 2230hrs after the aircraft overhot on landing whilst on a training flight after approaching too high and fast to land safely. Pilot F/O McGilvray and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 17/10/1943 | Stirling | EH960 | 196sqn | Gat Sand, in the Wash | Coded ZO-X, the aircraft was on an air-test sortie when control was lost due to excessive vibration. Bodies of 4 of the 7 killed were not found. F/O J.L. Deans DFC killed, Sgt K.L. Wallace killed, F/O F.J. Chapman killed, Sgt T. McDonnell killed, Sgt J.L. Lane killed, F/Sgt N. Butts DFM (Canadian) killed, F/L J.G. Griffith killed. |
| 18/10/1943 | Lancaster | ED730 | 460sqn | Binbrook | This aircraft was damaged at 1802hrs on takeoff for operations when the port inner engine failed. The pilot throttled back, but the aircraft overshot the runway and ran into a dispersal area. The port undercarriage collapsed when the aircraft struck a concrete block. Pilot S/Ldr Marsh and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 18/10/1943 | Lancaster | JB411 | 49sqn | Fiskerton | Coded EA-L, Airborne 1143hrs from Fiskerton on a night-flying test flight, the aircraft swung 180 degrees, ran off the runway and came to a halt with its u/c smashed. The newly delivered Lancaster was subsequently written-off. Pilot F/Sgt R.Brunt and crew were uninjured in this incident. Newly promoted to W/O, R Brunt was killed with all his crew 26Nov43 against Berlin in JB362 |
| 18/10/1943 | Spitfire | P8440 | AFDU | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged whilst taxying at 1145hrs. The aircraft struck a wagon on the airfield whilst the pilot was concentrating on the aircraft in front on an unfamiliar airfield. Pilot F/O HJ Dowding (Canadian) was unhurt. |
| 19/10/1943 | Spitfire | W3456 | 416sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged at 0215hrs on return from an operational flight when the undercarriage collapsed after a pintle fractured due to faulty material. Pilot P/O DF Prentice (Canadian) was uninjured. |
| 19/10/1943 | Beaufighter | JM333 | 254sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was damaged at 0945hrs when the tailwheel fell into a ditch as the pilot, P/O N A Hattersley was hurrying to take off on an operational flight. |
| 19/10/1943 | Beaufighter | JM395 | 254sqn | North Coates | Returning from operations at 1215hrs pilot S/Ldr Filson-Young was landing when the tailwheel collapsed on the rough surface of the airfield, damaging the aircraft. |
| 21/10/1943 | Lancaster | JB373 | 57sqn | East Kirkby | This aircraft was damaged at 0010hrs on return from operations. The aircraft landed heavily in a strong crosswind, bounced , crabbed along the runway and the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot F/Lt AF Gobbie and crew were uninjured in the incident. |
| 22/10/1943 | Spitfire | P8014 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 1844hrs when it overshot the runway on landing. Pilot P/O JGC Loes (Dutch) was uninjured. |
| 22/10/1943 | Beaufighter | JM213 | 254sqn | North Coates | This aircraft was parked in the squadron dispersal area when it was struck by Beaufighter LX824 which swung after landing, damaging both aircraft. |
| 22/10/1943 | Beaufighter | LX824 | 236sqn | North Coates | On landing at 1045hrs after a 50 minute training flight, this aircraft, piloted by F/O M C Seagill landed normally, bounced, swung and struck parked Beaufighter JM213, damaging both aircraft. |
| 22/10/1943 | Mosquito | DZ434 | 109sqn | nr Tongue End Farm, Deeping Fen | Coded HS-? The aircraft broke up in flight at 2050hrs after control lost in cloud whilst descending from 28000 feet on a training sortie. Piot F/O F.R. Jackson DFM (Australian) killed, navigator P/O VER Piper DFC and bar (Australian) was thrown out of the aircraft and was able to parachute to safety uninjured. |
| 23/10/1943 | Lancaster | W4927 | 460sqn | Binbrook | Coded AR-C, Airborne 1811 22Oct43 from Binbrook for Kassel. Hit by Flak and further damaged by falling incendiaries. Returned safely at 2358 and following a technical inspection was written off. It is reported that the rear turret was shot away but there are no indications to suggest that P/O Dunstan was a casualty. F/Sgt J.H.Clark Sgt E.P.Clemens F/Sgt L.V.Murray (Australian) F/Sgt S.Francis (Australian) F/Sgt L.H.Richards F/Sgt V.J.Hegarty (Australian) P/O R.C.Dunstan (Australian) |
| 23/10/1943 | Lancaster | JB148 | 100sqn | nr Louth | Coded HW-O. Airborne 1801hrs 22Oct43 from Waltham for Kassel. This aircraft was destroyed on return from operations at 2350hrs when it crashed into the side of a hill at Harrison Top near North Elkington in low visibility and rain. P/O P.R.Andrews killed, Sgt J.D.Game injured, Sgt D.T.Mead injured, Sgt M.Simpson killed, Sgt P.H.Finnegan injured, Sgt M.O.Lye killed, Sgt R.A.Barrett injured. |
| 24/10/1943 | Blenheim | L1513 | 12(P)AFU | Harlaxton | This aircraft was destroyed on landing from a training flight at 1300 hours when the pilot elected to land wheels up after the undercarriage warning light came on and the horn sounded to indicate that the undercarriage had not fully lowered and locked in place. The pilot retracted the undercarriage, which was actually fully down and locked, and belly-landed. The problem was caused by a faulty microswitch. Pilot Sgt LWN Warwick was uninjured in this incident. |
| 27/10/1943 | Blenheim | V6120 | 1AAS | near Irby on Humber | This aircraft was destroyed at 1110 hours during an army cooperation flight which involved low flying. The pilot was flying lower than he was authorized to do and the aircraft struck a tree whilst turning, crashing inverted. Pilot F/Sgt KE Scammell was killed in this crash, as were his passengers F/O JR Hutchison, Sgt A Bowyer and Sgt EG Cunliffe. |
| 27/10/1943 | Master | DL859 | RAFC | Caistor | This aircraft was damaged at 2125hrs when the undercarriage collapsed in a heavy landing. Instructor F/Sgt Gateaud and pupil Sgt EG Davison were unhurt. |
| 27/10/1943 | Beaufighter | BT303 | 409sqn | Coleby Grange | At 1550hrs on return from a night-flying check, F/O R L Snowdon (Canadian) was landing in thick haze and low sun when he misjudged his approach. On landing, the tailwheel collapsed, damaging the aircraft. |
| 27/10/1943 | Proctor | HM313 | 1RS | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1655hrs whilst parked up near a fuel bowser. The aircraft was struck by Proctor P6304 as it was taxying. |
| 27/10/1943 | Proctor | P6304 | 1RS | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1655hrs when it collided with parked Proctor HM313 whilst taxying too close to a fuel bowser in poor lighting conditions. Pilot F/Sgt N Sullivan (Australian) was unhurt in the incident. |
| 27/10/1943 | C-47 Dakota | 42-24069 | 74TCS/434TCG | nr Navenby | This aircraft suffered minor damage to the port wing when it was struck in mid air by Spitfire P8312. Pilot 1st Lt AE Robinson (USAAF) and crew were unhurt in the incident. |
| 27/10/1943 | Spitfire | P8312 | RAFC | nr Navenby | This aircraft was destroyed at 1515hrs when it collided in mid-air with C-47A 42-24069 and crashed 2 miles west of Navenby. The Spitfire struck the C-47's port wing, caught fire and crashed after the pilot baled out. Pilot Lt K Gulceken (Turkish) was uninjured. |
| 28/10/1943 | Wellington | LN429 | 83OTU | Binbrook | This aircraft was damaged at 0519hrs whilst on a training flight. The engines cut out due to fuel starvation and the aircraft belly-landed on the airfield. Neither the pilot or navigator were carrying maps of the area and it took some time to locate the airfield. Pilot Sgt J Stedman and crew were unhurt. |
| 30/10/1943 | Lancaster | ED909 | 617sqn | Coningsby | This aircraft was damaged at 1300hrs during a low-level training flight when it struck trees near Coningsby village. Pilot P/O NR Ross and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| Date | Type | Serial | Unit | Location | Notes |
|---|
| 03/11/1943 | Lancaster | L7540 | 1661CU | Coningsby | This aircraft was damaged at 0447hrs on landing at Coningsby in strong winds after being diverted there from base. The aircraft landed normally, but the undercarriage collapsed due to strain imposed by previous heavy landings. Pilot Sgt AG Simpson and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 03/11/1943 | Halifax | LK954 | 428sqn | South Kyme | Coded NA-E Airborne 1647 3Nov43 from Middleton St.George. Cause of loss not established. The aircraft crashed 2133 at South Kyme, 7 miles NE of Sleaford, Lincolnshire. The aircraft dived from around 3000 feet and burned out on the ground. The airframe was completely destroyed and the engineering officer investigating believed the cause to be structural failure of the port elevators and bomb doors in flight. Apart from Sgt Weigh, all are buried in Cambridge City Cemetery. At 18, P/O MacKenzie (Canadian) was one of the youngest Canadians to be killed, on bomber operations. F/O R.G.Eaton (Canadian) killed, F/O A.K.Hodgkinson (Canadian) killed, Sgt A.E.Moss killed, F/O L.L.Whitham (Canadian) killed, P/O B.A.Elmore (Canadian) killed, Sgt A.F.Weigh killed, Sgt H.B.Shimwell killed, P/O A.E.MacKenzie (Canadian) killed, |
| 04/11/1943 | Spitfire | P7496 | CGS | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was damaged at 1625hrs when the undercarriage collapsed on landing after the aircraft swung due to a tyre that had burst on takeoff. Pilot F/O DR Stephens (Canadian) was uninjured. |
| 04/11/1943 | Spitfire | P8477 | CGS | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was damaged whilst taxying at 1520hrs when the undercarriage collapsed due to a faulty part. Pilot F/Sgt RE Tickner was unhurt. |
| 05/11/1943 | Lancaster | ED324 | 1662CU | Blyton | This aircraft was damaged at 2215hrs on return from a training flight. The aircraft landed heavily and bounced, but miscommunication between pilot and flight engineer meant that the throttles were not used to correct the bounce. On second touchdown, the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot F/O FGE Wade was slightly injured, the rest of the crew were unhurt in this incident. |
| 05/11/1943 | Lancaster | W4923 | 44sqn | Dunholme Lodge | This aircraft was damaged at 1415hrs whilst taxying out for a fighter affiliation exercise. The aircraft hit a tar wagon parked on the airfield whilst taxying. Pilot P/O TH Knight and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 05/11/1943 | Spitfire | P7996 | 53OTU | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was damaged at 1210hrs when the undercarriage collapsed in a heavy landing. The pilot was unable to see clearly as the windscreen was covered in oil. Pilot F/Sgt EJ Bannard was uninjured. |
| 06/11/1943 | Spitfire | P8371 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged whilst taxying in a strong wind on this date. Pilot Sgt FJ Penny was uninjured. |
| 07/11/1943 | Halifax | EB187 | 1664HCU | nr Fulbeck | Airborne at 2010 from Fulbeck for a transit flight back to Croft after landing to take on fuel earlier in the day. The aircraft suffered an engine failure on take-off, the aircraft swung and the undercarriage collapsed. The pilot stated that the port outer engine either failed or did not give enough power and the caused the swing. Pilot P/O AW Woolverton (Canadian) and his crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 08/11/1943 | Beaufighter | LZ408 | 236sqn | 1 mile northwest of Belchford | Whilst returning from an operational recce sortie at 1900hrs this aircraft was destroyed when the pilot, F/Sgt A G Hall flew into high ground whilst descending through cloud. The aircraft caught fire on the ground, F/Sgt Hall and his navigator P/O C H Robbins were killed in the crash. |
| 08/11/1943 | Spitfire | BM633 | 416sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged when the undercarriage collapsed in a heavy landing at 1130hrs. Pilot F/Sgt JCR Maranda (Canadian) was uninjured in the incident. |
| 08/11/1943 | Beaufighter | LZ221 | 254sqn | North Coates | At 0830hrs this aircraft was damaged when Sgt N Yates landed heavily, causing the mainwheel tyres to burst. |
| 09/11/1943 | Lancaster | LM380 | 626sqn | Wickenby | This aircraft was damaged when it overshot on landing from a transfer flight at 1720hrs in poor visibility on the airfield's shortest runway. Pilot F/O AJH Wright and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 10/11/1943 | Blenheim | L1849 | 12(P)AFU | Harlaxton | This aircraft was damaged when the port undercarriage leg collapsed on landing. Pilot Sgt J Thresh was uninjured in this accident. |
| 10/11/1943 | Lancaster | DV173 | 460sqn | Binbrook | This aircraft was damaged on the ground during engine checks when the port chock slipped, allowing the tail to swing round and strike a 4000lb bomb on a trolley nearby. Cpl W Jordon (Australian), in charge of the aircraft at the time, was uninjured. |
| 10/11/1943 | Lancaster | ED812 | 1660HCU | Dunholme Lodge | Airborne 1853hrs from Swinderby for a Bullseye sortie. The aircraft dived steeply from a good height causing the wings to fail before the aircraft hit the ground at 2145hrs in a field belonging to manor farm, between Dunholme and Scothern. The cause of loss of control ccould not be positively determined, though evidence was found of an in-flight fire breaking out before the crash. P/O S.G.Scutt killed, Sgt C.W.H. Baughen killed, Sgt I.C. Brough killed, F/O J.K. Paterson killed, Sgt F.D. Grant killed, Sgt W. Halliwell killed, Sgt E.W. Plowman killed, AC1 N. Wade killed. This aircraft was formerly AJ-N of 617sqn and was one of the aircraft modified for the dams raid. It was subsequently returned to normal configuration after that raid. |
| 10/11/1943 | Lancaster | JB533 | 49sqn | Fiskerton | Coded EA-P, On take-off at 2056hrs from Fiskerton, fully laden outbound for Modane, one of the port engines cut and the Lancaster swung off the runway, its undercarriage collapsing in the process. A fire broke out, which was almost under control when the fire tender ran out of foam. Further damage was caused when the bomb load exploded. The aircraft was written off in the incident. Pilot W/O E.M.Webb and crew were uninjured in the crash. |
| 11/11/1943 | Lancaster | JB454 | 103 Sqn | Elsham Wolds | On return from operations after a flight of 8 hiurs 35 minutes, this aircraft was damaged at 0455hrs when it landed with undercarriage still retracted. Pilot F/O JD Johnston and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 11/11/1943 | Lancaster | W4902 | 1654HCU | Hackthorn | Coded UG-Q, Airborne 1730hrs from Wigsley for a night-flying exercise. This aircraft was destroyed when it crashed at 2245hrs after the pilot lost control whilst avoiding another aircraft at night in poor visibility. Sgt R.L. Barton-Smith killed, Sgt F.J. Snedker injured, Sgt H.D. Ryder killed, Sgt C.W. Wilkes injured, Sgt R.J. Huish killed, Sgt W.B. Crawford (Australian) injured. |
| 11/11/1943 | Master | W8577 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged beyond repair on landing at 1100hrs when the undercarriage collapsed due to a hydraulic system failure. Pilot F/Lt EP Wood (Canadian) was uninjured. |
| 11/11/1943 | Wellington | LN391 | 300sqn | Ingham | This aircraft was damaged on landing from operations at 2226hrs when it landed heavily, swung, and a tyre burst causing damage to the undercarriage. Pilot W/O L Lech (Polish) and his crew were unhurt. |
| 12/11/1943 | Blenheim | AZ889 | 12(P)AFU | Harlaxton | This aircraft was damaged or 1600 hours on a training flight when the pilot, Sgt RG Fowle, landed heavily with drift in a gusting crosswind causing the undercarriage to collapse. Sgt Fowle was uninjured in this accident. |
| 12/11/1943 | Beaufighter | LX980 | 236sqn | Donna Nook | On return from an operational sortie at 1900hrs, this aircraft was damaged when pilot F/Sgt W A Lynch held off too high on landing followed by the aircraft sinking onto the airfield and the tail unit striking the night-flying T signal which had been incorrectly placed on the airfield. |
| 12/11/1943 | Lancaster | JB419 | 57sqn | East Kirkby | This aircraft was damaged on landing from a training flight at 1945hrs when the tail oleo collapsed in a tail-first heavy landing. Pilot F/Sgt SA Edwards and crew were uninjured. |
| 12/11/1943 | Lancaster | DV310 | 166sqn | Kirmington | This aircraft was damaged at 2305hrs on return from a training sortie. The aircraft landed heavily, bounced and the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot F/O FGE Wade and crew were uninjured in this incident, which was the second similar one F/O Wade had been involved in within a week. |
| 13/11/1943 | Spitfire | P9490 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1225hrs when it collided with an airfield boundary marker whilst landing. Pilot Lt Barut (Turkish) was uninjured. |
| 13/11/1943 | Beaufighter | LZ290 | 236sqn | Donna Nook | This aircraft was damaged on landing at 1740hrs when F/Sgt G P W Thompson held off too high on approach and stalled the aircraft. The tail unit collapsed on impact. |
| 13/11/1943 | Lancaster | DV242 | 625sqn | Kelstern | This aircraft was damaged whilst taxying during the afternoon when it struck an Austin bomb lorry on the airfield. Pilot F/Sgt HW Cumbrell and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 13/11/1943 | Proctor | LZ685 | HQ5Grp | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged at 1500hrs whilst taxying. The pilot had inadvertantly taxied with the brakes still slightly engaged, damaging the brake assembly. The aircraft turned left, one brake jammed and the aircraft tipped onto its nose. Pilot S/Ldr DA Green was unhurt. |
| 16/11/1943 | Lancaster | DS847 | 432sqn | 1 mile west of Ingham | Coded QO-P Lost on a training flight. aircraft abandoned 1 mile west of Ingham airfield after starboard outer engine caught fire in the air, followed by the starboard inner misfiring. The crew were ordered to bale out when the port inner engine also failed. The aircraft was destroyed when it crashed in Long Lane, to the west of Ingham village. F/Sgt RC Burgess (Canadian) killed, F/Sgt J Bell (Canadian), F/Sgt WJ Mayo (Canadian) killed, Sgt KC Simmonds killed, F/Sgt J Calderwell, F/Sgt P Power (Canadian), F/Sgt A Haggins (Canadian). |
| 16/11/1943 | Lancaster | JA690 | 9sqn | Bardney | This aircraft was damaged at 1215hrs when it struck an obstruction on the airfield whilst taxying. No further details are recorded. |
| 16/11/1943 | Beaufighter | LX191 | 254sqn | Donna Nook | Whilst landing in a heavy hailstorm at 1620hrs, the pilot F/Sgt J F Leaver-Power leant forward to look through the port clear view panel which was open, and was struck in the eye by a hailstone. He closed his eye and pulled back on the control column, causing the aircraft to stall and land heavily on the airfield, breaking off the tailwheel. He opened the throttles and went around the circuit again, before landing at an alternative airfield. |
| 16/11/1943 | Spitfire | P7293 | 53OTU | Scotton Common | This aircraft was destroyed after a mid-air collision with Spitfire P7826 at 1438hrs when the aircraft turned into each other whilst in a downward break from formation. The aircraft spun violently and crashed at Scotton Common. Pilot P/O MCP Jones (Canadian) was killed in this crash. |
| 16/11/1943 | Spitfire | P7826 | 53OTU | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was damaged in a mid-air collision with Spitfire P7293 at 1438hrs when the aircraft turned into each other whilst in a downward break from formation. The aircraft crashed just outside the southern boundary of the airfield at 1450hrs after entering a flat spin at low level whilst attempting to turn onto the landing area. Pilot F/O JP Hunt was killed in the crash. |
| 16/11/1943 | Lancaster | JB540 | 12sqn | Wickenby | This aircraft was damaged at 2320hrs on return from a training flight. The aircraft overshot on landing and ran into a ditch on the airfield, causing the aircraft to tip onto its nose. Pilot Sgt Twitchett and crew were uninjured. |
| 17/11/1943 | Lancaster | ED382 | 625sqn | Kelstern | This aircraft was damaged at 2130hrs on approach to land from a training flight. All 4 engines cut out due to fuel starvation caused by faulty manipulation of the fuel taps by an under training flight engineer. The aircraft belly-landed in a field. Pilot Sgt RC Lake and 5 of the crew were uninjured, with one crewmember receiving slight injury. |
| 17/11/1943 | Lancaster | JB315 | 57sqn | Mavis Enderby | Coded DX-? Crashed into high ground on Southfield Farm near Mavis Enderby at 2306hrs whilst practising 3-engined approaches on a training sortie. P/O A.G.Simpson killed, Sgt D.H.Hall killed, Sgt CJ Wilde injured, Sgt Skeets-Piggin (Australian) injured, Sgt Drake injured, Sgt Lowe injured, Sgt Muir injured. Sgt Wilde died from his injuries on 20Nov43. |
| 17/11/1943 | Lancaster | ED422 | 166sqn | nr Kirmington | Coded AS-? Crashed whilst on training exercise. The aircraft bounced on landing and the pilot chose to go around again. The undercarriage was retracted too soon and the pilot asked for full power. Despite this, the aircraft collided with trees on nearby high ground and crashed near Dunkirk Farm at 2024hrs, bursting into flames. F/O H.Mitchell killed, Sgt P.G.Edyvean-Walker killed, F/O J.D.Maddex killed, Sgt F.F.Clarke W/O E.Merralls DFM killed, Sgt D.G.B.Day killed, Sgt C.Cushing, F/L D.E.Walker injured |
| 18/11/1943 | Martinet | HP323 | 1481TTGFlt | Bardney | This aircraft was damaged at 1505hrs in a belly-landing on Bardney airfield after the propellor fell off in flight during a fighter affiliation exercise. Pilot F/Sgt CJ Cholewa (Polish) was uninjured in the incident. |
| 18/11/1943 | Blenheim | L8660 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was destroyed when it was struck by Master T8725 whilst on the ground. |
| 18/11/1943 | Master | T8725 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was destroyed at 1115hrs when it overshot the runway and struck parked Blenheim L8660 whilst practising flapless landings. Pilot LAC I Higgins was unhurt in the incident. |
| 18/11/1943 | Lancaster | DV165 | 1667CU | Faldingworth | This aircraft was damaged whilst parked up at 2350hrs when it was struck by a vehicle driving too fast in the blackout. |
| 18/11/1943 | Lancaster | JO235 | 49sqn | Fiskerton | Whilst airborne on operations, one of the gunners W/O HS Fraser (Canadian) died of asphyxia. Pilot P/O AR Hales and the other 5 crewmembers were uninjured. |
| 18/11/1943 | Lancaster | DV361 | 207sqn | Spilsby | This aircraft returned from operations with severe damage after a mid-air collision with Lancaster ED871 of 9sqn, in which both port propellors were damaged and the nose of DV361 was smashed in. The damage to the nose section caused the lower escape hatch to fall out, taking the bomb aimer, Sgt EH Shimeild with it. Sgt Shimeild was killed in this incident. Pilot P/O WH Baker and crew were uninjured. |
| 19/11/1943 | Blenheim | T1985 | 1AAS | Manby | This aircraft was damaged at 1100 hours on a non-operational training flight when the aircraft landed fast due to a faulty air speed indicator causing a heavy touchdown on the port wheel, which then detached causing the port undercarriage to collapse. Pilot Sgt PJ Crabtree was uninjured in this incident. |
| 21/11/1943 | Lancaster | JB407 | 12sqn | Wickenby | This aircraft was damaged whilst under tow on the airfield peri track on a misty day. The aircraft was struck by another vehicle. |
| 22/11/1943 | Lancaster | DV291 | 101sqn | Ludford Magna | At 1715hrs whilst taking off from Ludford Magna for Berlin on ABC duties, this aircraft was destroyed when it swung off the runway out of control. A fire broke out and the Lancaster was damaged beyond repair. No injuries reported. P/O E.Wallace Sgt L.Crooks Sgt P.L.Cairns Sgt R.Grundy Sgt L.Condon sgt J.E.Dunbar Sgt J.Powney P/O C.Clothier |
| 22/11/1943 | Lancaster | L7574 | 467sqn | Waddington | Coded PO-? This aircraft was destroyed after it crashed on take-off. This was the oldest Lancaster written off under operational circumstances in 1943 with a total of 334 hours. On take off the port inner engine failed and the aircraft swung into one of the bomb-fusing points on the airfield then ran into a field where the undercarriage collapsed and it caught fire. Sgt C.C.Schomberg (Australian) Sgt H.Steele F/Sgt L.R.Seton (Australian) Sgt C.Gifford (Australian) F/Sgt B.W.Fitzgerald (Australian) Sgt H.A.Brown (Australian) P/O L.J.Calderwood (Australian). Three of the crew were injured in this incident. |
| 23/11/1943 | Halifax | DG310 | 1667CU | Faldingworth | This aircraft was damaged or 1546 hours on landing from a training sortie. The aircraft was landing in a gusty crosswind when it swung, the instructor took over but was unable to correct the swing as the pupils boot was jamming the rudder bar. The aircraft struck an earth bank on the airfield. Instructor WO SF Cage and pupil Sgt Knowles were uninjured in this incident. |
| 23/11/1943 | Halifax | EB144 | 1667CU | Faldingworth | This aircraft was damaged whilst taxying at 0320 hours for a training sortie. The port outer prop struck a cement mixer which was parked 1 yard from the peri track. The mixer was unmarked as the red obstruction light had blown over in the gusty wind. Flying control had not checked the airfield before night flying commenced. Pilot F/O TWG Morren was uninjured in this incident. |
| 23/11/1943 | Blenheim | L8715 | 12(P)AFU | Harlaxton | This aircraft was damaged at 1610 hours during a training flight whilst the pilot was doing glide approaches in gusty winds. The pilot flew the aircraft in too slowly and landed heavily causing the undercarriage to collapse. Instructor Sgt C Cleat and pupil Sgt FB Handley were uninjured in this crash. |
| 23/11/1943 | Lancaster | DV327 | 9sqn | Bardney | Coded WS-N, Airborne 1657hrs from Bardney for Berlin. On return, overshot the first approach due to a failure of the undercarriage to lock down. While turning to port at 500 feet for a second attempt, the Lancaster went into a shallow dive, veering all the while to starboard and crash-landed 2350hrs near the airfield. The cause of the accident was ascribed to the local atmospheric pressure having dropped by 10 millibars since the aircraft took off, thus meaning that the altimeter read 300 feet higher than the aircraft was. Pilot P/O G Ward and crew escaped uninjured. |
| 23/11/1943 | Lancaster | ED656 | 9sqn | Between Belchford and Scamblesby | Coded WS-V. Airborne 1708hrs from Bardney for Berlin. On return, the aircraft was destroyed when it crashed at 2345hrs between Belchford and Scamblesby, near Scamblesby Grove and caught fire. It is believed that severe icing may have caused the altimeter to fail, or present a false reading. P/O N.J.Robinson killed, F/O C.G.Hinton (P2) killed, Sgt R.G.Taylor killed, F/Sgt T.R.Davis killed, F/Sgt B.J.Pitman killed, Sgt W.E.Jones killed, F/Sgt L.E.Mitchell injured, Sgt J.Casey injured. |
| 23/11/1943 | Beaufighter | JM394 | 254sqn | North Coates | After landing from an operational sortie in which the aircraft had engaged a German M-class minesweeper with 3-4 long bursts of cannon fire, the aircraft's blast tubes were found to have moved forward by around 9 inches, shearing rivets and tearing the fuselage skin. Pilot F/Sgt D J Love and crew were uninjured. |
| 23/11/1943 | Lancaster | DV368 | 50sqn | Skegness | This aircraft was returning from operations in bad weather when it was damaged at 2300hrs colliding with trees. The atmospheric pressure had dropped rapidly since the aircraft took off, resulting in it flying some 300 feet lower than the pilot expected based on altimeter readings. Pilot A/F/Lt LAJ McLeod and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 23/11/1943 | Lancaster | JB465 | 12sqn | Wickenby | Coded PH-V, This aircraft was destroyed when it crashed on take-off from Wickenby at 1743hrs for Berlin. The aircraft swung off the runway, tearing away the undercarriage. No injuries. Sgt D.C.H.Maxwell Sgt P.H.Lambert Sgt Harrison P/O C.W.Kruger (Canadian) Sgt H.I Willcock Sgt F.W.Peppiatt (Canadian) Sgt W.F.H.Smedmore |
| 24/11/1943 | Beaufighter | LZ187 | 236sqn | 1 mile north of Grimsby in the sea | This aircraft was destroyed in a mid air collision with Blenheim Z6419. The Blenheim landed safely at Manby, but the crew of the Beaufighter bailed out after the tail section of the aircraft was destroyed in the collision, and the aircraft crashed into the sea at 1545 hours. Pilot P/O R Holubowicz (Polish) and observer F/Lt JN Glass were uninjured in this accident. |
| 24/11/1943 | Blenheim | Z6419 | 1AAS | 1 mile north of Grimsby over the sea | This aircraft was damaged at 1530 hours in a mid air collision with Beaufighter EL Z187 was both were engaged in exercises over the sea. The Beaufighter hit the Blenheim almost head on, tearing a hole in the nose section and destroying the tail section of the Beaufighter. The Beaufighter crashed into the sea and the Blenheim made a safe landing at Manby. P/O Yarker was in the bomb-aimer’s section of the Blenheim at the time of the collision and was seriously injured. |
| 24/11/1943 | Blenheim | L1287 | 12(P)AFU | Harlaxton | This aircraft was damaged at 1402 hours when pilot F/Sgt M Elcoat made a glide approach too slowly in a gusty wind, the aircraft landed heavily and the undercarriage collapsed. |
| 24/11/1943 | Lancaster | JB229 | 49sqn | Chapel st Leonards | Coded EA-S, Airborne 1703hrs 23Nov43 from Fiskerton for Berlin. On return from operations, the aircraft was written off when it force-landed 0024hrs on the beach at Chapel St.Leonards. The crew had no navigational aids working, the oxygen supply had failed and the altimeter was faulty. F/O D.G.Turner Sgt J.K.Finlayson injured, Sgt J.N.Hughes injured, F/O W.Pearce injured, Sgt L.H.Nightingale injured, Sgt J.N.Bennett injured, Sgt T.D.Horne. |
| 24/11/1943 | Lancaster | JB647 | 460sqn | Kelstern | This aircraft was destroyed at 1630hrs whilst returning from a training sortie. In heavy rain and poor visibility, the aircraft flew into high ground near Kelstern after the pilot flew too low. Pilot F/Sgt T Newstead (Australian) killed, F/Sgt K Bradbury (Australian) injured, F/Sgt J Stuart (Australian) injured but died 25/Nov/43, F/Sgt Lawrence (Australian) injured, Sgt Bailey injured, but died in hospital the same day, Sgt Stevenson injured, Sgt Esply injured. All of the injured required hospital treatment. |
| 24/11/1943 | Spitfire | P7988 | 53OTU | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was damaged at 1415hrs when it was forced to belly-land on the airfield after knocking a wheel off on a previous landing attempt. Pilot P/O EP Bruce (Canadian) was uninjured in the accident. |
| 24/11/1943 | Beaufighter | LZ187 | 236sqn | off North Coates | This aircraft was written off when it was abandoned over the sea off North Coates on a training flight. No further details available, no accident record card seen for this incident. |
| 24/11/1943 | Lancaster | W4953 | 1656CU | West Hale, nr Sandtoft | This aircraft was destroyed at 0135hrs when it stalled whilst flying the crosswind leg of the Sandtoft airfield circuit, having taken off from Lindholme on a training flight some 5 minutes previously. Pilot P/O FA Dines killed, Sgt H Ganly killed,, P/O ES Atkinson killed, Sgt RD Jack slightly injured, P/O Charles, Sgt Jones and Sgt King all uninjured. Sgt Jack made a good recovery from his injuries but was killed on a training flight near Bristol 5 months later. |
| 24/11/1943 | Lancaster | DV330 | 619sqn | Woodhall Spa | This aircraft was damaged at 2210hrs whilst it was being towed by a tractor driven by AC2 AI Jamieson. The aircraft was struck by a w/t van being driven on the airfield without authorisation. |
| 25/11/1943 | Blenheim | L8727 | 12(P)AFU | Grantham | This aircraft was damaged at 1430 hours whilst taxying out for a training flight in high winds on soft ground. One wheel sank after the aircraft skidded and the aircraft tipped on its nose. Pilot F/O CW Abbott (New Zealand) and F/Sgt TD Campbell (Australian) were uninjured in this accident. |
| 25/11/1943 | Blenheim | AZ960 | 12(P)AFU | Harlaxton | This aircraft was damaged at 0725 hours on a training flight when the pilot landed heavily was making a precautionary landing due to low brake pressure indications. The pilot for Sgt J Radwanski (Polish) was uninjured in this incident. |
| 25/11/1943 | Mosquito | DZ298 | 264sqn | Coleby Grange | This aircraft was written off at 2155hrs when it belly-landed short of the airfield on approach to land after engine failure. The oil for the port engine had leaked away during flight, but the pilot assumed the gauge was faulty and did not feather the engine, causing it to seize up and stop as he was descending from 8000 feet to land. Pilot W/Cdr WJ Alington DFC and bar, AFC, and his navigator were uninjured in this crash. |
| 25/11/1943 | Oxford | AP458 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was destroyed at 1140hrs when it struck a hut belonging to 1 Radio School on the airfield after the pilot decided at a very late stage to try to overshoot to avoid it. The aircraft caught the roof of the hut, overturned and burst into flames. Pilot LAC EF Postlethwaite was killed in the crash despite the best efforts of a number of officers and NCOs of the Radio School to rescue him. |
| 25/11/1943 | Spitfire | EP601 | 402sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged when the undercarriage collapsed in a heavy landing at 1715hrs on return from a drogue-towing srtie. Pilot P/O GJ pickard (Canadian) was uninjured in the incident. |
| 26/11/1943 | Lancaster | JB122 | 625sqn | Kelstern | This aircraft was damaged at 1156hrs during a ground engine test. The starboard outer engine was being run up by Sgt KPC Doyle when the aircraft swung suddenly and the starboard outer prop struck a trestle 15 feet away from the aircraft. |
| 26/11/1943 | Lancaster | ED873 | 106sqn | nr Metheringham | Coded ZN-? This aircraft was airborne 1725hrs from Metheringham for Berlin. The pilot turned back following loss of power from one engine and on reaching the airfield overshot and attempted t go round again. The pilot was unable to control the aircraft on 3 engines due to the configuration and weight, and crashed at 2110hrs into a field near the airfield. P/O R.F.Neil, Sgt M.J.Sheryn, Sgt J.F.Harmes, F/O G.L.Ashman, F/Sgt T.J.Robertson, Sgt R.P Prothero were all unhurt, Sgt A.L.Parker was slightly injured. |
| 27/11/1943 | Lancaster | JB464 | 12sqn | Thorganby | Coded PH-D, Airborne from Wickenby for Berlin. The aircraft was severely damaged by flak. Sgt Twitchett, on his first operation, diverted to Binbrook on return and crash-landed on high ground near the airfield boundary at 0100hrs, causing enough damage to write the aircraft off. The aircraft had no functional radio and was low on fuel. No injuries. Sgt A.G.Twitchett Sgt D.Leatherbarrow Sgt D.Robertson Sgt S.Burnell Sgt C.W.Farrant P/O M.Hewitt Sgt P.F.J.Sykes (Canadian) |
| 27/11/1943 | Lancaster | JB235 | 49sqn | Fiskerton | Coded EA-C, Airborne 1728hrs 26Nov43 from Fiskerton for Berlin. This aircraft was destroyed when it crashed at 0103hrsin the 'funnel' at Fiskerton on return after it undershot whilst attempting a FIDO approach and landing in 400 yards visibility, and burst into flames. Sgt R.J.Richardson (Australian) killed, P/O H.Lowe (P2) killed, Sgt H.G.Boswell killed, Sgt H.Carr killed, Sgt Winterborn injured, Sgt L.H.Cartwright killed, P/O Lane injured, Sgt M.O.Mahoney injured, This crew were lost on their first operation. |
| 27/11/1943 | Lancaster | LM362 | 626sqn | Lissington | Coded UM-A2. Airborne 1712hrs 26Nov44 from Wickenby for Berlin. The aircraft undershot the airfield on return to Wickenby and crashed at 0010hrs at Lissington. No injuries. F/L V.Wood F/O J.Wilkinson (P2) Sgt C.G.Davis P/O L.N.Kirby F/Sgt G.H.Wood Sgt W.Cruickshank Sgt S.F.Hare F/Sgt R.Hornby. Pilot F/lt Wood was on the penultimate trip of his tour of operations. |
| 27/11/1943 | Lancaster | DS712 | 408sqn | nr Lincoln | Coded EQ-G. Airborne 1711hrs 26Nov43 from Linton-on-Ouse for Berlin. After leaving the target area, flying at 21,000 feet in the vicinity of Magdeburg, the aircraft was hit by flak at 2118hrs which wounded Sgt Robert in his left foot. At 2240hrs, over the Ijsselmeer, a JU88 attacked and though their attacker was evaded, problems were experienced with the starboard inner engine. Eventually, the crew reached the Fiskerton area, where the starboard outer engine failed, followed by a malfunction in the rudder trim mechanism. The order to abandon was given, but the escape hatch jammed. Subsequently, the Lancaster was crash-landed 0100hrs on a sewage disposal plant 2 miles SE of Lincoln. Sgt Robert was taken to the Military Hospital in Lincoln. F/Sgt R.T.Lloyd (Canadian) Sgt H.Nightingale F/O J.F.Fowler (Canadian) F/Sgt G.E.Cameron (Canadian) Sgt L.Lane Sgt E.Williams Sgt M.A.Robert (Canadian). |
| 27/11/1943 | Lancaster | JB554 | 100sqn | Waltham | Coded HW-K2, Airborne 1644hrs 26Nov43 from Waltham for Berlin. The aircraft was destroyed when it crash-landed at 0037hrs after undershooting the runway on return to base. The wreckage caught fire, but the crew managed to scramble clear relatively unscathed. P/O L.J.Stow Sgt J.E.Lamb Sgt A.D.Walker Sgt D.R.Tapper sgt R.K.A.Grainger Sgt M.R.Shear Sgt D.J.Devlin |
| 27/11/1943 | Lancaster | JB354 | 12sqn | Wickenby | Coded PH-O, Airborne 1705hrs 26Nov43 from Wickenby for Berlin. The aircraft had an electrical failure in the air which stopped the radio sets working. On return to base, the pilot touched down at 0036hrs in very poor visibility but the aircraft swung off the runway and was damaged beyond repair. No injuries reported. P/O R.S.Yell (Australian) Sgt w.J.C.MacDonald (Canadian) P/O K.R.Middlemiss (Canadian) Sgt T.a.Finch F/Sgt J.H.Nutt Sgt K.B.Reeves Sgt S.Bates |
| 29/11/1943 | Oxford | EB795 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1715hrs when the pilot undershot the airfoeld and touched down in a ploughed field just outside the airfield boundary. Pilot Cpl VW Levitt was uninjured. |
| 29/11/1943 | Lancaster | W4940 | 1660CU | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged at 0400hrs whilst taxying to dispersal when it struck a maintenance platform which should not have been left on the dispersal pan. Pilot Sgt DV Meggesson and crew were uninjured. |
| Date | Type | Serial | Unit | Location | Notes |
|---|
| 01/12/1943 | Beaufighter | JM338 | 254sqn | North Coates | On return from an operational sortie lasting 3 hours, this aircraft was running very low on fuel and had a faulty VHF radio set. Pilot F/O K W Noble put the aircraft down at North Coates at 1900hrs, which was unlit apart from the airfield Chance light due to the squadrons not operating there. On landing, the rear of the aircraft struck a brick air raid shelter, damaging the fuselage. F/O Noble was praised by his CO for putting up a good show. |
| 02/12/1943 | Blenheim | AZ941 | 12(P)AFU | Sharp’s Field Hungerton Hall near Pointon Heath | This aircraft was destroyed when it crashed at 0222 hours on a night training flight shortly after takeoff. Conditions were foggy at the time and the aircraft flew into a mist patch, lost height at the start of the circuit and flew into higher ground. The aircraft was not located until 0900 hours that day, instructor F/O UJG Davison was killed in the crash, his pupil F/O JA Osborne was found alive at the crash site and was transferred to Grantham Hospital where he died at 1500 hours that day. |
| 02/12/1943 | Master | T8494 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged at 1100hrs whilst taxying when the pilot selected undercarriage up. Pilot Sgt J Bolton was uninjured in the accident. |
| 02/12/1943 | Wellington | X9613 | 21OTU | Hemswell | This aircraft was damaged on landing at 1330hrs when it overshot the good section of runway and ran onto a section under construction, tipping onto its nose. Pilot F/Sgt JE Alazrach and crew were unhurt. |
| 02/12/1943 | Lancaster | W4999 | 625sqn | Kelstern | Coded CF-G, airborne 1650hrs from Kelstern. Returned to base and while preparing to land both port engines cut, causing an immediate crash-landing at 2350hrs during which the Lancaster collided with an obstruction and was wrecked. No injuries reported. W/O P.R.Aslett, Sgt D.M.Blackmore, Sgt J.W.Bott, Sgt H.B.Cooper, Sgt C.L.Jennings, F/Sgt R.A.Verry, P/O R.O.Budd, Sgt E.B.Thomas. |
| 02/12/1943 | Lancaster | DV161 | 460sqn | Ludford Magna | This aircraft was damaged on return from the crew's first operation. The pilot approached Ludford Magan instead of Binbrook, and made his approach too fast as the aircraft's flaps were jammed and unusable. The aircraft overshot the runway and as the pilot turned the aircraft to starboard the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot F/Sgt Baker (Canadian) and his crew were uninjured. |
| 02/12/1943 | Lancaster | DV378 | 467sqn | Waddington | This aircraft was damaged at 2330hrs after landing from operations when the pilot stopped on the runway to look for an intersection to exit from as he was unfamiliar with Waddington. Whilst stopped, the aircraft was struck by Lancaster EE143 which had landed next in turn. Pilot P/O MF Smith (Australian) and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 02/12/1943 | Lancaster | EE143 | 467sqn | Waddington | This aircraft was damaged on landing after operations at 2330hrs when it ran into Lancaster DV378 which had stopped on the runway after landing to find an intersection instead of continuing to the end of the runway. Pilot F/Sgt DL Gibbs (Australian) and crew were uninjured in the incident. |
| 03/12/1943 | Blenheim | N3526 | 1AAS | Manby | This aircraft was damaged at 1640 hours whilst being towed along the perimeter track. The tow cable broke and the aircraft tail hit a moving vehicle. |
| 03/12/1943 | Lancaster | LM375 | 103 Sqn | Elsham Wolds | On return from operations after an 8h30m flight, this aircraft was damaged when it overshot the runway. The pilot swung the aircraft and the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot F/Sgt HT Griffin and crew were uninjured. |
| 04/12/1943 | Hurricane | LD885 | 438sqn | Wellingore | This aircraft was damaged at 1100 hours after an hour on a training sortie. The aircraft approached to land too fast, touched down late and overshot into the airfield hedge. Pilot P/O AC Brooker (Canadian) was injured in this crash. |
| 04/12/1943 | Spitfire | P7299 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 0800hrs hwen it collided with a vehicle whilst taxying. Pilot Sgt CS Robertson was uninjured. |
| 04/12/1943 | Master | W8952 | 53OTU | Scawby Woods | This aircraft sustained damage at 1615hrs when it struck a tree whilst carrying out practice precautionary approaches in a low-flying area. The aircraft returned to base safely, pilot F/O J Doherty was unhurt. |
| 04/12/1943 | Spitfire | P8250 | CGS | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was damaged when the undercarriage collapsed after the pilot stalled on landing, causing the aircraft to touch down heavily. Pilot A/S/Ldr GW Scott was unhurt in the incident. |
| 04/12/1943 | Lancaster | LM309 | 1660CU | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged at 2048hrs when it collided with Lancaster W4824 on the taxiway after crossing the runway. Pilot F/O PN Boyle and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 04/12/1943 | Lancaster | W4824 | 1660CU | Swinderby | This aircraft was damaged at 2048hrs when it taxied into Lancaster LM309 which had just turned onto the taxiway after crossing the runway. Pilot Sgt PE Harfor (Norwegian) and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 04/12/1943 | Lancaster | JB138 | 61sqn | Waddington | This aircraft was parked when it was struck by Lancaster JB140 which swung violently on takeoff. Pilot Sgt CJ Gray and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 04/12/1943 | Lancaster | JB140 | 467sqn | Waddington | Coded PO-? Started the take-off run at 0016hrs from Waddington but both port engines cut out and the Lancaster swung violently, leaving the runway. Before the Lancaster could be brought under control, it struck parked Lancaster JB138 (61 Sqdn). This aircraft was subsequently repaired and put back in service. F/Sgt Frizzell died from his injuries 5Dec43. Sgt L.M.Parker, who was a ground crew member of 467sqn is believed to have been killed in this accident, while a Sgt Hobba is reported to have been injured. F/O C.I.Reynolds (Australian) Sgt W.King F/Sgt E.A.Joyce (Australian) F/Sgt K.N.B.Davies (Australian) F/Sgt H.M.Vellenoweth (Australian) Sgt R.H.Keating F/Sgt C.R.Frizzell injured but died 5Dec43. |
| 05/12/1943 | Lancaster | DV270 | 101sqn | Binbrook Hall | Coded SR-E. Lost on a training flight. Airborne 1658hrs from Ludford Magna. Crashed 2028hrs near Binbrook Hall, after letting down through a thin layer of low stratus cloud and striking strees in Scallow Wood. The aircraft caught fire on impact and burned out. A memorial to the crew now stands amongst the trees at Scallow Wood. F/O F.E.Oliver killed, Sgt A.D.Wells killed, F/O W.Reid killed, Sgt J.W.Anderson killed, Sgt R.Spierling killed, Sgt S.G.Burton killed, Sgt R.S.Bradbury killed. |
| 05/12/1943 | Beaufighter | JM332 | 254sqn | Donna Nook | On take-off at 1115hrs for a training flight, the starboard engine suffered a loss of power, possibly due to a known fault on the Hercules engines when the oil had not been warmed sufficiently. The aircraft made a violent, uncontrollable swing and the aircraft ran into a ditch. Due to the cause of the accident, the pilot Sgt T Neilson was sent on a Hercules engine handling course. |
| 06/12/1943 | Wellington | BK362 | CGS | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was damaged at 1150hrs when an electrician inspecting the airframe slipped and dropped his inspection lamp, setting fire to a drip-tray under the aircraft. The aircraft fabric was burned away in the subsequent fire. LAC G King was uninjured. |
| 09/12/1943 | Martinet | HP317 | 1481TTGFlt | Binbrook | This aircraft suffered minor damage when at 1506hrs it struck a Corporal with its port wing, killing him. The aircraft was not zig-zagging whilst taxying and did not see the airman, and the Corporal did not see or hear the aircraft approaching. Pilot F/Sgt J Skowron was uninjured. |
| 09/12/1943 | Lancaster | ED811 | 1660HCU | Blankney Fen | Airborne from Swinderby on a navigation sortie, the crew were advised to divert to Spilsby due to adverse weather at Swinderby. At 1745, whilst searching for Spilsby, the aircraft flew into the ground in dense fog at Glebe Farm. F/Sgt E.E. Franke (Australian) injured, Sgt P. Entwistle injured, Sgt J. Mellor injured, WO2 K.R. Schiller (Canadian) killed, F/Sgt Knight unhurt, Sgt W.M. Hall injured. |
| 09/12/1943 | Tiger Moth | EM908 | 602sqn | Kirkby-la-Thorpe | This aircraft was damaged around 1655hrs after the pilot made a precautionary landing in a field at Owens Farm in thick fog. The aircraft was left unattended while the pilot went to phone RAF Cranwell to arrange onward transport and a guard for the aircraft. On his return, a horse in the field had damaged the airframe. Pilot Lt PH Clostermann (French) was uninjured in this incident. |
| 09/12/1943 | Mosquito | DX385 | 4FPP | Spilsby | This aircraft was damaged at 1200hrs when it burst a tyre on landing. |
| 09/12/1943 | Lancaster | LM422 | 9sqn | Waddington | This aircraft was damaged at 1515hrs whilst taxying on the airfield perimeter track. One of the gunners spotter a contractor's steamroller converging on the aircraft, and the pilot stopped the aircraft to let the roller pass. The roller kept going, its driver jumped clear and the roller struck the aircraft tail section. Pilot F/O WM Reid and crew were uninjured. |
| 11/12/1943 | Gladiator | N2310 | 521sqn | 1 mile east of Old Leake | This aircraft was destroyed at 0735 hours on a weather recce flight. The aircraft suffered an engine failure in flight over the sea, the pilot headed inland to force land. On landing after gliding the aircraft struck a tree and overturned. Pilot Sgt W. McKay was uninjured in this crash. |
| 11/12/1943 | Master | AZ784 | RAFC | Folkingham | This aircraft was damaged at 1200hrs whilst attempting to make a precautionary landing at Folkingham airfield after running low on fuel. The runway was obstructed so the pilot force-landed wheels-up with the engine off in a field nearby. |
| 11/12/1943 | Spitfire | P7998 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 2205hrs after the pilot stalled on landing at night, causing the aircraft to touch down heavily and the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot F/Sgt RA Dutenall (Australian) was unhurt in the incident. |
| 11/12/1943 | Wellington | DV730 | 14OTU | Wash ranges | This aircraft was involved in an incident over the Wash gunnery ranges when a front turret gun in Wellington X3197 fired as the turret was being rotated. The round shot F/Sgt Craggs, a gunnery instructor onboard DV730 in the right hand. |
| 13/12/1943 | Beaufighter | LZ290 | 236sqn | Donna Nook | On landing from an operational sortie at 1855hrs, W/O H W Platten touched the aircraft down normally, after which the tail oleo collapsed when the aircraft ran across a shallow depression on the airfileld due to dmage caused by previous heavy landings on the rough airfield surface. |
| 13/12/1943 | Beaufighter | NE194 | 236sqn | Donna Nook | On landing at 1800hrs from an operational sortie, this aircraft was damaged when it overran the flarepath, skidded sideways, struck a bank and nosed over into a ditch. Pilot M G St J Seelly and crew were uninjured in the accident. |
| 13/12/1943 | Spitfire | X4771 | 53OTU | nr Brigg | This aircraft was damaged at 1600hrs when the aircraft force-landed in a field 1 mile south of Brigg after the throttle lever jammed. The throttle lever had a history of problems on this aircraft, on this occasion it was discovered that a loose foreign object had jammed it. Pilot P/O KR Collier (Australian) was unhurt. |
| 15/12/1943 | Lysander | W6955 | CGS | Holbeach Range LG | This aircraft was damaged at 0910hrs when it overran the small landing area and ran into a dyke in poor visibility on landing from a weather-test flight. Pilot Sgt TJ Fogg was uninjured. |
| 16/12/1943 | Halifax | EB185 | 1667HCU | Newton Ings farm, Newton by Toft | Airborne from Faldingworth for a night exercise. Crashed at Newton Ings farm, Newton by Toft, at 2325 shortly after takeoff. The aircraft burned out on the ground. Sgt R.T. Stoneham killed, Sgt H. Poole killed, F/Sgt H.M. Tait (Canadian) killed, Sgt J. Pennington killed, F/F K.F. Wightman (Canadian) killed, Sgt R.L. Cox killed, F/O A.R. Cameron (Canadian) killed. |
| 16/12/1943 | Lancaster | JB596 | 100sqn | Barnoldby-le-Beck | Coded HW-H, Airborne 1618hrs from Waltham for Berlin. This aircraft was destroyed at 2300hrs on return at Hatcliffe Top near Barnoldby le Beck some 170 feet above sea-level. The weather at the time was fog up to 300 feet and a 300foot cloudbase. The aircraft's altimeter read 600 feet at the point of impact. The aircraft burned out on the ground. F/O R.L.Proudfoot killed, Sgt S.D.Viggers killed, Sgt L.Noyes injured, Sgt J.Bamford killed, Sgt B.Heaton killed, Sgt B.Phillips injured, Sgt F.H.Taylor injured. |
| 16/12/1943 | Halifax | DT669 | 1662HCU | Corringham | Airborne from Blyton for a night navigation exercise. Crashed at Corringham at 2335 whilst on approach to land. The aircraft broke cloud at less than 1000 feet with the port outer engine feathered due to coolant loss. The aircraft lost height in a starboard turn and hit the ground. F/Sgt G.M. Vautier (Canadian) killed, Sgt R.E.C. Bottle killed, F/Sgt J.E. Findley (Australian) killed, F/Sgt E. Hoskings (Australian) killed, F/Sgt N.R.B. Toy (Australian) killed, Sgt E.J. Strawbridge (Australian) killed. |
| 16/12/1943 | Lancaster | JB670 | 103 Sqn | Elsham Wolds | Coded PM-? Airborne 1637hrs from Elsham Wolds for Berlin, this aircraft circled just above the cloudbase contrary to orders, and collided three minutes later with Lancaster LM332 of 576sqn. Both bombers came down in flames at Ulceby. F/Sgt V.Richter killed, Sgt F.S.Copping killed, F/O C.R.Jaques killed, Sgt T.L.H.Kay (Australian) killed, Sgt P.Coopman killed, Sgt C.W.Plampton killed, Sgt F.A.Furrie killed. F/Sgt Richter, F/O Jaques and Sgt Flampton had been attached from 576sqn. |
| 16/12/1943 | Lancaster | LM332 | 576sqn | Elsham Wolds | Coded UL-B2. Airborne 1636hrs from Elsham Wolds for Berlin and collided four minutes later with a 103 Sqdn Lancaster (JB670) airborne from Elsham Wolds at 1637 and also part of the Berlin raid. Both Lancasters crashed in flames at Ulceby. There were no survivors from the fourteen aircrew involved. F/Sgt F.R.Scott (Australian) killed, Sgt S.V.Cull killed, Sgt G.G.Critchley killed, F/Sgt P.M.C.Ellis killed, Sgt J.H.Caldwell killed, Sgt B.P.Wicks (Australian) killed, Sgt J.W.Ross killed. At 18, Sgt Cull was the youngest Bomber Command crewman to lose his life. |
| 16/12/1943 | Lancaster | ED951 | 625sqn | Gayton-le-Wold | Coded CF-A. Airborne 1645hrs from Kelstern for Berlin. The aircraft was destroyed when it crashed on return at 2356hrs after flying into rising ground on the side of a hill near Gayton-le-Wold in conditions of low cloud and thick fog. 2Lt G.E.Woolley USAAF injured, Sgt S.A. Taylor killed, F/Lt G.E.Shannon injured, Sgt G.A.Draycott killed, Sgt D.Pascoe injured, Sgt F.R.Johnson injured, Sgt G.A.Richards injured. |
| 16/12/1943 | Lancaster | JB715 | 12sqn | Hainton | Coded PH-U, Airborne 1614hrs from Wickenby for Berlin. On return crashed 2354hrs at Hainton, 9 miles WSW of Louth after the pilot broke cloud over high ground and was unable to check the aircraft's rate of descent before hitting the ground. F/Sgt H.R.H.Ross (Australian) killed, Sgt F.G.Clark killed, F/L A.Walker killed, Sgt H.D.G.Aldiss killed, Sgt H.R.McDowell (Australian) killed, Sgt A.T.Broome killed, Sgt R.A.Whitley injured but died shortly afterwards. |
| 16/12/1943 | Spitfire | P9376 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged at 1530hrs on landing from a training flight. The aircraft swung off the runway, ran into soft ground and tipped onto its nose. Pilot F/Sgt LJ Horrocks (Canadian) was unhurt. |
| 16/12/1943 | Spitfire | X4897 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged when it force-landed wheels-up in a field at 1530hrs following an engine failure in flight. Pilot F/Sgt HH Watson was uninjured in the incident. |
| 16/12/1943 | Lancaster | LM385 | 166sqn | Hundon Manor nr Caistor | Coded AS-? Airborne 1625hrs from Kirmington for Berlin. The aircraft was destroyed when it crashed on return at 2359hrs on high ground at Caistor and caught fire. weather conditions at the time were deep fog and low cloudbase. Sgt S.F.Miller killed, Sgt T.Rudden killed, Sgt H.G.A.Hine killed, Sgt B.W.Haney (Canadian) killed, F/Sgt J.H.Murphy (Australian) killed, Sgt H.E.Miles killed, Sgt W.W.J.llen (Canadian) killed. |
| 16/12/1943 | Lancaster | W4993 | 625sqn | Jackson's barn nr Kelstern | On return from operations in conditions of thick fog and low cloud, this aircraft was damaged whilst attempting a second approach to land after overshooting on the first. The pilot flew a low, tight circuit to keep the flarepath lights in view through the fog, but the port wing struck an obstruction whilst the aircraft was turning. The pilot decided to belly-land in a nearby turnip field at 2330hrs rather than risk trying to land on the airfield with a damaged aircraft. Pilot W/O ES Ellis and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 16/12/1943 | Lancaster | JB657 | 460sqn | Market Stainton | Coded AR-? Airborne 1632hrs from Binbrook for Berlin. On return at 2315hrs in thick fog and low cloud, the aircraft crashed into a wood near Market Stainton Hall and burned out on the ground. F/O F.A.Randall DFC (Australian) killed, Sgt J.Mckenzie killed, F/Sgt W.K.Halstead (Australian) killed, F/O H.G.D.Dedman (Australian) killed, Sgt H.H.Petersen (Australian) killed, F/Sgt C.G.Howie (Australian) killed, Sgt R.A.Moynagh (Australian) killed. |
| 16/12/1943 | Lancaster | JB639 | 166sqn | nr Barton-on-Humber | Coded AS-Z. Airborne 1620hrs from Kirmington for Berlin. The aircraft was destroyed when it crashed into high ground at 2335hrs on return from operations whilst searching for Kirmington in low cloud and fog. it came down at Barton-upon-Humber and caught fire on impact. F/Sgt A.E.Brown killed, Sgt C.G.Thompson killed, Sgt H.A.Williams killed, Sgt W.N.Griffin killed, Sgt L.D.Perry killed, Sgt E.V.Smith killed, Sgt D.W.Inglis killed |
| 16/12/1943 | Lancaster | JB704 | 460sqn | nr Binbrook | Coded AR-? Airborne 1622hrs from Binbrook for Berlin. This aircraft was destroyed on return to Binbrook after it had turned back early due to failure of the starboard outer engine. It crashed at 2157hrs into a field bordering the airfield after flying into the ground in poor visibility and low cloud - the pilot had been told by the airfield controllers to fly at 500 feet to get below the cloud. No injuries. F/Sgt K.J.Goodwin (Australian) Sgt I.V.Browse F/Sgt V.W.Dellitt (Australian) F/Sgt E.A.Hennessey (Australian) P/O J.N.Morris (Australian) Sgt F.Clarkson. Seventh crew member not identified. |
| 16/12/1943 | Lancaster | JB560 | 100sqn | nr Kelstern | Coded HW-N, Airborne 1613hrs from Waltham for Berlin. Crashed on return in bad weather near Kelstern airfield at 2330hrs. The surviving gunner stated that the pilot had not realised he was near an airfield and the approach lights may have distracted him, causing the aircraft to fly into the ground. W/C D.W.Holford DSO DFC killed, Sgt J.Wunderley killed, WO2 H.B.Wareham (Canadian) killed, Sgt R.E.Mason killed, Sgt R.Mackay injured, F/Sgt H.Whybrow killed, F/Sgt D.Bolinbroke injured. W/C Holford was 100 Sqdn Commanding Officer. |
| 17/12/1943 | Lancaster | DV283 | 101sqn | Cammeringham | Coded SR-P, Airborne 1617hrs 16Dec43 from Ludford Magna for Berlin. On return in extremely poor weather, the aircraft ran out of fuel and was abandoned successfully near Ingham airfield. The aircraft was destroyed when it crashed at Blackthorne Hill Farm at 0014hrs. No injuries. F/O A.C.Lazenby Sgt G.Lindsay P/O W.Craig P/O J.McClure Sgt A.Wilton Sgt G.Beckett Sgt D.Stevens Sgt R.S.Brown |
| 17/12/1943 | Lancaster | JB551 | 103 Sqn | Elsham Wolds | This aircraft was damaged on return from operations at 0004hrs when the aircraft crash-landed after striking a hedge whilst the pilot was trying to locate the airfield in extremely poor weather conditions. Pilot F/O GH Russell-Fry and crew were uninjured in the incident. |
| 17/12/1943 | Lancaster | LM391 | 626sqn | Kelstern | This aircraft was damaged on return from operations at 0110hrsafter flying for 8hrs 35mins. The aircraft was almost out of fuel and the pilot was ordered to land at the first airfield he was after breaking cloud. The pilot was on his first op and was not familiar with other airfields in the county. The aircraft navigation aids were all unserviceable and the weather was extremely poor. Whilst circling Kelstern airfield, the aircraft touched the runway, so the pilot throttled back and belly-landed the aircraft. Pilot P/O WS Breckenridge and crew were uninjured in the incident. |
| 17/12/1943 | Lancaster | DV173 | 460sqn | Normanby-le-Wold | Coded AR-? Airborne 1625hrs 16Dec43 from Binbrook. Crashed 0017hrs in bad weather into a field at Normanby-le-Wold near Caistor. W/O M.Stafford, Sgt F.D.Dixon injured, Sgt W.F.H.McIntyre, P/O C.E.Hanson, F/Sgt R.Mansfield, Sgt J.Davies, P/O H.H.Garment killed. |
| 17/12/1943 | Lancaster | EE150 | 619sqn | nr Woodhall Spa | Coded PG-F, Airborne 1635hrs 16Dec43 from Woodhall Spa for Berlin. Outbound, the aircraft was badly shot about by a night-fighter, but showing great skill and determination of purpose, the crew pressed on to the target and completed their task. On return to base, the aircraft crashed at 0140hrs near the outer beacon for the airfield. F/L Tomlin gained an immediate First Bar to his DFC and F/Sgt Brookes was awarded an immediate DFM, both decorations being Gazetted 25Jan44. F/L A.H.Tomlin DFC & Bar F/Sgt A.E.Brookes DFM P/O T.A.Peatfield F/Sgt Aveline F/Sgt J.Simkin Sgt R.W.Thompson Sgt W.Dunham W/O E.S.Evans all uninjured |
| 17/12/1943 | Halifax | LL120 | 161sqn | off Skegness | Coded MA-W. SOE-assigned. Airborne 2115 16Dec43 from Tempsford to fly a cargo drop on OPERATION WHEELWRIGHT 47. They went down to Angouleme and in the target area met with high patchy cloud, rain showers and thick fog covered the ground. There was no response on 'Rebecca' from the target or from two special 'Eureka' beacons that were set up in this area. On the way back they flew over a well lit aerodrome, SE of Thouars (35 km south of Saumur) where night flying was taking place - 'No action developed'. With bad weather at base and at the two diversions, Swinderby and Woodbridge, Caldwell decided to bale his crew out in the Spilsby area at 0545. All landed safely (including their pet Fox terrier). The Navigator broke his ankle. The aircraft crashed into the sea near Skegness after they had been airborne 8.30 hours. W/O W.A.Caldwell Sgt Mottison F/Sgt Morris injured, Sgt R.F.Philp F/Sgt Wilson Sgt Grant Sgt Matthews Sgt Snell |
| 17/12/1943 | Lancaster | JB674 | 100sqn | Waithe | Coded HW-Q. Collided in the air with another 100 Sqdn Lancaster (JB678) on return from Berlin, both Lancasters falling at 0040hrs at Waithe after both had just located the airfield in extremely poor weather. F/Sgt A.J.Kevis killed, Sgt D.S.Watson killed, W/O W.H.Harris MiD killed, F/Sgt J.R.Bateman (Canadian) killed, Sgt R.M.J.Gaffney killed, P/O R.A.Van-Walwyk killed, Sgt T.E.Cain killed |
| 17/12/1943 | Lancaster | JB678 | 100sqn | Waithe | Coded HW-F. Airborne 1646hrs 16Dec43 from Waltham to Berlin. Collided in the air with another 100sqdn Lancaster (JB674), both Lancasters falling at 0040hrs at Waithe after both had just located Waltham airfield in extremely poor weather. Sgt G.C.Denman killed, Sgt A.H.Johnson killed, Sgt I.A.Redman killed, Sgt H.L.Blackwell killed, Sgt J.W.Christmas killed, Sgt R.G.Read killed, Sgt C.B.Wallace (Canadian) injured but died 8Jan44 in hospital. |
| 17/12/1943 | Lancaster | JA957 | 576sqn | Wickenby | This aircraft was damaged on return from operations at 0028hrs when it overshot the runway whilst landing through very low cloudbase and thick fog. The pilot retracted the undercarriage and the aircraft came to a halt on its belly. Pilot W/O TJ Bassett and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 18/12/1943 | Oxford | HM729 | 5FPP | 1/2 mile north of Cranwell airfield | This aircraft was damaged when it was belly-landed in a field at 1530hrs after failing to avoid bad weather whilst of a ferrying flight. Pilot ATA Second Officer JB McSween (Canadian) was unhurt in the incident. |
| 18/12/1943 | Beaufighter | LX858 | 236sqn | off North Coates | This aircraft was lost during a fighter affiliation sortie when the starboard engine failed in flight. The aircraft required full power on the port engine to maintian height. The pilot, F/O M G St J Selly was of small stature and could not turn the aircraft against the live engine, and had to ditch the aircraft. P/O Seelly and his navigator Sgt Owen were injured in the crash. F/O Seelly was reassigned to lighter aircraft types following this accident, becoming a Third Officer in the ATA by February 1945 when he was killed ferrying an aircraft. |
| 19/12/1943 | Wellington | HF598 | 300sqn | Hackthorn | Coded BH-M, this aircraft was airborne at 1110hrs from Ingham on an air-test sortie. The aircraft was seen to enter a steep turn to port and then dive into the ground. It crashed at 1121hrs 1.5 miles south-west of Hackthorn and was burned out. F/O J.A Ochedzan (Polish) killed, Sgt F.A. Bluj (Polish) killed. |
| 19/12/1943 | Lancaster | LL740 | 463sqn | Waddington | This aircraft was damaged at 1715hrs whilst being taxied into dispersal after a transit flight back to Waddington. On turning the aircraft into the wind, the tail struck a bomb trolley with the rear fuselage forward of the rear turret, tearing a hole in the underside of the fuselage. Pilot P/O VH Trimble (Australian) and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 20/12/1943 | Wellington | X9823 | 14OTU | Folkingham | Airborne from Market Harborough for a cross-country flight. The port engine failed in flight and the pilot was unable to maintain height on a single engine. The aircraft force-landed downwind at 1400hrs on the airfield which was still under construction. The only injury was Sgt R.V. Ind who suffered back injuries. Pilot Sgt MW Ling and the rest of the crew were unhurt. |
| 20/12/1943 | Spitfire | X4833 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | This aircraft was damaged whilst landing in a strong gusty wind at 1150hrs. The pilot was a heavy bomber pilot converting to the type, and on his first solo made a heavy, drifting landing which caused the undercarriage to collapse. Pilot S/Ldr AL Wiggins (Australian) was uninjured. |
| 20/12/1943 | Spitfire | P8660 | CGS | Sutton Bridge | This aircraft was damaged when the pilot stalled on landing and touched down heavily onto the port undercarriage leg, causing it to collapse after the tyre burst. Pilot P/O RC Brigden was uninjured in the incident. |
| 21/12/1943 | Spitfire | N3045 | 53OTU | Hibaldstow | this aircraft was seriously damaged at 1015hrs when the pilot undershot the airfield landing area whilst approaching into the sun. The wheels were torn off on the overshoot sand heap at the end of the runway, the aircraft tipped onto its nose and then slid across the grass. Pilot Sgt RN Brown (Canadian) was uninjured in the incident. |
| 21/12/1943 | Spitfire | X4935 | 53OTU | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was damaged whe the pilot overshot the runway whilst landing in strong gusty winds. The aircraft struck the airfield fence and tipped onto its nose. Pilot F/Sgt LJ Horrocks (Canadian) was uninjured but was sent to the ARC School in Sheffield. |
| 22/12/1943 | Blenheim | AZ991 | 12(P)AFU | Harlaxton | This aircraft was damagd at 1205 hours when the pilot stalled the aircraft at 25 feet on an unauthorized flapless practice landing in windy conditions. The aircraft landed heavily and the undercarriage collapsed. Pilot F/Sgt WL Hill was uninjured in this incident. |
| 22/12/1943 | Wellington | LN160 | 29OTU | nr Wigsley | This aircraft was destroyed at 0640hrs when it crashed into a tree on approach to land after the port engine failed in flight. The aircraft made a single-engined left-hand circuit but could not maintain height. It burned out on the ground after crashing. Pilot Sgt HAS Russell injured, Sgt C Wilkins injured, Sgt D Newby injured, Sgt R Thompson injured, Sgt FW Mittonette injured. |
| 23/12/1943 | Lancaster | LM315 | 460sqn | Binbrook | This aircraft was damaged whilst taxying along the peritrack. The starboard wheel left the track and the starboard propellor hit a maintenance stand, breaking the propellor. Pilot P/O Wade (Australian) and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 23/12/1943 | Master | AZ586 | RAFC | Caistor | This aircraft was written off after catching fire whilst being run up on the ground. Cpl J Somerville noticed petrol flowing along the cockpit floor, but it ignited before he could switch the engine off. |
| 23/12/1943 | Beaufighter | MM946 | 409sqn | Coleby Grange | Whilst on a nighttime ground-controlled intercept exercise, this aircraft was damaged in flight at 0015hrs. The pilot, F/O A B Sisson (Canadian) put the aircraft into a diving turn and entered cloud. F/O Sisson had not noticed the aircrsft's gyro had toppled until too late, and the aircraft entered a spin. The pilot regained control and told his navigator to bale out. he landed the aircraft safely with one wingtip bent up at right angles to the wing. The navigator was injured whilst baling out. |
| 24/12/1943 | Lancaster | ED730 | 550sqn | nr Fulstow | Coded EQ-G2, Airborne at 0007hrs from Waltham for Berlin. Collided in the air, outbound and climbing through 12,000, with a 100 Sqdn Lancaster (ND327) also outbound for Berlin. Both bombers crashed at 0040hrs near Fulstow. Sgt H.F.J.Woods killed, Sgt D.G.Davies killed, Sgt M.Giles killed, F/Sgt J.R.E.Legere (Canadian) killed, Sgt L.F.Wright killed, Sgt J.c.Atherton (Canadian) killed, Sgt J.McConnell killed |
| 24/12/1943 | Lancaster | ND327 | 100sqn | nr Fulstow | Coded HW-? Climbing out of Waltham en-route Berlin this aircraft collided at 12,000 feet with a 550Sqdn Lancaster (ED730), both bombers crashing at 0040hrs near Fulstow. F/Sgt W.R.Cooper killed, Sgt G.W.Claydon killed, Sgt A.R.Laurence killed, Sgt G.W.Guest (Canadian) killed, Sgt R.W.Theobald killed, Sgt J.A.Jordan (Canadian) killed, Sgt J.Rawson killed |
| 24/12/1943 | Lancaster | JB409 | 12sqn | Wickenby | This aircraft was damaged when it struck Lancaster JB544 at 0007hrs whilst both were taxying on the airfield to depart on operations. |
| 24/12/1943 | Lancaster | JB544 | 12sqn | Wickenby | This aircraft was struck and severely damaged by Lancaster JB409 whilst taxying on the airfield at 0007hrs prior to departing on operations. Pilot Sgt Hawksley-Hill and crew were uninjured. |
| 26/12/1943 | Blenheim | AZ922 | 12(P)AFU | Bottesford | This aircraft was destroyed at 1535 hours when the pilot lost control on landing in poor weather after an engine failure. Pilot Sgt G. Harvie was injured and taken to Raucesby hospital. |
| 27/12/1943 | Beaufighter | LX927 | 236sqn | Donna Nook | On return from an operational flight at 1825hrs, pilot F?sgt E K Newman was landing in hazy conditions with an airspeed indicator that was under-reading by 25 knots. The aircraft approached too fast and overshot the flarepath into a hedge, causing serious damage to the airframe. |
| 27/12/1943 | B-17 Fortress | 42-30221 | 368BS/306BG | in the Wash | Coded BO:G, this aircraft took off from Thurleigh as the lead aircraft for a squadron formation training flight. At 100hrs the aircraft flying in the right-wing position in the formation (B-17F 42-30841 piloted by 2nd Lt Nelson W Hardin) collided with this aircraft causing severe damage. This aircraft was pointed out to sea on a safe heading and the crew all baled out successfully. Crew were pilot 1st Lt J P Toombs, co-pilot 2nd Lt Taylor L Leedy, navigator 2nd Lt E P West, engineer S/Sgt G J Peterson, radio operator S/Sgt J B Poston, gunner S/Sgt A F Klepper, gunner Sgt C O Metz and passenger 2nd Lt Robert K Welter. B-17F 42-30841 landed safely at Thurleigh but was written off due to damage received in the collision. |
| 27/12/1943 | Lancaster | ED539 | 467sqn | Waddington | This aircraft was damaged at 1520hrs whilst taxying on a training sortie. The aircraft struck a flashing beacon on the airfield. Pilot F/O HG Hemsworth and crew were uninjured in the incident. |
| 28/12/1943 | Blenheim | L1250 | 12(P)AFU | half mile north of East Stoke | This aircraft was damaged after it belly-landed following a port engine failure in flight. A cylinder blew up displacing a cowling, and the displaced cowling caused control problems. Pilot F/Lt WJ Whittaker (Canadian) was uninjured in this incident. |
| 29/12/1943 | Halifax | BB221 | 1662CU | Blyton | This aircraft was damaged at 1355 hours on landing from a training flight when the tail oleo collapsed during a heavy landing. Pilot Sgt ER Thomas and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 29/12/1943 | Halifax | BB243 | 1662CU | Blyton | This aircraft was damaged at 1910 hours whilst the pilot was being trained in taxying the aircraft. The pilot allowed the aircraft to taxy off the edge of the peri track and the port wheel sank into a drainage ditch. The pilot did not heed red warning lights or a radio call from flying control. Pilot Sgt PJ Wilson (Canadian) was uninjured in this incident. |
| 29/12/1943 | Master | DK981 | RAFC | East Heckington | This aircraft was damaged at 1410hrs when it force-landed wheels-up in a field after an engine failure in flight buckled the propellor. Instructor F/Sgt AW Godfrey (NewZealander) and pupil LAC KA Dingley were unhurt in the incident. |
| 29/12/1943 | Spitfire | P7297 | 53OTU | Kirton Lindsey | This aircraft was damaged at 1220hrs when the pilot stalled the aircraft onto the runway from 15 feet. One oleo leg collapsed and the aircraft tipped onto its nose. Pilot Sgt DJ LeBlanc (Canadian) was unhurt in the incident. |
| 30/12/1943 | Piper L-4B Cub | 43-657 | 482BG | nr Sutton st Edmund | Hit wires, no further details. Pilot Lt Garland E Taylor was unhurt. |
| 30/12/1943 | Oxford | ED267 | 6PAFU | Wolham Farm, Toynton | This aircraft was written off in a forced landing when the starboard engine failed on the last leg of the airfield circuit for east Kirkby on a training flight. Pilot F/Sgt LS Drew was uninjured. |
| 30/12/1943 | Lancaster | ED866 | 619sqn | Woodhall Spa | This aircraft was damaged when it collided with lancaster JB131 whilst both were taxying on return from operations. Pilot P/O FG Secker and crew were uninjured in this incident. |
| 30/12/1943 | Lancaster | JB131 | 619sqn | Woodhall Spa | This aircraft was damaged when it was struck by Lancaster ED866 whilst taxying on return from operations. No injuries recorded. |
| 31/12/1943 | Master | AZ781 | RAFC | Cranwell | This aircraft was damaged in a heavy landing at 1330hrs after the pilot pulled the control column back sharply and damaged the aircraft's tail unit. Pilot LAC RR Higgins was uninjured. |
| 31/12/1943 | Spitfire | W3507 | 316sqn | Digby | This aircraft was damaged at 1200hrs when it belly-landed on the airfield after the undercarriage jammed partway down due to a faulty selector valve. Pilot Sgt J Milej (Polish) was unhurt in the accident. |
