Sgt S Glover
Took-off from Cheddington for circuits and landings. Two hours into the exercise, Sgt Glover took-off for yet another circuit, only to find the Wellington was reluctant to climb. Landing alongside the flare path, the undercarriage gave way and not long after a fire broke out.
P/O G F Pentony R.A.F. (Inj)
Sgt G R Phipps R.C.A.F. (Killed)
Took-off at 2045hrs from Wing for a night navigation sortie. During the flight, a conrod broke up inside the starboard engine, damaging the pistons of Nos. 5, 6 and 7 cylinders. Almost immediately the motor burst into flames and at around 2330hrs and the order to abandon was given, leaving the bomber to crash at Burton Coggles, 7 miles South-South-East of Grantham, Lincolnshire. Sgt Phips an air gunner, is buried in Grantham Cemetery.
Sgt R J Carson
Sgt C A Smith
Sgt F Sayles
P/O J C Gogill
Sgt R J Booth
Took-off 0135hrs from Cheddington for night flying. Crashed circa 0320hrs while attempting to go round again. In his report, Sgt Carson said he realised he was to one side of the flare path and though he retracted the undercarriage in readiness to go round again, he lost all flying speed. No injuries were reported.
Sgt R V McDougall R.C.A.F. (Inj)
Sgt A P Hendriksen R.A.F. (Inj)
Took-off at 1500hrs from Cheddington for circuit training. Landed at 1545hrs but bounced back into the air and stalled. A fire broke out on impact. Sgt Hendriksen was critically injured and he was taken to the Princess Mary’s Hospital at Halton, where sadly he died of his injuries on the 5th September. His grave is in Malden (St. John The Baptist) Churchyard, Malden and Coombe. Later commissioned, his skipper was killed during operations to Dusseldorf on 22/23rd April 1944
Sgt J H Bond R.A.F. (Inj)
Sgt E W Cox (Inj)
(Not recorded in ORB) (Inj)
(Not recorded in ORB) (Inj)
Took-off from RAF Little Horwood for night dual training. Crashed circa 0440hrs after overshooting the airfield. This was the unit’s first accident since a detachment arrived at Little Horwood three days previous. Sgt Cox later converted to Halifaxes and was killed on 17th April while serving with No. 51 Squadron when his Halifax II DT561 MH-K crashed at Hadamar, 7 km North-North-West of Limburg. All 7 crew lie in Durnbach War Cemetery.
Sgt. L F Bertrand R.C.A.F. (Inj)
Sgt S Langley R.A.F. (Inj)
Sgt H Beazley R.C.A.F. (Inj)
Sgt J C Keightley R.A.F. (Killed)
Sgt S Hitchen R.A.F. (Inj)
Took-off from R.A.F. Wing 0938hrs for a cross-country exercise. Crash-landed 1153hrs at Greenhow Hill, roughly three miles West-South-West of Pateley Bridge, Yorkshire, after the starboard propeller and reduction gear came off. As the propeller detached, so it struck the side of the Wellington, killing Sgt Keightley (he is buried in Harrow (Wealdstone) Cemetery. Police Constable Fred Graham and some locally based soldiers soon reached the scene of the crash and they were instrumental in pulling the badly injured members of the crew clear of the wreckage, which had caught fire. Subseqently, three soldiers and PC Graham received commendations in recognition of their brave actions.
P/O H D Murray R.A.F. (Killed)
Sgt J W Wilde R.A.F. (Killed)
Sgt J M Lennox R.A.F. (Killed)
F/S W C Ferguson D.F.M. R.A.F. (Killed)
Sgt H Bailey R.A.F. (Killed)
Sgt Clarke R.A.F. (Inj)
Took-off from Little Horwood and reported as crashed near the airfield. P/O Murray, a Canadian from Vancouver serving with the Volunteer Reserve, was taken to Yorkshire and buried in Kirk Sandall (St. Oswald) Churchyard, Barnby Dunwith-Kirk Sandall. The others rest in their home towns. Late in 1941, F/S Ferguson was serving with 101 Squadron and while raiding Essen, his aircraft came under attack from a Ju88. Operating his guns to good effect, he drove the enemy aircraft off and later, shortly after crossing the coast on the return leg, he despatched a second attacker, which was last seen diving towards the sea wreathed in flames. His immediate award of the DFM was published in the London Gazette on 6th January 1942.
F/S G B Leddy R.A.F.
Took-off from R.A.F. Wing at 1900hrs for night circuit practice, at 1917hrs the aircraft was totally wrecked following a heavy landing. No injuries reported.
P/O R Waugh
Took-off from R.A.F. Wing at 1025hrs but came to grief when a tyre burst, causing the bomber to leave the runway and crash at fairly high speed. A fire developed in the region of the starboard engine, but the crew were able to scramble to safety without injury.
Sgt E C Jones R.A.F. (Killed)
Sgt S R Appi R.A.F. (Killed)
Sgt W B Barclay R.A.F. (Killed)
Sgt Thomas David McIntosh Breen (Killed)
Sgt D Bell R.A.F. (Killed)
F/S D J Clark R.C.A.F. (Inj) (Died of wounds)
Took-off 1815hrs from R.A.F. Little Horwood for a night cross-country. At approximately 2215hrs, the bomber was seen in the circuit but as it turned towards the Runway, it stalled and dived into the ground. On impact a column of smoke and flame shot into the night sky. The Court of Inquiry suggested that a film of rain across the windscreen may have distorted the pilot’s vision. F/S Clark R.C.A.F., an American from Seattle in the State of Washington, was taken to Princess Mary’s Hospital, Halton, where he lingered for nearly a day. He is buried in Halton (St. Michael) Churchyard. His skipper rest in Aylesbury Cemetery, while the rest of the crew were taken to their home towns.
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