Lancaster DV377 at Melbourne airfield.

On the night of 26th / 27th November 1943 the crew of this 50 Squadron aircraft took off from Skellingthorpe airfield at 17.06hrs to undertake an operational flight to bomb Berlin. On their return to the UK thick fog over Lincolnshire was very poor and numerous Lincolnshire-based squadrons instructed their returning aircraft to divert north to land in Yorkshire following a few crashes to aircraft around midnight in Lincolnshire. The visibility over Yorkshire was not much better and a number of Lancasters would crash before they could land including at least three from 50 Squadron. The crew of Lancaster DV377 were diverted to land at Melbourne and attempted to get the aircraft down onto the ground. As they landed they probably missed the runway or were not landing down the line of the runway in use, the aircraft rode over an RAF standard 8 van, killing the driver, and then crashed into another 50 Squadron Lancaster JA961 that had just landed but had become bogged down on soft ground on turning off the runway. Both Lancasters were badly damaged but all aircrew survived. The driver of the RAF van was unfortunately but remarkably the only casualty. Melbourne airfield would later get fog dispersal (F.I.D.O.) equipment but I don't believe that it was up and running by November 1943.

RAF driver - AC2 William Irving Gregory RAFVR (1590630), aged 29, wife of Withernsea, Buried Withernsea Churchyard, Yorkshire.

Pilot - P/O Edward Charles Weatherstone RAFVR (149521).

Flight Engineer - Sgt D Gregory.

Navigator - F/Sgt Paul Edward Thompson RAFVR.

Bomb Aimer - Sgt P H Lane.

Wireless Operator - Sgt Alfred David Forester Spruce RAFVR (1129452).

Air Gunner - Sgt H J Lineham.

Air Gunner - Sgt Ralph Adey Cuthbert Collingwood RAF (581205).

William Gregory was the son of Harold Percy and Annie Gregory and was born in the Selby area in 1914. He married Elma Bass in the Patrington area of Yorkshire in early 1935.
Edward Weatherstone had arrived at 50 Squadron during the previous Summer and had flown his first operational flight as a second pilot with another more experienced crew on 9th July 1943. He received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 10th June 1943 and rose to F/O six months later. For service with 50 Squadron he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 21st April 1944. He survived the War.

Paul Thompson received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 21st January 1944 and rose to F/O six months later. For service with 50 Squadron he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 27th June 1944.

Alfred Spruce was awarded the DFM for service with 50 Squadron, also Gazetted on 27th June 1944.

Ralph Collingwood receieved a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 1st December 1943. He was awarded the DFC for service with 50 Squadron, Gazetted on 2nd June 1944.

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