On the night of 26th / 27th November 1943 the crew of this 619 Squadron aircraft took off from Woodhall Spa airfield at 17.28hrs to undertake an operational flight to bomb Berlin. On their return to the UK thick fog was effecting flying over Northern England, 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 619 Squadron. The crew of Lancaster EE168 were diverted to land at Elvington but in the Elvington area 619 Squadron Lancaster DV336 had crashed at 01.50hrs because of the weather and also Lancaster DV335 was damaged on landing on the airfield at Elvington, leaving aside the poor weather the damaged DV335 at Elvington may then have resulted in the runway at Elvington being blocked so any further aircraft were then diverted elsewhere. The crew of Lancaster EE168 were then re-diverted to try and land at Hutton Cranswick. EE168 had arrived over the Hutton Cranswick area but the visibility was just as bad. They had made at least one attempt at landing there but with fuel running out there was not enought fuel left to try again. At 02.35hrs EE168 crashed around a mile south east of Hutton Cranswick railway station, just missing Cranswick Common Farm, it struck a haystack which removed the tail of the aircraft and came to rest when it crashed through willow trees on the edge of a small pond. The damaged aircraft caught fire and while two of the crew sustained injuries all were able to climb clear. The flight engineer injured his back while the rear gunner injured his chest and both were taken to Driffield Hospital. The wireless operator's son gave a long post on Facebook in 2013 detailing his visit to the crash site.
Pilot - F/Lt Anthony Herbert Tomlin RAFVR (111497).
Flight Engineer - F/Sgt Ernest George Cass RAF (573138).
Navigator? - P/O Thomas Alexandre Peatfield RAFVR (155593).
? - F/Sgt J Simpkin.
Wireless Operator? - Sgt R W Thompson.
? - Sgt W Dunham.
? - F/Sgt P D Mitchell.
Anthony Tomlin received a commission in the RAFVR to the rank of P/O on probation on 3rd August 1941 and rose to F/O (war subs) exactly a year later and to F/Lt a further year later. He was awarded the DFC for service with 619 Squadron, Gazetted on 18th January 1944. He was then awarded a first Bar to the DFC for service with 619 Squadron, Gazetted on 25th January 1944, for his actions on the 16th December 1943. He was cited for the award with a replacement flight engineer as the one involved in the crash of Lancaster EE168 was still on sick leave. The citation states " On the night of 16th December 1943, this officer and airman were pilot and flight engineer respectively of an aircraft detailed to attack Berlin. When nearing the target area the aircraft was attacked by fighters and one of the starboard engines was put out of action and it caught fire. Quick work by Flight Sergeant Brookes extinguished the flames and, although much height had been lost, Flight Lieutenant Tomlin flew on to the target and bombed it. On the return flight, Flight Sergeant Brookes displayed great engineering skill and his efforts proved of material assistance to his pilot in his endeavour to reach this country. On reaching base, a second engine failed but Flight Lieutenant Tomlin effected a successful crash-landing without injury to any of his crew. This officer displayed outstanding determination and devotion to duty; Flight Sergeant Brookes displayed similar qualities and proved himself a valuable member of aircraft crew." Post-war he remained in the RAF until November 1966.
On the night of 26th / 27th April 1944 F/Sgt Cass was flying in 619 Squadron Lancaster LL919 on Ops to bomb the Schweinfurt ball bearing factory when the aircraft was shot down by a night-fighter. One member of his then crew managed to bale out but the aircraft crashed in the Haute-Marne area of France. F/Sgt Cass is buried with the remaining five members of the crew in Landeville Churchyard. Another member of the crew who died was Sgt Kenneth Frank RAFVR (1590367), who was from the same town as I live in North Yorkshire.