On 30th July 1944 the crew of this 1656 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft were undertaking a night training exercise known as a circuit training exercise. This involved the crew making a series of short flights around the airfield, practicing taking off, learning the correct way of making a circuit of the airfield and then practicing landing at night. The first short flight appears to have gone without incident and they landed safely. As the second began the pilot appears to have lost control in poor visibility and then crashed close to the village of Hatfield Woodhouse at 02.28hrs and the wreckage then caught fire. Sadly five members of the crew died as a result of the accident.
Pilot - P/O Gilson Edmund Collins RAFVR (177516), aged 21. Buried Redhill (Redstone) Cemetery, Surrey.
Flight Engineer - Sgt Robert John Neeson RAFVR (1325312), aged 27, of Glasgow. Buried Lambhill Cemetery, Glasgow.
Navigator - Sgt Harold Jones RAFVR (1397694), aged 28. Buried Holyhead Burial Board Cemetery, Anglesey.
Air Bomber - Sgt Norman Leslie Skidmore RAFVR (1684303), aged 29, wife of Carnoustie. Buried Shanwell Cemetery, Carnoustie, Angus.
Air Gunner - Sgt George Francis Peter McCarthy RAFVR (1893589), aged 19. Buried Hatfield Woodhouse Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt T W Lowes RAF. Head injuries and admitted to Doncaster Hospital.
Air Gunner - Sgt L Marshall RAF. Slightly injured and admitted to Lindholme sick quarters.
George McCarthy's grave at Hatfield Woodhouse Cemetery.
Gilson Collins was granted a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 20th May 1944. I have yet to learn anything about any other members of this crew.