While conducting "circuits and landing" training at RAF Stradishall, the Stirling hit and killed 3 American airmen on take-off, who were illegally cycling across the runway. Instructed to land at Woodridge for a damage assessment,  a loud noise was heard and the Pilot Instructor, Hugh Wilkie told the 7 trainee crew to bale out. The engineer remaining on board to attempt to land the aircraft. Of the remainder, all survived, bar one who fell from his improperly fitted parachute harness. The aircraft crashed, later discovered to be due to the damage to the wing in the runway collision.

[For Your Tomorrow, Errol Martyn. Vol 2 p.212]