Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA in Verdun: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N2953
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Marham - Marham
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Marham at 2224LT on June 14 on a bombing mission over Leverkusen. In the early hours of June 15, it crashed in unknown circumstances near Verdun, possibly after being shot down by enemy fire. Two crew members were killed and four others became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Lionel Austin Morris, †
Sgt W. Stevens,
Sgt N. Packer,
Sgt J. D. Foulser,
Sgt Reginald James Baghurst, †
P/O J. E. A. Foster.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA in Drosay: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7787
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Honington - Honington
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Honington on a bombing mission to Pont-de-l'Arche. En route, the bomber went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances in Drosay, southwest of Dieppe. All six crew members were killed.
Crew (9th Squadron):
Sgt Robert Hewitt, pilot,
Sgt Frank Richard Edwards, pilot,
Sgt Leonard Wingate Routledge, observer,
Sgt Frederick Donald Hardy, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Selwyn Frederick Youngson, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Cecil Bertram Kircher, air gunner.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA in Simonshaven: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P9232
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Honington - Honington
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Honington at 2125LT on June 5 on a bombing mission over Duisburg. Shortly after entering the Dutch airspace, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak. The captain ordered the crew to bail out and later attempted to make an emergency landing when the aircraft exploded in mid-air, disintegrated and crashed in a field located in Simonshaven, about 16 km southwest of Rotterdam. Four crew members became PoW while both pilots were killed.
Crew:
S/L George Ernest Peacock, pilot, †
P/O Bertram Arthur James, pilot,
Sgt Ronald Charles Hargrave, navigator and observer, †
Sgt A. K. Griffiths, wireless operator and air gunner,
P/O Sedgwick Whiteley Webster, air gunner,
LAC C. Murton, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by German Flak.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA in Ely: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N2993
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While on a training mission, the airplane crashed near Ely after the pilot was blinded in the glare from searchlight. Both crew members were killed.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA at RAF Abingdon

Date & Time: May 23, 1940 at 0150 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7777
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Honington - Honington
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a bombing mission over Namur, Belgium. On the return trip to RAF Honington, the aircraft deviated from the prescribed flight path and the crew eventually attempted to land at RAF Abingdon. Upon touchdown, the aircraft went out of control and veered off runway before coming to rest. All six crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was destroyed.
Crew (9th Squadron):
F/O K. H. V. Day,
P/O Kaye,
Sgt Cook,
Sgt Read,
Sgt McMahon,
Sgt Bowen.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA off Granville

Date & Time: May 17, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N3015
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Honington - Honington
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed RAF Honington at 2045LT on a bombing mission to Gelsenkirchen. On the return trip, the bomber deviated from the prescribed route and the captain decided to ditch the aircraft off Granville. All six occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Crew (9th Squadron):
F/O J. R. T. Smalley,
Sgt Wood,
Sgt Smith,
Sgt Finch,
P/O Peace,
Sgt Taylor.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA in Plainville: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P9229
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Marham - Marham
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed RAF Marham at 2335LT on May 15 on a bombing mission over Duisburg. While cruising at night, the bomber went out of control and crashed in a field located in Plainville. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (115th Squadron):
F/O Herbert Perstyl Evans, pilot,
F/Lt Alec Edward Pringle, pilot,
Sgt Thomas Russell Kirkham, navigator,
Cpl Roger Colin John Pilgrim, wireless operator and air gunner,
Cpl Reginald Frederick Fallows, air gunner.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA off Stavanger: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 1, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P9213
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Feltwell - Feltwell
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed RAF Feltwell at 1735LT on April 30 to bomb Stavanger. While approaching the Norwegian coast, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed into the sea, killing all six crew members.
Crew (37th Squadron):
S/L Ridley Lewkenor Bradford,
P/O James Douglas Morrison,
Sgt Basil Elles Sharp Knowles,
LAC Philip Andrew Tyler,
Sgt James Thomas Bowen,
LAC Eric William Burnett.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA off Stavanger: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 1, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P9215
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Feltwell - Feltwell
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed RAF Feltwell at 1740LT on April 30 to bomb Stavanger. While approaching the Norwegian coast, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed into the sea, killing all five crew members.
Crew (37th Squadron):
F/O Gerald Victor Gordon,
P/O Talbot Kerr,
Sgt Walter Eddleston,
LAC William Edward Brewster,
AC2 William Aubrey Seymour.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA near Aggersund

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1940 at 2150 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P9218
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mildenhall - Mildenhall
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed RAF Mildenhall at 1755LT on a bombing mission over Aalborg, Denmark. While approaching the target at night, the aircraft was shot down by Flak. The captain attempted to make an emergency landing in the Limfjorden near Aggersund. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, all six occupants became PoW.
Crew (149th Squadron):
F/O F. T. Knight,
Sgt W. G. McDonald,
Sgt G. E. Forsyth,
AC2 J. J. Eldridge,
AC2 Blackburn,
AC1 W. J. Thew.
Probable cause:
Shot down by Flak.