Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in RAF Church Broughton: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1942 at 2305 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z8854
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Church Broughton - Church Broughton
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While on a training mission, the crew was forced to return to his base due to the deterioration of the weather conditions. On approach in foggy conditions, the aircraft crashed and exploded, killing all six occupants.
Crew (27th OTU):
F/Lt František Fanta, pilot,
Sgt Josef Hrala, pilot,
P/O Karel Mucha,
P/O Václav Obšil,
Sgt Emil Tufkel,
Sgt Rudolf Jelínek.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC near Elburg: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1942 at 0548 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
X9786
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wing - Wing
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Wing at 2353LT on September 13 on a bombing mission to Bremen, Germany. Following an uneventful mission and while overflying The Netherlands by night, the aircraft was attacked by the pilot of a German fighter. Out of control, it dove into the ground and crashed 2 km west of Elburg. Four crew members were killed while the fifth occupant bailed out and was taken POW.
Crew (26th OTU):
P/O Robert Leo Hage, pilot, †
Sgt Kenneth David Jones, †
Sgt Alexander Knox Smith, observer, †
Sgt Donald Fisher, †
Sgt J. A. Gartlan.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in RAF Lichfield: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 13, 1942 at 2340 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7815
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lichfield - Lichfield
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Lichfield at 2331LT on a bombing mission to Düsseldorf, Germany. Nine minutes after take off, while climbing, the crew informed ground he encountered technical problems with the left engine and attempted to return. On approach, the aircraft stalled and crashed in flames few km short of runway and was destroyed on impact. All five occupants were killed.
Crew (27th OTU):
Sgt William John Percival Fletcher, pilot,
Sgt Joseph Albert Turnbull,
Sgt Frederick William Lewis, observer,
Sgt James Gordon Milne,
Sgt Fairfield Thompson, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine during initial climb.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Appleby-in-Westmorland

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T2715
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Finningley - Finningley
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Finningley at 2130LT on a night training exercise. En route, the pilot encountered foggy conditions and in low visibility, he decided to reduce his altitude in an attempt to establish a visual contact with the ground. At a height of some 2,000 feet, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Dufton Fell located northeast of Appleby-in-Westmorland. Upon impact, the tail was sheared off and the aircraft crashed in flames a little further on. While the aircraft was destroyed, all five crew members were injured.
Crew (25th OTU):
Sgt Basil Glynn, pilot,
Sgt Robert Lyster Skillen, navigator,
Sgt Huge William Campbell, bomb aimer,
Sgt Joseph Edward Collinson, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Harold Nelson, air gunner.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Lydda

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7794
Flight Type:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Lydda Airport, the aircraft was too low, hit the ground several yards short of runway and crashed. While the aircraft was destroyed, the crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC Near Loch Lee: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7845
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Lossiemouth - Lossiemouth
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a test flight from the RAF Lossiemouth. En route, the aircraft lost a cowling that hit propeller blades. One of the engine failed and the pilot reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing when the aircraft hit the slope of a hill and crashed 3 miles southwest of Loch Lee. Three crew members were killed while the rear gunner was injured.
Crew (20th OTU):
F/Sgt Arthur George Wilson Keene, pilot,
Sgt Alfred Kirby, observer,
Sgt Joseph Weatherson, observer,
Sgt Oscar Knud Lerche Jensen, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Failure of a cowling.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC into the North Sea: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7894
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Upper Heyford - Upper Heyford
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Upper Heyford at 2157LT on July 28 on a bombing mission to Hamburg, Germany. While overflying the North Sea by night, the aircraft disappeared and crashed into the sea. SAR did not find any trace of the aircraft nor the crew.
Crew (16th OTU):
F/Sgt Richard Elmer Stageman, pilot,
W/O Cecil Charles David Hinks, observer,
Sgt John George Watson, observer,
F/Sgt Prentis Blair Andrew, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Sgt Robert Edward Fahey, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC on Rud Hill

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z8980
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Lichfield - Lichfield
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a night training flight. Few minutes after its departure from RAF Lichfield, the aircraft hit the slope of Rud Hill located near Sheffield. While all five occupants were injured, the aircraft was destroyed.
Crew (27th OTU):
Sgt Thomas Frank Thompson, pilot,
P/O John William Moore, navigator,
Sgt Joseph Howe Levett, navigator,
Sgt Kennington John Hythe Harris, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Jacob Henry Roden, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Dirkshorn: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1942 at 0220 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AD605
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Stradishall - Stradishall
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Stradishall at 2300LT on July 2 on an investigation mission and was overflying The Netherlands by night when he was attacked by the pilot of a German fighter. The aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located near Dirkshorn. Five crew members were killed while two others were taken POW.
Crew (109th Squadron):
P/O P. R. V. Sullivan, pilot, †
W/O W. R. Allison, †
F/Sgt W. Adamson, †
Sgt R. J. Liversuch, †
F/Sgt W. J. Garnett,
Sgt W. J. Morrison,
Sgt J. A. Eyres. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German night fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Ashwell: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R1445
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:
The crew was completing a test flight when the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Ashwell. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O John Edwin Casey, pilot,
AC1 Robert Logan Wilson.