Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Operator:

Registration:

Z1167

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

East Wretham - East Wretham

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The airplane departed RAF East Wretham at 1851LT on an operation to Emden. While approaching the Dutch coast, the radio operator reported at 2120LT that he was attacked by the pilot of a German fighter. Twenty-five minutes later, at 2145LT, the bomber went out of control and crashed in the North Sea some 20 km off Terschelling. All six crew members were killed.
Crew (311st Squadron):
Sgt Karel Danihelka, pilot,
Sgt Vladimír Hanzl, pilot,
F/O Ladislav Říha, navigator,
Sgt František Janca, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Dobromil Špinka, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Adolf Podivinský.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Creil: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z1070

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

East Wretham - East Wretham

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The airplane departed RAF East Wretham at 1819LT on an operation to Billancourt. It was shot down by the German Flak and crashed near the airbase of Creil. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Bohuslav Hradil,
Sgt Imrich Kormanovic,
Sgt Jan Kotrch,
Sgt Pribyslav Strachon,
Sgt Josef Svoboda,
Sgt Alois Tolar.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC at RAF Stradishall

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1942 at 0554 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

X9939

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Stradishall - Stradishall

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The airplane departed RAF Stradishall at 2302LT on February 25 on an operation to Kiel. It was hit by the German Flak and subsequently crashed upon landing while returning to base the following morning. Three crew members were injured.
Crew:
F/O E. D. Baker
Sgt J. A. Lancaster,
Sgt A. C. Cole,
F/Sgt S. S. Dawes,
Sgt E. G. W. Shotter,
F/Sgt E. H. Erby.

Probable cause:

Hit by the German Flak.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Fulbourn

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1942 at 0400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z8858

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Stradishall - Stradishall

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The airplane departed RAF Stradishall at 2335LT on February 25 on an operation to Kiel. While returning to base the following night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. The Wellington overshot the beacons at RAF Honington and RAF Stradishall then crash landed in an open field located in Fulbourn. All six crew members escaped uninjured while the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
S/L Cyril Miles, pilot,
Sgt Anthony Alexander Ferguson, copilot,
P/O John Merlin Brown, navigator,
Sgt D. McIlroy,
Sgt J. C. Mason,
Sgt Watts.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC at RAF East Wretham

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1942 at 2210 LT

Type of aircraft:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Operator:

Registration:

L7841

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

East Wretham - East Wretham

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a local training exercise at RAF East Wretham. During the takeoff roll, the left engine failed. The captain abandoned the takeoff procedure and initiated an emergency braking manoeuvre. Unfortunately, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, hit obstacles, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. All five occupants escaped uninjured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
P/O Josef Čapka, pilot,
Sgt Ferdinand Kepka, pilot,
Sgt Josef Laichler,
Sgt Jan Neradil,
Sgt Gustav Michalec, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine during the takeoff roll.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Asterby: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1942 at 0330 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

R1463

Flight Phase:

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Schedule:

Snaith - Snaith

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The airplane departed RAF Snaith at 2000LT on February 21 on an operation to Germany. While returning to base the following night and while descending through cloud in order to establish their position, the bomber crashed into a hillside near Asterby, bursting into flames. Four crew members were killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
P/O J. B. W. Birkes, pilot,
F/Sgt Donald Wormleighton, pilot, †
Sgt John Eric Blackburn, observer, †
Sgt Eric Frank Rawlings, wireless operator, †
F/Sgt John Easton McAllister, air gunner, †
F/Sgt D. O’Donovan Iland, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC into the North Sea: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1942 at 0218 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

X9830

Flight Phase:

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Survivors:

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Schedule:

Snaith - Snaith

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The airplane departed RAF Snaith on an operation to Germany. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed somewhere in the North Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
P/O John Bryan Green, pilot,
Sgt George Charlton Jobling, pilot,
F/O James Geen Courtney, observer,
Sgt Edward Lloyd Fiske, wireless operator,
Sgt Thomas George Evans, air gunner,
Sgt Harold Gregory McKean, air gunner.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC into the North Sea: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z1091

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Schedule:

Mildenhall - Mildenhall

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The airplane departed RAF Mildenhall on 'Operation Fuller'. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed somewhere in the North Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
P/O Henry Gordon Anderson,
F/Sgt Max Alfred Reid,
F/Sgt John Joseph Roche,
F/Sgt Thomas Joseph Thomas,
F/Sgt Joseph Fernand Paul Vezina,
F/Sgt Neil Williamson.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC off Vlissingen: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z1081

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site: