Crash of a Boeing B-29A-60-BN Washington B.1 in Horncastle: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 5, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WF553
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Coningsby - Coningsby
MSN:
11508
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training mission out of RAF Coningsby on behalf of the 15th Squadron. On final approach, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the pilot-in-command decided to abandon the approach and made a go around. A second attempt to land was later abandoned as well. During a third attempt to land, the aircraft was too low and crashed in a field located in Horncastle, about 6 miles north of the airbase. Five crew members were killed while two others were injured. Five crew members were unhurt. The aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster near Åseral: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PB461
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Coningsby - Coningsby
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft was flying in formation with another RAF Lancaster registered PB691. While cruising over the south part of Norway, the aircraft went out of control and crashed on the slope of a wooded hill. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (97th Squadron):
F/O W. R. Sinclair,
Sgt S. B. Morgan,
F/O G. H. Kendall,
F/S K. Mannion,
F/S T. D. Cremins,
F/S E. J. Hobbs,
F/S Oliver Gaon.

Crash of a Avro 683 Lancaster I in Duizel: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LL784
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Coningsby - Coningsby
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged on a bombing mission over Aachen, Germany, and left RAF Coningsby at 2043LT. Following the raid over Aachen, still flying in the combat area, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire. Crew was able to leave the zone and tried to return to England when aircraft exploded and crashed in a field located near Duizel, some 15 km southwest of Eindhoven. Five crew members were killed while two others escaped and were later taken POW.
Crew (619th Squadron):
S/L John William Eunson Duncan McGilvray, pilot, †
Sgt Ivor Ronald Frank Haberfield, engineer, †
Sgt Raymond Hillier, air gunner, †
W/O Alexander Armstrong Munro, air gunner, †
P/O John Leonard Pritchard, air gunner, †
Ernest Drake,
Alfred Baker.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Ehra-Lessien: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1944 at 0300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK538
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was overflying Germany when it was attacked by a German fighter. Two crew members were able to bail out before the aircraft exploded in mid air and crashed in a field in Ehra-Lessien. All five other crewmen were killed.
Crew:
Hubert Wallis, pilot, †
Sergeant T. F. Preston, flight engineer,
L. E. Tozer, navigator,
Sergeant Albert Alfred Pardoe, air gunner, †
Sergeant Kenneth Sims, air gunner, †
Sergeant David John Brewer, air gunner, †
Eric Bremner, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by fighter.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster III into the Bay of Biscay: 7 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1943 at 0555 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ED735
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Rabat – Coningsby
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew left Rabat at 2340LT on November 17 bound for RAF Coningsby. While overflying the Bay of Biscay north of the Portuguese coast, the aircraft was lost around 0555LT, probably after being shot down by a German fighter. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew (617th Squadron):
F/Lt E. E. G. Youseman, pilot,
F/S S. Wittingham,
F/O E. Fleshka,
F/O W. C. Grimes,
W/O A. Laughland,
F/Sgt R. Florence,
W/O J. B. O'Grady.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster III in Den Ham: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
JB144
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Coningsby - Coningsby
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Coningsby in the early morning on a bombing mission to Dortmund. While approaching the target by night, the crew did not realize he was flying too low. The bomber hit tree tops, damaging both left engines and the rudder as well. The captain decided to return to his base but was unable to gain altitude. The crew jettisoned the bomb and the aircraft could gain 1,400 feet, which was insufficient. Eventually, the captain ordered his crew to bail out and attempted to make an emergency landing when the aircraft went out of control and crashed near Den Ham. While the captain was killed, all other occupants were found alive.
Crew (617th Squadron):
F/Lt L. G.Knight, pilot, †
P/O R. E. Greyson,
F/O H. S. Hobday,
P/O R. G. T. Kellow,
F/O E. C. Johnson,
F/Sgt F. E. Sutherland,
Sgt J. Woolard,
F/Sgt H. E. O'Brien.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster III in Osnabrück: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
JA874
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Coningsby - Coningsby
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Coningsby in the early morning on a bombing mission to Dortmund, Germany. While approaching the target by night, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew (617th Squadron):
F/L M. W. G. Divall,
Sgt F. C. A. Blake,
F/G D. R. Warwick,
F/Sgt J. Simpson,
F/Sgt R. McArthur,
Sgt A. Williams,
Sgt G. A. Miles,
Sgt D. Allatson.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster III in Dortmund: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
JA848
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Coningsby - Coningsby
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Coningsby in the early morning on a bombing mission to Dortmund, Germany, on behalf of the 617th Squadron. While approaching his target by night, the crew did not realize his altitude was too low. Thew bomber hit the ground and crashed, killing all crew members.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster III in Bergeshövede: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EE130
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Coningsby - Coningsby
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Coningsby at 0001LT on a bombing mission to Dortmund, Germany. While flying east of Rheine by night, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed, killing all eight crew members.
Crew (617th Squadron):
F/L R. A. P Allesbrook,
F/Sgt P. Moore,
P/O N. A. Botting,
F/O J. M. Grant,
F/Sgt R. B. S. Lulham,
Sgt A. G. Jones,
F/Sgt W. Walker,
F/Sgt S. Hitchen.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Nordhorn: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EE144
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Coningsby - Coningsby
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Coningsby in the evening of September 14 on a bombing mission to Dortmund, Germany. While overflying Nordhorn by night and at very low height, the crew realized the presence of a church and decided to increase his altitude. Shortly later, the bomber was hit by the German Flak and the right fuel tank was struck. The aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames, killing all eight crewmen.
Crew (617th Squadron):
S/L G. W. Holden, pilot,
Sgt D. J. D. Powell,
F/Lt T. H. Taerum,
F/Lt R. E. G. Hutchinson,
P/O G. A. Deering,
F/O Frederick Michael Spafford,
F/O H. J. Pringle,
P/O T. A. Meikle.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.