Zone

Crash of a Vickers 619 Wellington X near RAF Cottesmore: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC474
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training sortie when the aircraft went out of control, nosed down, lost several pieces and partially disintegrated in the air before crashing in a field located 6 miles east of RAF Cottesmore. All three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. Nevertheless, the loss of control might be the result of poor weather conditions or a structural or a mechanical failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Ettinghausen: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
43-15179
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cottesmore - Cottesmore
MSN:
19645
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While on a supply mission to Germany, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed in a field, killing all six occupants.
Crew:
Col Harvey Arthur Berger,
S/Sgt Joseph G. Maltais.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Chatsworth Park

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
DV678
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cottesmore - Cottesmore
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 6,700 feet, both engines misfired and the left engine failed shortly later. The captain decided to attempt an emergency landing in a pasture at Chatsworth Park, near Bakewell. While all six occupants were slightly injured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair due to severe damages to the airframe.
Crew (14th OTU):
F/O Leo Braham Patkin, pilot,
P/O Robert Lindsay Bienvenu, navigator,
P/O John Leslie Tolmie, air bomber,
P/O William Neil Fisher,
Sgt William Donald Blackwell, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt James Balmer, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in RAF Cottesmore

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7850
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Schedule:
Cottesmore - Cottesmore
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a training mission in RAF Cottesmore. In flight, an engine caught fire and crew attempted to make an emergency landing in an open field near the Airfield. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair while the crew fate remains unknown. Crew from the 4th OTU.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Pinchbeck: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1942 at 0540 LT
Operator:
Registration:
P1186
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cottesmore - Cottesmore
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Cottesmore on a night high level bombing exercise with a crew of four on board. In the early morning, it entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed less than a mile north of Pinchbeck. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Joseph Mitchell Marok, pilot,
P/O Walter Hugh Lynch, observer,
P/O Sydney Stanley White, observer,
Sgt Edward O’Connell, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I near RAF Saltby: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
P1168
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cottesmore - Cottesmore
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Cottesmore on a training exercise when the airplane crashed for unknown reasons four miles south of RAF Saltby. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Osborne Kirkton Fisher, pilot,
Sgt Kenneth Frederick Thornton, observer.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Llynclys Hill: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1941 at 1430 LT
Operator:
Registration:
P1294
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Cottesmore - Cottesmore
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Cottesmore on a training exercise with for crewmen on board. After passing the Berwyn Mountains, at the border between Wales and England, the crew encountered very bad weather conditions with heavy rain falls, poor visibility, low clouds and turbulences. For unknown reasons, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in the eastern slope of Llynclys Hill. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O George Donald Kerr, pilot,
Sgt Ivor Morgan Williams, observer,
Sgt Herbert Playforth, wireless operator,
Sgt Douglas Tatton, wireless operator.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Little Bytham: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1941 at 0043 LT
Operator:
Registration:
P2092
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cottesmore - Cottesmore
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Cottesmore on a night bombing exercise. While flying over Lincolnshire, it was shot down by the pilot of a JU.88 and crashed in Little Bytham. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Robert John Holborow, pilot,
P/O William Ernest Cochrane, observer,
Sgt Walbey John Cunningham, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V near RAF Cottesmore

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1941 at 0215 LT
Operator:
Registration:
Z6477
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Leeming - Leeming
MSN:
1989
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leeming at 1951LT on March 27 on an operation to Düsseldorf. It was abandoned at 0215LT north of Pickworth, Lincolnshire, and later crashed near RAF Cottesmore. All five crew members were rescued, among them one was injured.
Crew:
S/L H. A. R. Holford,
Sgt J. T. Taylor,
Sgt J. F. Bassett,
Sgt R. R. Hanson,
Sgt A. J. Jones.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF near RAF Cottesmore: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6602
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wittering - Digby
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route from RAF Wittering to Digby, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with limited visibility due to low patches of fog. Flying too low, the airplane collided with trees and crashed near RAF Cottesmore. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Thomas Fairgrieve Dorward, pilot,
F/O John Austin Strong, wireless operator.