Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster III at RAF Finningley

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1942 at 2307 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R5486
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Woodhall Spa - Woodhall Spa
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Woodhall Spa at 1935LT on a night cross country exercise and bomb load test. En route, he encountered poor visibility and decided to divert to RAF Finningley. On approach, the airplane crashed, lost its undercarriage and came to rest, bursting into flames. One crew member was slightly injured.
Crew:
F/Sgt G. H. Hartley,
Sgt M. Griffiths +5.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I near RAF Finningley: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1942 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7478
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Finningley - Finningley
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight at RAF Finningley. On final approach, one of the engine lost power. The airplane stalled and crashed in Bawtry, about 1,5 mile south of the airfield. The air gunner was killed, the pilot was injured and four other crew members were unhurt.
Crew (25th ATU):
P/O Elwood Raymond Seibold, pilot,
Sgt Frederick King, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Loss of power on one engine on final approach.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I near RAF Finningley

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
L4176
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Finningley - Finningley
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local bombing practice training flight on a nearby range when the airplane impacted trees and crashed northwest of the airbase. Two crewmen were injured.
Crew:
Sgt H. A. Ogden, pilot,
Sgt McHugh +2.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I at RAF Finningley: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
V4036
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Finningley - Finningley
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training exercise at RAF Finningley. Shortly after takeoff in limited visibility (about 150 yards), the airplane went out of control and crashed onto a hangar. Two crew members were killed and a third was injured.
Crew:
S/L Arthur John Frank Churchill, †
P/O Richard Francis Keighley, †
F/Sgt E. Groves.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Rotterdam

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1941 at 0531 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N2805
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Finningley - Finningley
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Finningley at 1955LT on September 10. Approaching Rotterdam, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in the harbor of Rotterdam. All five crew members became PoW.
Crew:
F/O G. W. Walenn,
F/Lt T. L. Walker,
Sgt P. A. Edwards,
Sgt S. C. Stevens,
Sgt W. A. Pratt.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I at RAF Lindholme: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1941 at 1100 LT
Operator:
Registration:
AD897
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lindholme - Finningley
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from RAF Lindholme, while climbing, the airplane went out of control, got inverted and crashed near the airbase. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Edward Ronald Bousfield, pilot,
AC1 Herbert Leslie Reed, observer,
Sgt James Edward Stanley Burke, wireless operator,
F/Sgt James Hopkin Tittley, wireless operator.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I at RAF Finningley: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 18, 1941 at 1805 LT
Operator:
Registration:
P4389
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Finningley - Lindholme
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from RAF Finningley (Doncaster), while in initial climb, the airplane entered a dive and crashed in an open field near the airbase. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Lawrence Rex Hinde, pilot,
Sgt Alexander Campbell, wireless operator,
Cpl Morris Ernest Balkin,
LAC Harry Barton,
AC2 Percy Charles Kemp.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC at RAF Finningley: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1941 at 0150 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R1708
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Finningley - Finningley
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Following an operation, the bomber was returning to its base at RAF Finningley (Doncaster). On final approach, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed southeast of the airbase, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
F/Sgt Walter Robert Laidlow Collyer, pilot,
Sgt Gordon Eric Blake, radio operator,
Sgt John Ernest Jackson, observer,
Sgt James Francis Markham, observer,
F/Sgt Terence Alfred Grosvernor, wireless operator,
Sgt James Marron Taylor, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I off Weston-super-Mare: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 12, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
P2111
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Finningley - Finningley
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a training exercise out from RAF Finningley when it crashed in unknown circumstances in the Bristol Channel southwest of Wston-super-Mare. The wreckage was not found. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt William Allison,
Sgt Guy Trevor Corbett, wireless operator,
Sgt James Abraham Tyrrell,
Sgt Henry William White.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Hatfield: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 30, 1941 at 1120 LT
Operator:
Registration:
AD867
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lindholme - Finningley
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Lindholme on a transfer to RAF Finningley. While completing a turn, it stalled and crashed in a pasture located near Hatfield. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O John Charles Cunningham, pilot,
Sg Wilfred Hall, wireless operator.