Zone
Namur

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

Date & Time: Aug 17, 1941 at 0244 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
AD756
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Coningsby - Coningsby
Location:
Gembloux
Namur
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Coningsby at 2205LT on August 16 on an operation to Düsseldorf. Passing over Belgium, it was shot down by a Me.110 and crashed in Gembloux. Three crew members were killed and two others became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Leonard Acres, observer, †
P/O James Grant, †
P/O Gordon Geoffrey Watts, pilot, †
Sgt John Henry Cook,
Sgt Gordon Vivian Lynn.

Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Gembloux: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1940 at 0630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
P4898
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Watton - Watton
MSN:
9380
YOM:
1939
Location:
Gembloux
Namur
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed RAF Watton to bomb troops based in Gembloux, Belgium. It was lost without trace and it is believed it crashed in the target area.
Crew:
P/O Severin Christensen, pilot,
Sgt Alfred Norman Phillips, observer,
LAC Peter Raymond Victor Ettershank, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Gembloux: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
P4851
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Watton - Watton
MSN:
9366
YOM:
1939
Location:
Gembloux
Namur
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Watton at 0450LT to bomb German troops based in Gembloux, Belgium. It was shot down by the pilot of a German Me.109 and crashed near the target area. A crewman survived and two others were killed.
Crew:
F/O D. A. Fordham, pilot,
Sgt Frank Fearnley, observer,
Cpl Allen Glyndwr Richards, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Gembloux: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
P4853
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Watton - Watton
MSN:
9368
YOM:
1939
Location:
Gembloux
Namur
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while on a bombing mission over Gembloux. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt R. E. Newbatt,
Sgt J. K. Crawley,
Sgt A. V. Knowles.

Crash of a Vickers 408 Wellington IA in Sauvenière

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 408 Wellington IA
Operator:
Registration:
N3004
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Newmarket - Newmarket
Location:
Gembloux
Namur
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in the 'Nickel' mission to Hamburg and departed RAF Newmarket at 1713LT. While overflying Belgium, the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing in Sauvenière, 3 km northeast of Gembloux. All six crew were rescued and later interned.
Crew (99th Squadron):
F/O O. L. Williams,
P/O R. A. G. Willis,
Sgt A. R. Mattick,
AC2 W. Cockburn,
AC2 C. G. Ashman,
P/O J. S. Trotter.
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