Country
code

Berwickshire

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Saint Abbs

Date & Time: Aug 7, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L9456
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sumburgh - Sumburgh
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While returning to Sumburgh, the crew was forced to ditch the airplane off St Abbs due to fuel exhaustion. All three crew members were rescued. The aircraft was recovered but was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
P/O Richard Haviland, pilot,
P/O M. L Wells, observer,
Sgt Archibald Kay, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Emergency landing due to fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111/H3 off Saint Abb's Head

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1940 at 1230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
1H+AK
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Schleswig - Schleswig
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While cruising off the British coast on a reconnaissance mission on behalf of the 26th Squadron based in Schleswig, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of an RAF fighter. The crew attempted to make an emergency landing but with both engines on fire, the aircraft lost height and crashed into the sea some 7 miles offshore. All four crew were rescued and became PoW.
Crew (26th Squadron):
Oblt Ernst Heinrich, pilot,
Fw Karl Henrici, radio operator,
Uffz Hermann Jonas, observer,
Uffz Kurt Weinert, flight engineer.
Probable cause:
Shot down by an RAF fighter.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111P2 in East Coldingham

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T5+OH
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1594
YOM:
1936
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on a reconnaissance flight, the aircraft was attacked by the crew of an RAF fighter. The crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing in a field located in East Coldingham, near Saint Abbs Head. All four crewmen were slightly injured and became PoW.
Crew (1st Reconnaissance Group):
Lt R. E. Grote,
Fw Sprigarth,
Uffz Berger,
Uffz Bachman.
Probable cause:
Shot down by an RAF fighter.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I off Saint Abb's Head: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 1, 1940 at 1141 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7232
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Thornaby - Thornaby
MSN:
414-1628
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While performing a maritime patrol flight off the British coast, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German Junkers JU.88 and crashed into the North Sea some 20 miles off Saint Abb's Head, Berwickshire. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew (220th Squadron):
F/Lt Trevor Hermon Clarke,
Sgt Robert James Peacock,
LAC Christopher Forge Hudson,
LAC Donald Mitchell Rowson.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111H-1 off Saint Abbs: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F6+DH
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
3156
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While approach the British coast, the airplane was shot down by the pilot of a RAF fighter and crashed into the sea some 27 km off Saint Abbs. Three crew members were rescued while a fourth was killed.
Crew:
Oblt Arndt Fischer,
Uffz Wilhelm Unger,
Oblt G. A. Awater,
Uffz Endorf. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by the pilot of a RAF fighter.