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East Yorkshire

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II near RAF Pocklington: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 406 Wellington II
Operator:
Registration:
W5492
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Pocklington - Pocklington
Location:
Pocklington AFB
East Yorkshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Pocklington on a local test flight. While cruising at an altitude of approximately 5,000 feet, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent, suffered a structural failure and crashed two miles north-northeast of the airbase. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Norman Watson Thompson, pilot,
Sgt Ronald George Chandos, pilot,
Sgt Frederick Peter Turton, observer,
Sgt Charles Harold Fletcher, wireless operator,
Sgt Walter Irvine Strother, wireless operator,
Sgt James Matthew Maxon, air gunner,
Sgt Gabriel Phillips,
AC1 Harry Armitage.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by the dinghy breaking loose from its stowage and fouling the elevators, which in turn sent the Wellington into a steep dive and structural failure occurred.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I at RAF Pocklington

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
P4413
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Coningsby - Coningsby
Location:
Pocklington AFB
East Yorkshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Coningsby at 1825LT on September 15 on an operation to Hamburg. While returning to base the following night, it diverted to RAF Pocklington where it crashed on approach. There were no injuries among the crew.
Crew:
P/O G. W. Ward,
P/O Loftus,
Sgt Walley,
Sgt Flowerday.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II in Middleton-on-the-Wolds

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1941 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 406 Wellington II
Operator:
Registration:
W5441
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Middleton-on-the-Wolds
East Yorkshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on a training flight, the airplane crash landed at Middleton-on-the-Wolds. There were no injuries among the crew.
Crew:
P/O F. N. Pope +5.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V off Flamborough

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1941 at 0555 LT
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley
Operator:
Registration:
Z6867
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Leeming - Leeming
MSN:
2208
YOM:
1941
Location:
Flamborough
East Yorkshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leeming at 2051LT on September 11 on an operation to Warnemünde. While returning to base the following morning, the airplane ran out of fuel and ditched some two miles off Flamborough. All five crew members were rescued about an hour later.
Crew:
P/O A. E. Hacking, pilot,
Sgt Mackenzie,
Sgt Turner,
Sgt Davidson,
Sgt McBride.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II near RAF Pocklington

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1941 at 2150 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 406 Wellington II
Operator:
Registration:
W5535
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Pocklington - Pocklington
Location:
Pocklington AFB
East Yorkshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training exercise at RAF Pocklington. While circling in the vicinity of the airbase, the left engine caught fire. The airplane crashed in a field near the airfield and was destroyed by a post crash fire. All three crew members escaped with minor injuries.
Crew:
Sgt Turner,
Sgt H. S. McNeil,
Sgt A. N. McLennan.
Probable cause:
The left engine caught fire in flight.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax I near RAF Pocklington: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1941 at 0415 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax I
Operator:
Registration:
L9518
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Middleton St George - Middleton St George
Location:
Pocklington AFB
East Yorkshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Middleton St George at 2113LT on August 29 on an operation to Frankfurt. While returning to base the following night, it suffered an engine failure. Abandoned by the crew, it crashed near RAF Pocklington. Two crew members were killed and four others were rescued.
Crew:
S/L Richard Bickford, pilot, †
Sgt George William Duckmanton, †
P/O Jones,
Cpl Randall,
F/S J. Flannigan,
Sgt Reilly.
Probable cause:
The accident was attributed to the airplane running low on fuel.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II at RAF Driffield

Date & Time: Aug 23, 1941 at 1145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 406 Wellington II
Operator:
Registration:
W5477
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Martlesham Heath - Driffield
Location:
Driffield AFB
East Yorkshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was on a transit flight from RAF Martlesham Heath to RAF Driffield. It crashed upon landing and was destroyed. All six crew members were injured.
Crew:
Sgt F. R. Richardson,
P/O Murdoch,
Sgt R. J. Mountier,
Sgt Scott,
Sgt B. W. Robbens,
Sgt A. D. F. Craig.

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

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1941 at 0745 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
AD910
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Scampton – Scampton
Location:
Pocklington AFB
East Yorkshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Scampton at 2245LT on July 12 on an operation to Bremen. While returning to base the following morning, it ran out of fuel and crash landed 8 km northeast of RAF Pocklington. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and all four crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt Batchelor,
Sgt Williams,
Sgt Calvert,
Sgt Betts.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Tunstall: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
AE119
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Hemswell - Hemswell
Location:
Tunstall
East Yorkshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Hemswell in the evening of July 11 on an operation to Wilhelmshaven. While returning to base the following night and after breaking from cloud, the airplane flew into high ground and crashed near Tunstall. A crew was killed, two were injured and a fourth was unhurt.
Crew:
Sgt E. W. Smith,
Sgt John Nicholl, †
Sgt Easton,
Sgt Saunders.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V off Flamborough: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1941 at 0444 LT
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley
Operator:
Registration:
Z6816
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Leeming - Leeming
MSN:
2176
YOM:
1941
Location:
Flamborough
East Yorkshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leeming at 2242LT on July 7 on an operation to Osnabrück. While returning to base the following morning and approaching the British coast, it crashed into the sea off Flamborough. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Harris Black,
Sgt Hubert Richard Heighton,
F/Sgt Owen Roderick Lucas,
F/Sgt Robert Henry Thompson.
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