Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V near Harwood

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1941 at 1630 LT
Operator:
Registration:
Z9308
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Croft - Croft
MSN:
2372
YOM:
1941
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Croft at 1607LT on an operation to Brest. Less than half an hour later, it suffered a loss of power on the right engine and crash landed near Harwood, northwest of Barnard-Castle. All five crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt J. A. Attwell,
Sgt Martin,
Sgt Howitson,
Sgt Turpin,
Sgt Johnston.
Probable cause:
Loss of power on the right engine in flight.

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

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1941 at 1850 LT
Operator:
Registration:
Z9129
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Croft - Croft
MSN:
2268
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Croft at 1643LT on an operation to Le Havre. While flying at an altitude of 6,500 feet, the starboard engine caught fire. Prompt action by the crew quelled the fire, but the Whitley lost height and crashed off Spithead. All five crew members were rescued.
Crew:
P/O H. G. Bedford,
Sgt Howell,
P/O Ponds,
Sgt Oliver,
Sgt Parks.
Probable cause:
The starboard engine caught fire in flight.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V off Dunkirk: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
Z6973
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Dalton - Dalton
MSN:
2255
YOM:
1941
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Dalton at 1643LT on an operation to Dunkirk. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Frederick Edward Baldock,
F/Sgt Wilson Gilmore Caldwell,
F/Sgt Walter Arthur Evans,
Sgt Douglas Gordon Jack,
Sgt George Edward Thompson.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Eavestone Moor: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1941 at 0143 LT
Operator:
Registration:
Z9188
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Leeming - Leeming
MSN:
2303
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leeming at 1630LT on December 11 on an operation to Cologne. While returning to base the following night, the crew encountered marginal weather when the airplane was caught by severe downdrafts and crashed in Eavestone Moor. A pilot was killed and four other occupants were injured.
Crew:
Sgt Eric Charles Hoskin, pilot, †
P/O J. H. Kenny,
P/O R. G. A. Burgess,
Sgt J. K. Taylor,
Sgt R. Clark.
Probable cause:
Loss off control after being caught by severe downdrafts.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V at RAF Leeming

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1941 at 2240 LT
Operator:
Registration:
Z9162
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Leeming - Leeming
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 1659LT on an operation to Dunkirk. While returning to base in the late evening, it crashed while trying to avoid a collision with a 77 Squadron Whitley. The airplane smashed through the roof of a house at Londonderry on the western edge of the airfield, bursting into flames. All five crew members escaped with minor injuries.
Crew:
Sgt J. W. Barber, pilot,
Sgt R. W. B. Blanchard,
Sgt W. Archer,
Sgt J. Waterworth,
Sgt A. Brewer.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Springholm

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
Z9281
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dalton - Dalton
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Dalton at 1640LT on November 30 on an operation to Hamburg. While returning to base the following night, it strayed off track to the north. Running out of fuel, it was abandoned by the crew and crashed near Springholm. All five crew members parachuted to safety.
Crew:
Sgt E. P. Pike,
Sgt J. B. Robinson,
Sgt G. H. Marks,
Sgt D. C. Grieve,
Sgt G. Williams.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Moorstrich: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1941 at 2314 LT
Operator:
Registration:
Z6575
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Linton-on-Ouse - Linton-on-Ouse
MSN:
2046
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Linton-on-Ouse at 1706LT on an operation to Hamburg. It was shot down by a Me.110 and crashed in Moorstrich. Both pilots were killed and three others became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt John Stanley Gearing, pilot, †
F/Sgt Duncan Gordon McKay, pilot, †
Sgt Norman Shefford Bidwell,
Sgt John Henry Killen Deane,
P/O Fred Ivins.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Klein Königsförde: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1941 at 2139 LT
Operator:
Registration:
Z6800
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dalton - Dalton
MSN:
2160
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Dalton on an operation to Hamburg. It was shot down by the German Flak and crashed near Klein Königsförde, west of Kiel. Four crew members were killed and a fifth became PoW.
Crew:
S/L James Godfrey Walker, pilot, †
Sgt Charles Thomas Roderick Anderson, pilot, †
Sgt John Alfred Groom, observer, †
Sgt Philip Anthony Taylor, wireless operator, †
Sgt James Williamson, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Georgsheil: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1941 at 2052 LT
Operator:
Registration:
Z9299
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Leeming - Leeming
MSN:
2363
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leeming at 1650LT on an operation to Emden. It was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Georgsheil. Four crew members were killed and a fifth became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Peter Wilson Hewitt, pilot, †
Sgt Reginald Bolles Vose, pilot, †
Sgt Douglas Bertram Grundy, observer,
Sgt Reginald Walter Weymouth, wireless operator, †
F/Sgt James William Woodroffe, wireless operator. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V into the North Sea: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1941 at 1900 LT
Operator:
Registration:
Z9166
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leeming - Leeming
MSN:
2300
YOM:
1941
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leeming at 1648LT on an operation to Emden. Last heard at 1900LT while outbound. Presumed lost in the North Sea. No trace was ever found.
Crew:
Sgt George Stuart Illingworth,
P/O John Samuel Knowles,
P/O Max Kiri Nelson,
Sgt Arthur Frederick Wales,
Sgt William Webster.