Avro 679 Manchester

Operator:

Registration:

L7399

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Coningsby - Coningsby

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The airplane departed RAF Coningsby at 2225LT on May 2 on a mine laying operation. While overflying Denmark at night, the airplane was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in a field located in Lilholt, some 14 km west of Haderslev. Five crew members were killed while two others survived and became PoW.
Crew (106th Squadron):
F/Sgt William Lewis Johnston Young, pilot, †
Sgt Graham Wale, pilot, †
W/O Alexander Collingwood Bryce, observer, †
Sgt Richard George Davies, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt H. Kendall, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt A. E. Hanks, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Henry MacLean, air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I in Düsseldorf: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 3, 1942 at 0119 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L7456

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Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Site:

Schedule:

Skellingthorpe - Skellingthorpe

Location:

Düsseldorf-Lohausen

North Rhine-Westphalia

Country:

Germany

Region:

Europe

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The airplane departed RAF Skellingthorpe at 2316LT on May 30 on an operation to Cologne. While approaching Düsseldorf at night at an altitude of 8,000 feet, the airplane was shot down by the German Flak. The right engine caught fire and the captain reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed near the Düsseldorf-Lohausen Airport and was wrecked. Three crew members were killed while four others were rescued and became PoW.
Crew (50th Squadron):
Sgt Douglas Wilson Baird, air gunner, †
Sgt Alan Mowlem Bee, observer, †
Sgt Edward William Finch, air gunner, †
Sgt Alastair Cecil Benn,
Sgt James William Campbell,
F/Sgt Cyril Herbert Tobias,
Sgt James Brakell Wilkie.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I off Pellworm Island

Date & Time: May 3, 1942 at 0045 LT

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Registration:

R5840

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Coningsby - Coningsby

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The airplane departed RAF Coningsby at 2220LT on May 2 on a mine laying operation. Approaching Germany, the airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea off Pellworm Island. All seven crew members were rescued and became PoW.
Crew:
F/Sgt Louis Owen Hurd, pilot,
F/Sgt Wilfred Harold Fixter, flight engineer,
P/O Alexander Whitehead Simpson, navigator,
F/Sgt Duncan MacCallum, bomb aimer,
Sgt William Sydney Stephen, wireless operator,
Sgt Thomas Brinley Morris, air gunner,
Sgt Roy Louis Dotrice, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester IA on Sylt Island: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1942 at 0253 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L7516

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Schedule:

Skellingthorpe - Skellingthorpe

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The airplane departed RAF Skellingthorpe at 2142LT on April 29 on a mine laying operation in Kiel. While approaching the German coast, it was shot down by a German fighter. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted to make an emergency landing in a field. On touchdown, the aircraft slid for several yards before coming to rest. Two crew members were killed and five other occupants became PoW.
Crew (50th Squadron):
F/Sgt Stanley Willett, pilot,
F/Sgt Stanley Edward Packard, pilot,
P/O Neil Hannah, navigator,
F/Sgt Hector John McDonald, wireless operator,
Sgt Clarence Alfred Miners, wireless operator,
Sgt David Alexander Williams, air gunner, †
Sgt Cecil John Scott, air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I near Tinglev: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1942 at 0320 LT

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Registration:

L7463

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Coningsby - Coningsby

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The airplane departed RAF Coningsby at 2200LT on April 23 on an operation to Rostock, Germany. While overflying Denmark at night, an engine overheated and exploded. The captain ordered his crew to bail out and elected to make an emergency landing. Eventually, he lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a huge explosion in a field located in Visgaarde, some 3 km east of Tinglev. The pilot was killed while all other occupants became PoW.
Crew (106th Squadron):
P/O Harry Murdoch Stoffer, pilot, †
F/Lt T. Prescott-Decie, pilot,
P/O J. H. Paton,
Sgt I. Hamilton,
Sgt N. S. Lewis,
F/O N. J. C. Pollock,
Sgt J. C. George.

Probable cause:

Engine overheating and explosion in flight.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I near Norderstedt: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1942 at 0357 LT

Type of aircraft:

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Registration:

R5782

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Skellingthorpe - Skellingthorpe

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The airplane departed RAF Skellingthorpe 2340LT on an operation to Hamburg. Approaching the target, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed northeast of Norderstedt. Two crew members were killed and five others became PoW.
Crew:
The crew were:
P/O Gordon Baker, pilot, †
F/Sgt C. B. Mackenzie, pilot,
Sgt F. J. S. Pearce, observer,
Sgt R. B. Dawson, wireless operator,
F/Sgt A. T. Griffiths, wireless operator,
Sgt S. Crawford, air gunner,
Sgt Harold Knight, air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester IA ioff Batz-sur-Mer: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1942

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Registration:

L7485

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Coningsby - Coningsby

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The airplane departed RAF Coningsby at 2050LT on April 16 to lay mines in the mouth of the River Gironde. Flying along the French coast, it went out of control and crashed into the sea off Batz-sur-Mer. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew (106th Squadron):
P/O Charles Scatchard, pilot,
Sgt Thomas Henry Power, pilot,
Sgt Robert Robertson, observer,
Sgt Donald Neale Storer,
Sgt Douglas Wightman, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt William Valentine Rogerson, air gunner,
F/O George William Ward, air gunner.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I off Lee-on-Solent

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1942 at 0655 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

L7317

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Schedule:

Coningsby - Coningsby

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The airplane departed RAF Coningsby at 2240LT on April 14 on an operation to Dortmund. Following an uneventful mission, the crew was returning to base when approaching the British coast, both engines failed due to fuel exhaustion. The captain decided to divert to the Lee-on-Solent NAS but the aircraft stalled and crashed into the sea few hundred yards offshore. All seven crew members were rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Crew (106th Squadron):
P/O J. A. Worswick,
Sgt Jones,
Sgt O'Hare,
F/Sgt Spiby,
Sgt Hutchieson,
Sgt Goodings,
Sgt Cartwright.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure due to a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I into The Channel: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

R5785

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