Avro 679 Manchester

Operator:

Registration:

L7465

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Scampton - Scampton

Location:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Scampton at 2045LT on an operation to Essen. While passing over Belgium at night, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Lichtaart, some 12 km southwest of Turnhout. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (83rd Squadron):
P/O Christopher Hugh Danielsen, pilot,
Sgt Paul Markides, pilot,
F/Sgt Albert Woodcock, pilot,
F/O Donald McConachie,
Sgt Thomas Henry Miller, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Colin Clement Smith, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Alan Gordon Jaye, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I off Kornwerderzand: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1942 at 2228 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L7390

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Coningsby - Coningsby

Location:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Coningsby at 2000LT on an operation to Essen. While passing over the Netherlands at night, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the sea (Ijsselmeer) off Kornwerderzand. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (106th Squadron):
F/Lt Robert Jack Dunlop-McKenzie, pilot,
P/O Peter Norman Cann, pilot,
Sgt Raymond Benjamin Burrows, flight engineer,
Sgt Kimber Hill, navigator,
F/Sgt Wilfred Deryck Welham, wireless operator,
Sgt William Grant McDonald, wireless operator,
Sgt John Joseph Stewart, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I at RAF Skellingthorpe

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1942 at 1915 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

L7486

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Skellingthorpe - Skellingthorpe

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Circumstances:

The airplane was engaged in a local training exercise at RAF Skellingthorpe. For unknown reasons, it landed hard and bounced. It went out of control and crashed, bursting into flames. There were no casualties.
Crew (50th Squadron):
Sgt D. Atkinson.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I near RAF Wittering

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L7395

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Woolfox Lodge - Woolfox Lodge

Location:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Woolfox Lodge at 1930LT on March 13 on an operation to Cologne. Following an uneventful mission and while returning to base, an engine failed. The crew decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. Out of control, the bomber dove into the ground and crashed in a field located two miles south of RAF Wittering. The airplane was destroyed while all seven crew members were uninjured.
Crew (61st Squadron):
P/O John Ralph Hubbard, pilot,
Sgt P. C. V. Joslin,
P/O Robert Heggie, observer,
F/Sgt John George Clelland, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Albert Wallace Baker, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt T. C. Stanley,
Sgt P. Jones.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight. Fuel exhaustion suspected.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I in Nijmegen: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1942 at 2240 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L7423

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Scampton - Scampton

Location:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Scampton at 2030LT on an operation to Cologne. While passing over the Netherlands at night, it was shot down by a Me.110. Out of control, it entered a dive and crashed in a field, bursting into flames. Five crew members were killed and two others became PoW.
Crew (83rd Squadron):
F/O J. L. Bromiley, pilot,
Sgt Peter Hollowell Foster, pilot, †
P/O John Rowland Feirn, air bomber, †
Sgt James Patrick Dowd, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Leonard Frank Rogers Davis, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt Eric Rose 954204, wireless operator and air gunner, †
F/Sgt Joseph Michael Thompson, wireless operator and air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I in Winceby

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1942 at 2345 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L7474

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Coningsby - Coningsby

Location:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training exercise at RAF Coningsby. Upon landing, the airplane bounced and the pilot initiated a go around manoeuvre. While climbing, the crew was unable to raise and lock the left main gear. It was decided to abandon the airplane that entered a dive and crashed 800 metres north of Winceby. All six crew members were uninjured.
Crew (106th Squadron):
Sgt G. K. Carter, pilot.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I in Oranje: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1942 at 0349 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

R5779

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Scampton – Scampton

Location:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Scampton at 0150LT on an operation to Essen. Passing over the Netherlands, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in a canal in Oranje. Five crew members were killed and two others became PoW.
Crew:
F/O Robert Ward Cooper, pilot, †
Sgt James Thomson Heggie Mowat, pilot, †
Sgt Michael John Carlton Cross, observer, †
Sgt Charles Broad, air gunner, †
Sgt George William Dalby, wireless operator, †
Sgt Alfred F. Key,
Sgt George W. Rex.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I off Enkhuizen: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1942 at 0324 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L7426

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Scampton - Scampton

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Scampton at 2250LT on March 8 on an operation to Essen. While approaching the Dutch coast, it was shot down by a DO.215 and crashed into the Ijsselmeer, some three km off Enkhuizen. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (83rd Squadron):
P/O Christopher Ronald Frost, pilot,
P/O Ian Frederick Livingstone, pilot,
F/Sgt William Durham Biltcliffe, navigator,
Sgt Stanley Grunwell, flight engineer,
Sgt Harold Reginald Ray, air gunner,
P/O William Arthur Harris, air gunner,
Sgt Joseph Howard Stone, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester IA off Stavanger: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L7522

Flight Phase:

Flight Type: