Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II near Liebenberg: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1944 at 1936 LT
Operator:
Registration:
JN899
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Melbourne - Melbourne
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Melbourne at 1636LT on a bombing mission over Berlin. Claimed by Oblt Wilhelm Johnen 5/NJG5 - NNW Berlin at 1936LT. Also claimed by 3rd battery of the Railway Flak Department 416. Crashed in a forest near Liebenberg, between Grüneberg and Liebenberg, southeast of Löwenberg. All seven occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II in Osmotherley: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
LW334
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Crew was performing a training exercise from RAF Topcliffe. In unknown circumstances, aircraft hit the slope of a mountain and was destroyed by impact forces. All six occupants were killed.
Crew (all Canadians citizens):
F/O Joseph P. Lavallee, pilot,
Sgt. Richard G. Kimball, navigator,
F/O Wilfred L. Boisvert, flight engineer,
F/O Walter Phillips, bomb aimer,
W/O George E. Giff, W/Operator,
Sgt. Guy H. Hivon, gunner.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II in Marcols-les-Eaux: 7 killed

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1943 at 0030 LT
Operator:
Registration:
DT726
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Tempsford - Tempsford
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Tempsford on the evening of November 3, bound for south of France to proceed on a support dropping mission to the French Resistance. While cruising by night, the aircraft hit the Rocher de Bourboulas at a height of 1,170 meters and crashed near the Quatre Vios Pass, Ardèche. A loud bang was heard by locals who arrived quickly on the scene and rescued a crew member who was slightly injured while all seven other occupants were killed.
Crew:
P/O H. F. Hodges, †
Sgt H. T. Penfold, †
F/S H. Smith, †
P/O R. K. Pulling, †
Sgt J. Barthélemy, †
F/S R. L. Nott, †
Cpt J. A. Estes, †
Sgt J. F. Borough.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II in Blackden Edge: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
HR727
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Snaith - Snaith
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew, stationed at Snaith in Yorkshire were taking part in a raid against the German city of Frankfurt. The outward leg proceeded normally until shortly after they had released their bomb load over the target area. The aircraft was illuminated by a searchlight and engaged by flak and a night fighter sustaining hits to the port inner engine setting it alight and the No.2 fuel tank. The pilot took evasive action by corkscrewing the aircraft from 19,000 feet to 9,000 feet successfully evading further contact. As well as the fuel loss from the damage to one of the tanks, the loss of the port inner engine meant that some functions were also lost. Most could be carried out entirely manually but the engines generator provided power to the aircraft's batteries that powered the mid-upper turret, beam approach radio equipment and the R1154 / T1155 radio. These would work only as long as the charge remained in the batteries. The aircraft passed its turning points as far as Reading, shortly after the radio failed as the batteries had been drained. The weather at this point had deteriorated with low cloud and rain, effectively removing any chance of seeing landmarks such as rivers which would aid in locating Snaith, or another airfield. Eventually the pilot began to descend through the cloud to be able to find landmarks but while still in cloud, and virtually out of fuel, the aircraft flew into the ground on Blackden Edge. The aircraft broke up over a fairly wide area, most of the crew who died were killed in the crash but the Sergeant Lane survived the crash but was severely injured and died before help, summoned by Sgt Mack, arrived the following day.
Crew (51st Squadron):
Sgt Ernest Hatfield Fenning, pilot, †
W/O Jean Gilbert Felix Fortin, navigator, †
Sgt Eric George Lane, flight engineer, †
Sgt Victor Garland, bomb aimer,
Sgt Frank Allan Squibbs, wireless operator, †
Sgt Boris Karl Short, air gunner, †
Sgt James B. Mack, air gunner.
Source:
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/peakdistrict/peakdistricthr727.htm
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak and a German nigh fighter as well.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II in Saint-Georges-d’Espéranche: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
JN904
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lissett - Lissett
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Lissett, East Yorkshire, on a bombing mission to Italy. While overflying the east part of France by night, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a wooded area located 14 km east of Vienna. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew (158th Squadron):
Sgt E. Le Huray,
Sgt H. Pennell,
Sgt F. G. Shaw,
Sgt T. A. Roberts,
Sgt C. A. Budd,
Sgt A. V. M. Barron,
Sgt V. G. E. Briant.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II near Annecy: 11 killed

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1943 at 0110 LT
Operator:
Registration:
JD180
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Tempsford - Tempsford
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Tempsford in the evening of August 14 on a supply mission to the French Resistance at the Fretallaz Pass located 10 km north of Annecy. While approaching the target, an engine caught fire (maybe the number three) and the captain attempted to make an emergency landing when he lost control of the aircraft that crashed in flames on two houses located in Pont de Tasset, near Meythet. The squadron leader was the only survivor as all six other crew members were killed plus five people on the ground, among them two children.
Crew (138th Squadron):
S/L Franck Griffiths, pilot,
Lt Roderick Mackenzie, copilot, †
Lt Sydney Congdon, navigator, †
P/O Robert Peters, signaler, †
F/Sgt Franck Pollard, air gunner, †
Sgt Frederick Davies, flight engineer, †
Sgt John Maden, dispatcher. †
Civilians killed:
Della Vedora Erminia,
Della Vedora Serge,
Della Vedora Olivier,
Krattinger Pierre,
Maritand Ernest.
Probable cause:
Engine fire.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II off Vlissingen: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1943 at 0256 LT
Operator:
Registration:
JD250
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Snaith - Snaith
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Snaith at 2313LT on June 24 on an operation to Wuppertal. Outbound, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the sea 20 km west of Vlissingen, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
F/O James Noble Mackenzie, pilot,
Sgt William Blackie, flight engineer,
P/O Arthur James Fitchett, navigator,
F/O Charles Alfred Johnson, bomb aimer,
Sgt Richard William Stevenson, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Wilfred Andrews, air gunner,
F/Sgt Reginald English Murdoch, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II in Indoornik

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1943 at 0130 LT
Operator:
Registration:
JD214
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Middleton Saint George - Middleton Saint George
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Middleton St George at 2307LT on June 24 on an operation to Wuppertal. Passing over the Netherlands, it was badly shot about by a German fighter and crash landed in an open field located in Indoornik. All seven crew members became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt George Victor Neale, pilot,
Sgt Reginald Alfred Cleaver, flight engineer,
Sgt Ross Sheldon McLachlan, navigator,
Sgt William Milne Jaffray, bomb aimer,
Sgt Donald John Griffiths, wireless operator,
Sgt David Edward Kenwell, air gunner,
Sgt William Patterson McLeod, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II in Zons: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1943 at 0128 LT
Operator:
Registration:
JB962
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Breighton - Breighton
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Breighton at 2300LT on June 24 on an operation to Wuppertal. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Zons, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
F/Sgt Kenneth Forbes Morrison, pilot,
Sgt William Barry, flight engineer,
Sgt Patrick Arthur Kennedy, navigator,
Sgt Ian MacRae, bomb aimer,
Sgt William Cox, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Ernest William Joseph Collingwood, air gunner,
Sgt Thomas Samuel Payne, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II in Herten: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1943 at 0111 LT
Operator:
Registration:
JD147
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Middleton Saint George - Middleton Saint George
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Middleton St George at 2240LT on June 24 on an operation to Wuppertal. Passing over the Netherlands, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Herten. Three crew members were killed and four others became PoW.
Crew:
S/L Burton Norris Jost, pilot, †
Sgt Julius Bjorn Johnson, flight engineer, †
Sgt Ernest Bailey Pope, navigator,
F/Sgt Ashley William Alfred Bruce, bomb aimer,
F/O Robert Oscar Evans Goodwin, wireless operator, †
Sgt Robert Edward Austin, air gunner,
F/Sgt Leslie Barker, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.