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Crash of a Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax V in Croft AFB

Date & Time: Feb 25, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
LK907
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Croft AFB, in initial climb, the aircraft collided with a flock of birds that hit the windshield. Both pilots were injured and attempted to make an emergency landing. They reduced their altitude and landed in an open field. Aircraft skidded few hundred yards before coming to rest. All crew were rescued and evacuated while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Crew was from 434th Squadron.
Probable cause:
Bird strike after takeoff.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax V in Autrans: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
LL114
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a supply mission to the French Resistance. While cruising by night and low visibility, the four engine aircraft hit a hilly terrain located near Bec de l'Orient, in the Vercors mountains, near Autrans. All 7 crew were killed.
Crew:
Gerald Dennis Carroll, pilot,
Arthur Edward Reid, pilot,
Sergeant Peter Theodore Thompson, flight engineer,
Sergeant Ronald Denis Clement, air gunner,
Sergeant William Kenneth Radford, air gunner,
Sergeant Alvin James Taylor, air bomber,
Sergeant Gordon Stanley Woodrow, air gunner.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax V near Addingham: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1944 at 1730 LT
Operator:
Registration:
DK185
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Dishforth - Dishforth
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a night training exercise from the RAF Dishforth. En route, while flying in poor weather conditions due to fog and mist, the captain seems to be lost and was trying to locate the airport of Yeadon when the aircraft struck the ground and crashed between the villages of Addingham and Ilkley, Yorkshire. A crewmen was seriously injured while all six other occupants were killed. Unfortunately, the only survivor died a day later. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was about 40 miles off the intended track.
Crew:
Donald George McLeod, pilot,
Felix Byrne, flight engineer,
Lewis Riggs, navigator,
Robert Henry Rahn, bomb aimer,
William George King, wireless operator,
George Martin, air gunner,
Albert Lorne Mullen, air gunner.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax V in Bundoran: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1944 at 1840 LT
Operator:
Registration:
LK704
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Tiree - Tiree
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a meteorological mission (called MERCER) over the Atlantic Ocean and left the RAF Tiree in Scotland during the day. After completing two circuits, the crew was returning to his base and while passing over Ireland, the aircraft was too low by night and hit a cliff near Bundoran, Donegal County. All eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lloyd Joyce Upshall, pilot,
Clarence Loree Scott, pilot,
Norman Glyn Gzowski, navigator,
Vladimir Adamic, wireless operator,
Frederick Edward Dawson, wireless operator,
Frank Ash, wireless operator,
Frederick Lewarne Eric Hussey, flight engineer,
Donald Parr Hewitson, meteorological observer.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax V in Tetworth Hill: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1944 at 0115 LT
Operator:
Registration:
LK743
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Tempsford - Tempsford
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Tempsford at 2032LT on 07JAN1944 bound for Belgium on Operation Tybalt 3 and Thersites 4 with three Belgian agents on board. While returning to its base, on final approach by night, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in Tetworth Hill, less than 2 km short of runway. All ten occupants were killed.
Crew:
H. M. Kennedy,
T. S. Howlett,
V. A. E. Theedom,
S. Whiteley,
E. Thripp,
D. F. Davies,
P. S. Barlow.
Passengers:
Henri Verhaegen 2.
Probable cause:
According to the RAF, the loss of control on final approach was caused by the failure of the number one engine.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax V in Den Hoorn: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1943 at 0213 LT
Operator:
Registration:
DK183
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Leeming - Leeming
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Leeming in the evening of June 12 on a bombing mission to Bochum, Germany. While overflying The Netherlands by night, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed in flames in a field. Four crew were killed while three others were injured.
Crew (427th Squadron):
P/O Al M. Fellner, pilot,
Sgt J. Imms, †
P/O G. Dalton, †
P/O W. Thurston,
P/O B. Tedford, †
Sgt A. Dixon, †
P/O G. Huston.
Source & photos: http://www.626-squadron.co.uk/willem23.htm
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax V in Distré: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1943 at 2330 LT
Operator:
Registration:
DK123
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Netheravon - Netheravon
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Netheravon at 2123LT to attack an electric station in Distré. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed one km south of the village. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O David Herbert Upsher, pilot,
F/O Malcolm Cedric Hayes, pilot,
F/Sgt Keith Reynold Marshall, wireless operator,
Sgt Walter Mather, navigator,
S/L Campbell Crichton-Miller, meteorologist and weather officer,
F/Lt Michael Edward Jackson Croker, air gunner,
F/Sgt Thomas William Holland, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax V at RAF Tangmere

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1943 at 1500 LT
Operator:
Registration:
DG271
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at RAF Tangmere, the airplane swung out of control and slid to a stop with its undercarriage broken. There were no casualties among the crew who was on a transit flight.
Crew:
F/O R. C. Hogg, pilot +4.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax V in Guichen: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1943 at 2230 LT
Operator:
Registration:
DG285
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Tempsford - Tempsford
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Tempsford on a Special Operation Executive, Operation Ker/Crab. After passing Rennes, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Guichen, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
P/O Harry Sanford Readhead, pilot,
P/O Ronald Gray, copilot,
Sgt Stewart McKenzie Anderson, flight engineer,
P/O William Wallace Roy, navigator,
F/Sgt William Wilson, wireless operator,
Sgt Leslie Percy Manning, air gunner,
F/Sgt Hedley Geoffrey Martins, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax V in Birkby: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1942 at 1530 LT
Operator:
Registration:
DG238
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leeming - Leeming
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Leeming on a fighter affiliation exercise. In flight, the pilot initiated a steep turn when the airplane stalled and crashed in Birkby. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Ronald George Bell, pilot,
Sgt Arthur Ernest Fuce Giles, flight engineer,
Sgt Douglas Dean Gardner, navigator,
sgt Ian Fowler Stewart McColl, wireless operator,
P/O Philip Malcolm Matthews, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Pilot error.