Short S.29 Stirling

Operator:

Registration:

BF343

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Schedule:

Downham Market - Downham Market

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The airplane departed RAF Downham Market at 1950LT on an operation to Stuttgart. It crashed in unknown circumstances near the Aerodrome of Dieppe-Saint-Aubin and was destroyed. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Gerald Andrew Parkinson, pilot,
Sgt Reginald Baron Percy Henry Heath, flight engineer,
Sgt Philip Percy Jobling, navigator,
P/O Joseph Millward, navigator,
Sgt Dennis Collins, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Colin James Campbell, air gunner,
Sgt James Hamilton Ross, air gunner.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I in Minaucourt: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1943 at 2140 LT

Type of aircraft:

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Registration:

W7617

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Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Oakington - Oakington

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The airplane departed RAF Oakington at 1929LT on an operation to Stuttgart. Over France, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Minaucourt, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
S/L Michael Edward Thwaites, pilot,
F/Sgt Charles Stewart, flight engineer,
F/Lt Frederick Denzil James Thompson, navigator,
P/O Leonard Ronald Stockwell Luton, bomb aimer,
F/O Arthur Harold Bywater, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Robert Matthew Unwin, air gunner,
F/Sgt Alexander Clift, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I at RAF Ridgewell

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1943 at 2300 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

BF449

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Schedule:

Ridgewell - Ridgewell

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The airplane departed RAF Ridgewell at 1929LT for mine laying duties in the Kattegat, but turned back due to problems with the outer starboard engine. On touchdown at 2300LT at base, an engine surged, causing the Stirling to swing violently, which in turn led to the undercarriage collapsing. There were no injuries among the crew.
Crew:
Sgt S. M. G. Peryer, pilot,
Sgt C. N. Searle,
P/O J. J. Pattinson,
P/O J. Deutscher,
P/O G. L. Spofford,
Sgt J. McLaren,
Sgt J. S. Hatton, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Technical problems with the outer starboard engine.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I in Élan: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1943 at 2213 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

R9149

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Schedule:

Oakington - Oakington

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The airplane departed RAF Oakington at 2004LT on an operation to Munich. Outbound, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Élan. The pilot was killed, three became PoW and three evaded.
Crew:
P/O Frank Morton Tomlinson, pilot, †
Sgt L. Marsh, flight engineer,
Sgt D. M. Cox, navigator,
Sgt G. R. Howard, bomb aimer,
Sgt C. Davies, wireless operator,
Sgt James Jennings, air gunner,
W/O Vincent Albert Fox, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling III at RAF Chedburgh

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1943 at 2039 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

R9358

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

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Schedule:

Chedburgh - Chedburgh

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Because another RAF Stirling crashed while taking off from RAF Chedburgh earlier that day, only the short runway was available. While taking off, the port oleo of the Stirling registered R9358 failed to retract and the bomber clipped a tree and a house before coming down 1,6 km from the airfield, bursting into flames. All seven crew members were injured.
Crew:
F/Sgt D. C. Moore, pilot,
Sgt H. G. Claridge,
Sgt J. C. Chalmers,
Sgt L. G. Wright,
Sgt T. J. Wilson,
Sgt J. E. Flack,
Sgt H. A. Wilson, air gunner.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I near Sudbury

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1943 at 0300 LT

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Registration:

EF328

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Lakenheath - Lakenheath

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The airplane departed RAF Lakenheath at 1945LT on March 8 on an operation to Nuremberg. While returning to base the following night, both starboard engines failed and the airplane crash landed near Sudbury and was destroyed. All seven crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
P/O G. T. P. Southall, pilot,
Sgt H. Murray,
Sgt D. A. Nicol,
P/O R. R. Clifton,
Sgt J. K. Dawes,
P/O G. P. Read,
F/Sgt H. I. Stott, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Failure of both starboard engines in flight.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I at RAF Chedburgh

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

BF357

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

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Schedule:

Chedburgh - Chedburgh

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The crew departed RAF Chedburgh on a local training flight. During the takeoff roll, the airplane swung out of control and came to a halt with its undercarriage collapsed. All seven crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
P/O G. F. Shattock, pilot,
Sgt D. Lamming,
F/O C. Wallace,
Sgt Hunt,
Sgt Smith,
Sgt F. Trinder,
Sgt M. L. Dickenson, air gunner.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I off Dungeness: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1943

Type of aircraft:

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Registration:

BK610

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Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Oakington - Oakington

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The airplane departed RAF Oakington at 1914LT on an operation to Nuremberg. While returning to base in the late evening, it was shot down by enemy fire and later crashed into the North Sea while approaching Dungeness. Six crew members were killed and one parachuted to safety.
Crew:
P/O Lionel Louis Victor Toupin, pilot, †
Sgt George Bell, flight engineer, †
Sgt Jack Goddard, †
Sgt Howard Kilvington, wireless operator, †
F/Sgt Robert George Thorne, †
Sgt D. R. Spanton, air gunner,
W/O Warran Walter Freeland, air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I in Huttenheim: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1943 at 2235 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

BF437

Flight Phase:

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