Zone
Norfolk

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Terschelling: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1941 at 2350 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
Z5959
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Bircham Newton - Bircham Newton
Location:
Terschelling
Friesland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bircham Newton at 2115LT on an anti-shipping operation. Passing off the Dutch coast, it crashed into the sea off Terschelling, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
F/O William John Sipprell, pilot,
Sgt Amos Thomas Hall, observer,
Sgt Harry Robert Davies, wireless operator.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Lemmer: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1941 at 2350 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
V5537
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Bircham Newton - Bircham Newton
Location:
Lemmer
Friesland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bircham Newton on an anti-shipping operation. It crashed in the IJsselmeer some 6 km west of Lemmer, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
S/L Francis Constantine Phipps, pilot,
Sgt Terence Patrick Mowan, observer,
Sgt Allan Arthur Miles, wireless operator.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Saint-Michel-en-Grève

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
Z6163
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Bircham Newton - Bircham Newton
Location:
Saint-Michel-en-Grève
Côtes-d'Armor
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bircham Newton on an anti-shipping operation. It crashed in unknown circumstances in a beach at Saint-Michel-en-Grève. All three crew members became PoW.
Crew:
F/Sgt James Douglas Appleyard,
P/O Francis Reece,
Sgt William Henry Smyth.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Amstelveen: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1941 at 2336 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
V5525
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Bircham Newton - Bircham Newton
Location:
Amstelveen
North Holland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bircham Newton on a reconnaissance mission when it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Amstelveen. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt David Aloysius Crosbie, pilot,
Sgt Douglas Cruickshank Hyslop, pilot,
Sgt Alan Harry Peek, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Hoek van Holland: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1941 at 1305 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
Z6039
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Bircham Newton - Bircham Newton
Location:
Hoek van Holland
South Holland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bircham Newton at 1030LT on an anti-shipping operation. Approaching the Dutch coast, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the sea some 15 km off Hoek van Holland. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Gordon Creighton Martin Fletcher,
Sgt John Edward Mylrea,
Sgt Hartley Walton.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V off Terschelling: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 10, 1941 at 1324 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
AM672
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Bircham Newton - Bircham Newton
MSN:
414-2754
YOM:
1941
Location:
Terschelling
Friesland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bircham Newton at 1000LT on an anti-shipping operation off the Frisian Islands. Approaching the Dutch coast, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the North Sea off Terschelling. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Anthony Frederick Buck, pilot,
F/Lt Ian Patrick Magrath, pilot,
F/Sgt Lionel Hereville Wood, observer,
F/Sgt Thomas Elmutt Stepney, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Ameland Island: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
V5852
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Bircham Newton - Bircham Newton
Location:
Ameland Island
Friesland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bircham Newton at 0515LT on an operation over the North Sea. It was shot down by the German Marine Flak and crashed off Ameland Island. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Ronald Frank Culley, pilot,
Sgt Leslie Herbert Anderson,
Sgt Frank Elliott.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Marine Flak.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V near RAF Bircham Newton

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1941 at 0405 LT
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley
Operator:
Registration:
Z6625
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Middleton St George - Middleton St George
MSN:
2059
YOM:
1941
Location:
Bircham Newton AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Middleton St George at 2257LT on July 8 on an operation to Hamm. While returning to base the following morning, it suffered an engine failure. The crew diverted to RAF Bircham Newton and the airplane crashed on approach. All five crew members were rescued and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
P/O Wright,
Sgt Jones,
F/S R. Jopling,
Sgt R. Boucher,
Sgt A. D. Wills.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax I at RAF Bircham Newton

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax I
Operator:
Registration:
L9506
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Linton-on-Ouse - Linton-on-Ouse
Location:
Bircham Newton AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Linton-on-Ouse at 2325LT on June 15 on an operation to Hanover. Over the target area, it was badly shot about by a German fighter but the crew was able to return to England and diverted to RAF Bircham Newton for an emergency landing. It crashed upon landing at RAF Bircham Newton and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.
Crew:
F/O J. W. Murray,
Sgt L. Martin,
P/O D. S. S. Wilkerson,
Sgt T. R. Nixon,
Sgt J. Constable,
Sgt D. J. Mennie,
Sgt J. Colgan.
Probable cause:
Damaged by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Hillington: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1941 at 1052 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
V6389
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Bircham Newton - Bircham Newton
Location:
Hillington
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Bircham Newton on a training exercise. While flying northeast of King's Lynn, the pilot lost control of then airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in Hillington. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/L Hugh John Norman Lindsaye, pilot,
Sgt Albert Ernest Stone, observer,
F/O Frank Holmes, air gunner.
Probable cause:
The drogue had separated from its cable and had fouled the port elevator and trim tad, causing the aircraft to become uncontrollable.
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