Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I at RAF Bottesford: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 6, 1942 at 0500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 679 Manchester
Operator:
Registration:
L7385
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Botte
Location:
Bottesford AFB
Leicestershire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a training sortie at RAF Bottesford. After landing, it went out of control and crashed on the top of an Avro 683 Lancaster I registered R5550 that just landed with a crew of five on board. On board L7385, two were killed and three were injured. On board R5550, three were killed and two were injured.
Crew (207th Squadron):
Sgt John Forbes, †
Sgt Caleb Stanley Kenneth Shepherd, †
Sgt J. Slater,
Sgt A. J. C. Whitehead,
Sgt A. S. Pearson.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Megen: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 6, 1942 at 0226 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
R5761
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Bottesford - Bottesford
Location:
Megen
North Brabant
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bottesford at 2258LT on August 5 on an operation to Essen. While returning to base the following night, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Megen, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
Sgt Raymond Bell-Berry, pilot,
F/Lt Gerald Antony Ings, pilot,
W/O William James Aubrey Shapter, observer,
Sgt Jack Culley, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Geoffrey Charles Everitt, wireless operator,
Sgt John William Edward Holland, air gunner,
Sgt Dennis Rodney Manser, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I off The Hague: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1942 at 0310 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
R5632
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Bottesford - Bottesford
Location:
The Hague
South Holland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bottesford at 0048LT on an operation to Duisburg. While returning to base, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the North Sea some 30 km west of The Hague. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt William George Hawes, pilot,
Sgt Percival James Hooper, flight engineer,
Sgt Harold Frank Clarke, observer,
F/Sgt Timothy Clayton Blair, bomb aimer,
Sgt Eric Cartwright, wireless operator,
F/Sgt John Charles Chiasson, air gunner,
Sgt William Robert Smith, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Anrath: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1942 at 0230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
R5867
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Bottesford - Bottesford
Location:
Anrath
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bottesford on an operation to Duisburg. While approaching Düsseldorf, it was shot down by thew German Flak and crashed near a farm in Anrath. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O John Justin Neville McCarthy, pilot,
F/Sgt Joseph Daniel Leo La Salle, pilot,
F/Sgt Ronald Alfred Edmonds, observer,
F/Sgt John Michael Leahy, observer,
F/Sgt Arthur Rowland, wireless operator,
Sgt Denis Leonard Worthington, air gunner,
P/O Eric Lionel Hayward, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I off Gdańsk: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
L7543
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Bottes
Location:
Gdańsk
Pomeranian Voivodeship (Pomorskie)
Country:
Poland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bottesford at 1641LT on an operation to Gdańsk. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed into the sea while approaching the target area. Lost without trace.
Crew:
F/Sgt George Henry Duke, pilot,
F/Sgt Kenneth Harry Hart, pilot,
Sgt Frank Routledge, observer,
Sgt Harold Arthur Storey, observer,
P/O Kenneth James Shirley, wireless operator,
F/Sgt David Adrian Boldy, air gunner,
F/Sgt Allan Percival Cullerne, air gunner.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I Into the North Sea

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1942 at 0102 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
R5860
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Bottesford - Bottesford
Location:
North Sea
World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bottesford at 2345LT on June 20 on an operation to Emden. Both starboard engines failed and caught fire as the crew were making for base. Unable to quell the flames, or bring the propellers under control, the Lancaster was ditched at 0102LT in the North Sea some 145 km out from the entrance of the Humber. All seven crew members were later rescued.
Crew:
F/Lt Gerald Antony Ings, pilot,
Sgt Raymond Bell-Berry, pilot,
F/Sgt William James Aubrey Shapter, observer,
Sgt J E Bellamy, bomb aimer,
Sgt Jack Culley, wireless operator,
Sgt Dennis Rodney Manser, air gunner,
Sgt John William Edward Holland, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure and fire.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Zwiggelte: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1942 at 0114 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
R5847
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Bottesford - Bottesford
Location:
Zwiggelte
Drenthe
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bottesford at 2337LT on June 3 on an operation to Bremen. Over the Netherlands, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Zwiggelte, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
W/O Colin Wathey, pilot,
F/Sgt Laurence John Lea, pilot,
Sgt Russell Roy Alwyn Jones, observer,
F/Sgt Thomas Donald Atkinson, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Grahame Leveson Musitano, wireless operator,
Sgt Colin James Murray Hall, air gunner,
Sgt Stewart Gray Kerr, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I at RAF Bottesford

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1942 at 0114 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
R5498
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bottesford - Bottesford
Location:
Bottesford AFB
Leicestershire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at RAF Bottesford. On final approach at night, both right engines failed. The airplane stalled and crashed short of runway, bursting into flames. All five crew members were seriously injured.
Crew:
F/Sgt J. J. N. McCarthy,
Sgt J. D. La Salle,
Sgt J. M, Leahy,
Sgt D. L. Worthington,
Sgt J. K. Banfield.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure due to lack of fuel.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Bracebridge Heath: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1942 at 1320 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
R5501
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Bottesford - Bottesford
Location:
Bracebridge Heath
Lincolnshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bottesford on a training exercise. While cruising in the vicinity of RAF Waddington, it collided with a RAF Miles Master registered DE973 carrying one pilot from RAF College Cranwell. Following the collision, both airplanes dove into the ground and crashed near Bracebridge Heath, north of the airbase. All five crew members in both aircrafts were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Norman Arthur Lingard, pilot,
Sgt Derek Anson Wood, pilot,
Sgt Ronald William Cox, observer,
Sgt Thomas Charles Massey, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I near Jever AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1942 at 2120 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 679 Manchester
Operator:
Registration:
L7309
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bottesford - Bottesford
Location:
Jever AFB
Lower Saxony
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bottesford at 1709LT on an operation to Hamburg. While approaching the German coast, it was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter. The captain reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in a field. The aircraft crash landed near Jever AFB and was damaged beyond repair. Five crew members were injured and a sixth was killed.
Crew (207th Squadron):
Sgt James Wilfred Cadman, wireless operator, †
Sgt Geoffrey Ernest Allen,
Sgt Emmanuel George Robert Bestel,
F/O Gerald Bryan Dawkins,
F/Lt Patrick James Edwards,
Sgt John Mercer.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.
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