Zone

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III in Grandcourt: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
AL766
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bradwell Bay - Bradwell Bay
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bradwell Bay at 2317LT on February 12 to drop leaflets over Mantes-la-Ville, some 50 km west northwest of Paris. While returning to base the following night, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in Grandcourt. Two crew members were killed and a third became PoW.
Crew:
F/Sgt Robert Renwick Jackson, pilot, †
F/O Peter John Leboldus, observer, †
Sgt Thomas Sommerville McNeil, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III near RAF Pershore: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
W8380
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bradwell Bay - Bradwell Bay
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bradwell Bay on a navigational exercise. While flying at a too low altitude in the vicinity of RAF Pershore, it collided with a tree and crashed. All four occupants were killed, among them one passenger who was not authorized to be on board.
Crew:
Sgt L. V. Jackson, pilot +2.
Passenger:
Lac Basil Kapusta.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III at RAF Bradwell Bay: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
W8292
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bradwell Bay - Bradwell Bay
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training sortie at RAF Bradwell Bay. While flying in the vicinity of the airbase, the airplane went out control and crashed, killing all three crew members.
Crew:
F/O Peter Kersey White, pilot,
P/O John James Alfred Field, wireless operator,
Cpl Colin Albert Hull, cadet.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II at RAF Bradwell Bay

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
W7915
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pocklington - Pocklington
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Pocklington at 1656LT on an operation to Torino. After being hit by the German Flak, it crashed upon landing at RAF Bradwell Bay and was damaged beyond repair. All seven crew members escaped unarmed.
Crew:
F/O N. S. Milnes, pilot,
Sgt G. G. McMillan,
F/Sgt A. M. McDonald,
Sgt P. R. Dunsford,
Sgt L. Lazenby,
Sgt J. L. S. Lowings,
Sgt W. R. Laws, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Hit by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III into the North Sea: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
Z2207
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bradwell Bay - Bradwell Bay
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bradwell Bay at 2108LT to drop leaflets over Namur, Belgium. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed somewhere into the North Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
P/O Charles Douglas Marshall, pilot,
P/O Joseph William Robert Pavitt, navigator,
P/O Gilbert James Lawson, wireless operator.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I at RAF Bradwell Bay

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1942 at 0705 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
BK609
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Newmarket - Newmarket
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Newmarket at 0005LT on an operation to Torino. It turned back with a fault in the bomb release mechanism and crashed at 0705LT while trying to land at RAF Bradwell Bay. A crew was injured.
Crew:
F/Sgt J. McCullough, pilot,
F/Sgt A. G. Tolley,
Sgt E. F. F. Allen,
Sgt W. E. Gibbs,
Sgt I. J. D. Broadie,
Sgt K. J. S. Smith,
Sgt K. E. Kimberley,
P/O D. A. Stuart-White, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Fault in the bomb release mechanism

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III into the North Sea: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
Z2165
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bradwell Bay - Bradwell Bay
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Bradwell Bay to drop leaflets over Roulers, Belgium. The airplane failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed somewhere into the North Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
F/Sgt M. R. Lockwood,
Sgt R. V. Levers,
Sgt J. G. Chabot.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III off RAF Bradwell Bay: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1942 at 2030 LT
Operator:
Registration:
W8342
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bradwell Bay - Bradwell Bay
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bradwell Bay at 1835LT on an operation to Juvincourt. While returning to base two hours later, it crashed on approach into the Chelmer River. Two crew members were rescued and the pilot was killed.
Crew:
S/L Laurence Hughes Wilkinson, pilot, †
F/O J. K. Reynolds,
F/Sgt J. M. Taylor.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III in Romescamps: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 8, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
W8358
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bradwell Bay - Bradwell Bay
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bradwell Bay in the evening of November 7 on an operation to Beauvais. Approaching the target area, it crashed in unknown circumstances in Romescamp, some 38 km northwest of Beauvais. Two crew members were killed and a third became PoW.
Crew:
P/O William Lysle Buchanan, pilot,
F/O Raymond Hamilton Foote, observer,
F/Lt Alfred Charles Bist, air gunner.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III on Mt Carnedd Dafydd: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
Z2186
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Bradwell Bay - Bradwell Bay
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Bradwell Bay on a cross country navigation exercise. While cruising in limited visibility at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the airplane impacted the slope of Mt Carnedd Dafydd located in the Snowdonia. Two crew members were killed and the pilot was seriously injured.
Crew:
Sgt Mervyn Sims, pilot,
F/Lt Harold Francis Longworth, observer, †
Sgt Ronald Walker, navigator. †
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.