Calais | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane departed RAF Scampton on an operation to Szczecin (Stettin). It crashed in unknown circumstances into The Channel off Calais. All four crew members were rescued and became PoW.
Crew:
F/Lt John Dew Haskins,
P/O Julius Victor Silverston,
Sgt Ronald Cartwright,
Sgt William Lloyd Evans.

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

Date & Time: May 29, 1940 at 1230 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L9401

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Detling - Detling

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The aircraft departed RAF Detling at 1131LT to attack enemy troop columns in the St Omer area. It crashed in unknown circumstances into The Channel off Calais. All thee crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt George Arthur Patrick Manwaring, pilot,
Sgt Ian MacPhail, observer,
Sgt David Beatty Murphy, wireless operator and air gunner.

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

Date & Time: May 27, 1940 at 1830 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

N6192

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Wattisham - Wattisham

MSN:

9291

YOM:

1939

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While on a sortie over Saint-Omer to continue assault on German troops, the airplane was shot down while flying over Marck, in the east outskirt of Calais. The airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea off Calais. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Harry Warman, pilot,
Sgt William Charles Henry Paish, observer,
Sgt John Mahoney, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Dornier DO.17S-O off Calais

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Dornier DO.17

Operator:

Registration:

T5+FH

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

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The airplane was engaged in a reconnaissance over England. While cruising over The Channel, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a French fighter and crashed into the sea off Calais. All three crew members were rescued.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a French fighter.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off Calais

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

K6187

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Bircham Newton - Bircham Newton

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The crew was completing a maritime patrol flight over The Channel. While cruising in poor weather conditions at night, both engines failed, forcing the pilot to ditch the aircraft off Calais. All four crewmen were rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Crew (206th Squadron):
P/O H. M. F. Barnitt,
P/O R. T. Kean,
AC1 Caulfield,
LAC Thompson.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60X Moth in Calais: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1929

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Alf Gunnestad

Registration:

N-38

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Delivery

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Lympne – Oslo

MSN:

428

YOM:

1927

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The pilot and owner Alf Gunnestad took delivery of the aircraft in Lympne and was flying back to his base in Oslo. While flying over the area of Calais, he encountered foggy conditions and lost control of the aircraft that crashed. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and the pilot was killed.

Crash of a Farman F.60 Goliath off Calais: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1921 at 1332 LT

Type of aircraft:

Farman F.60 Goliath

Operator:

Registration:

O-BLAN

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Croydon - Brussels

MSN:

17/7248

YOM:

1920

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The aircraft was on its way from Croydon to Brussels-Haren Airport, a daily mail service, with a crew of two on board. While overflying The Channel, the aircraft caught fire and crashed in the sea some 6 km off Calais, France. The crew of a tug-boat named 'Champion' arrived on the scene but found only some debris floating on water and no trace of both crew members who were later considered as deceased.
Crew:
Lt Paul Delsenne, pilot
Raymond Rijckers, mechanic.

French pilot Delsenne was a freelance in the Belgian aviation since July 1920 and this was his last official flight as he should join the Armée de l'Air in Châteauroux on 01SEP1921. On his side, Raymond Rijckers was a young mechanic aged 21 and should obtain his pilot licence in a short time.

Probable cause:

A loss of control following an in-flight fire.