Zone
Rutland

Crash of a Vickers 619 Wellington X near RAF Cottesmore: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 619 Wellington X
Operator:
Registration:
NC474
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Cottesmore AFB
Rutland
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 was performing a training sortie when the aircraft went out of control, nosed down, lost several pieces and partially disintegrated in the air before crashing in a field located 6 miles east of RAF Cottesmore. All three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. Nevertheless, the loss of control might be the result of poor weather conditions or a structural or a mechanical failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Ettinghausen: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-15179
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cottesmore - Cottesmore
MSN:
19645
YOM:
1944
Location:
Ettinghausen
Rhineland-Palatinate
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While on a supply mission to Germany, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed in a field, killing all six occupants.
Crew:
Col Harvey Arthur Berger,
S/Sgt Joseph G. Maltais.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Chatsworth Park

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 416 Wellington IC
Operator:
Registration:
DV678
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cottesmore - Cottesmore
Location:
Bakewell
Derbyshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 6,700 feet, both engines misfired and the left engine failed shortly later. The captain decided to attempt an emergency landing in a pasture at Chatsworth Park, near Bakewell. While all six occupants were slightly injured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair due to severe damages to the airframe.
Crew (14th OTU):
F/O Leo Braham Patkin, pilot,
P/O Robert Lindsay Bienvenu, navigator,
P/O John Leslie Tolmie, air bomber,
P/O William Neil Fisher,
Sgt William Donald Blackwell, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt James Balmer, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC at RAF Waddington: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1943 at 1230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 416 Wellington IC
Operator:
Registration:
Z8896
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cottesmore - Waddington
Location:
Waddington AFB
Lincolnshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Cottesmore at 0945LT on a training flight to RAF Waddington. On approach, the pilot initiated a turn to the left to reach the airfield when the port engine lost power. The airplane stalled and crashed near the airbase, bursting into flames. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Douglas Joseph Farrell, pilot,
Sgt Frank James Emberson,
Sgt Gordon Cornelius Nielsen,
Sgt Malcolm McMillan,
Sgt Richard Badcock.
Probable cause:
Loss of power on the left engine on final approach.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC near RAF Cottesmore

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 416 Wellington IC
Operator:
Registration:
L7850
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cottesmore - Cottesmore
Location:
Cottesmore AFB
Rutland
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 engaged in a training mission at RAF Cottesmore. While cruising in the vicinity of the airbase, an engine caught fire and the crew attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed in an open field. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and there were no fatalities among the crew from the 4th OTU.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I near RAF Cottesmore

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1942 at 0625 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
AD845
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cottesmore - Cottesmore
Location:
Cottesmore AFB
Rutland
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Cottesmore at 0002LT on an operation to Bremen. While returning to base the following morning, it ran out of fuel and crashed in a field located southwest of the airbase. All four crew members escaped unhurt.
Crew:
Sgt H. D. Beames,
Sgt D. McKay,
Sgt M. B. Anderson,
Sgt W. R. Jordan.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Stadskanaal: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1942 at 0308 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
L4109
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cottesmore - Cottesmore
Location:
Stadskanaal
Groningen
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Cottesmore at 2354LT on September 13 on an operation to Bremen. While returning to base the following night, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Stadskanaal, some 36 km southeast of Groningen. Two crew members were killed and two others became PoW.
Crew:
F/Sgt Roman Grabek, pilot, †
Sgt George Edward Cragg Coldron, observer, †
Sgt Roland Carlson, wireless operator,
Sgt Thomas Francis Needham, air gunner.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I near Düsseldorf: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 10, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
L4131
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cottesmore - Cottesmore
Location:
Düsseldorf
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Cottesmore at 2020LT on an operation to Düsseldorf. Believed to have crashed in the vicinity of the target area. Lost without trace.
Crew:
F/Sgt John Carl Kerr, pilot,
Sgt Donald Harold Chapman, observer,
F/Sgt William Oswald Anderson, wireless operator,
Sgt Walter David Deatherage, air gunner.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I at RAF Cottesmore: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
L4162
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cottesmore - Cottesmore
Location:
Cottesmore AFB
Rutland
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight at RAF Cottesmore. While in the circuit, the airplane stalled and crashed 3 km northeast from the airfield. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Dennis Wilson, pilot,
Sgt James Kenneth Johnston, observer,
Sgt Peter Vincent Norris, wireless operator,
F/Sgt John Jamieson Patrick Wardrop, wireless operator.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I near Oisterwijk: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1942 at 0310 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
N9062
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cottesmore - Cottesmore
Location:
Oisterwijk
North Brabant
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Cottesmore 2353LT on July 31 on an operation to Düsseldorf. While returning to base the following night, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed near Oisterwijk. The observer was killed while three other crew members became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Edgar Felton Collins, pilot,
Sgt Leonard Lobb, observer, †
Sgt Milton Stanley Whiting, wireless operator,
Sgt George Gray Russell, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.
Subscribe to Cottesmore AFB