Zone

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-25-BO Flying Fortress off Crozon: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
41-24541
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Molesworth - Molesworth
MSN:
3226
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Molesworth on an operation to Saint-Nazaire. While returning to base, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the sea some 30 km off Crozon. Six crew members were killed and four others parachuted to safety and became PoW.
Crew:
1st Lt Lawrence G. Dunnica, pilot, †
1st Lt Leonard E. Thornton, copilot, †
T/Sgt Harry W. Tucker, mechanic,
2nd Lt Orson E. Pacey, navigator,
T/Sgt Bertis W. Holland, radio operator, †
1st Lt Robert Otis Scheible, bombardier,
S/Sgt Robert L. Dew, air gunner, †
Sgt Wayne E. Harker, air gunner, †
S/Sgt Claude F. Taylor, air gunner, †
S/Sgt Philip T. Cascio, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near Crozon

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z6103
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the airplane crash landed near Crozon, south of Brest. All three crew members became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Herbert Joseph Mullineaux,
Sgt Anthony George Parnell,
Sgt Arthur Thomas Price.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I off Crozon: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7322
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bottesford - Bottesford
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bottesford at 0354LT on an operation to Brest. Approaching the French coast, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the Bay of Douarnenez, off Crozon. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (207th Squadron):
F/O George Reginald Bayley, pilot,
Sgt Noel Messines Toohill,
Sgt Alexander Gordon Harris,
Sgt Richard Vivian Griffiths,
F/Sgt John Elias Jones,
Sgt Peter Charles Herbert Goldie,
Sgt William Rex Seymour.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.