Driffield AFB

Operator:

Registration:

W5482

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Driffield - Driffield

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Driffield at 2201LT to drop leaflets in the region of Lille. Crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea some 8 km off Ostend. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Walter David Amos, pilot,
Sgt Ian Mactaggat Mackirdy, observer,
Sgt Douglas Harold Till, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Basil Edwin Whitbread, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Thomas Anthony Frederick Davies, air gunner.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II in Ohlendorf: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 9, 1942 at 0104 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z8511

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Driffield - Driffield

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Driffield at 2205LT on April 8 on an operation to Hamburg. Over the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Ohlendorf, south of Hamburg. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt John Henry Wisher, pilot,
F/O Harold Leslie Croydon, navigator,
Sgt Roy Staley, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt James William Cornthwaite, air gunner,
Sgt Edward Clement Bratt, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I near RAF Driffield: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 9, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8674

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Church Fenton - Church Fenton

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot departed RAF Church Fenton on a night training solo flight. While flying at an altitude of 5,500 feet, he lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed in the vicinity of RAF Driffield. The pilot was killed.
Crew:
Sgt Harry James Beck, pilot.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II at RAF Driffield: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1942 at 0250 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

W5431

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Driffield - Driffield

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Driffield at 1934LT on March 9 on an operation to Essen. While returning to base the following night, it crashed upon landing and was destroyed. Five crew members were killed and a sixth was injured.
Crew:
F/Lt George Gordon Duff, pilot, †
Sgt Colin Albert Cornwell, pilot, †
P/O Douglas Albert Edward Clarke, observer, †
Sgt Harry James Evans, wireless operator, †
Sgt Leslie James Caldwell, wireless operator, †
Sgt Eric William Clark, air gunner.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II in Arden Great Moor: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1942 at 0005 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

W5493

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Driffield - Driffield

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Driffield at 1835LT on January 15 on an operation to Emden. While returning to base the following night, it crashed in unknown circumstances just past midnight at Arden Great Moor. Four crew members were killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
Sgt John Wilmot, pilot, †
Sgt John Blackwell Turner, pilot, †
Sgt Douglas Reginald Bradley, observer, †
Sgt George White, wireless operator, †
Sgt Regan,
Sgt Upham.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II off Ameland Island: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1942 at 2046 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

W5417

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Driffield - Driffield

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Driffield at 1838LT on an operation to Emden. While flying along the Dutch coast, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the sea off Ameland Island. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Basil Andrew Adams,
Sgt Reginald Cooke,
Sgt Charles Kenneth German,
P/O Royal George Lindsay,
Sgt Reginald Philip Henry Sperring,
Sgt Walter George Tate.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II at RAF Driffield: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1942 at 1150 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

W5491

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Driffield - Driffield

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Driffield at 1150LT on a training exercise. Almost immediately after takeoff, it stalled, impacted a hedge and crashed. Two crew members were killed and four others were injured. Two survivors died from injuries sustained on January 17 and 19.
Crew:
F/Sgt Sidney Reginald Bult, wireless operator, †
Sgt Alfred Charles Kingsley Parsons, †
Sgt Reginald Percy Payton, air gunner, †
Sgt William Rent Sloggatt, †
Sgt A. J. Brown,
Sgt W. J. Phillip,
F/O V. E. Tapp.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of an incorrect flap setting on part of the crew.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II into the North Sea: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z8426

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Driffield - Driffield

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Driffield at 2005LT on an operation to Dunkirk. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed somewhere in the North Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
Sgt Reginald Kenneth Anson,
Sgt William Walter Covey,
P/O William Keith Hayne,
P/O Bernard Norris Murdoch,
F/Sgt Henry Brodie McGarrow,
Sgt Raymond Turner.

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

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

X9752

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site: