Elvington | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While being prepared for a bombing mission over Möchengladbach, a fire broke out in the cargo bay and a bomb exploded. Four other detonations occurred, disintegrating the aircraft and killing thirteen airmen. Five others were seriously injured.

Probable cause:

Bomb explosion.

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

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1943 at 1440 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II

Operator:

Registration:

JB849

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Elvington - Elvington

Location:

Country:

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Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

After landing at RAF Elvington, the airplane swung and came to a halt with its undercarriage smashed. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and all crew members escaped unhurt.
Crew:
F/Lt F. K. Bainbridge, pilot +4.

Probable cause:

Throughout the flight, the crew had experienced trouble with the undercarriage unit.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II in Boussu: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1943 at 0215 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II

Operator:

Registration:

DT734

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Elvington - Elvington

Location:

Country:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Elvington at 2000LT on March 9 on an operation to Munich. The following night, while returning to base, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Boussu. A crew was killed, three others became PoW and three evaded.
Crew:
S/L Robert John Sage, pilot,
Sgt B. J. I. Walker, flight engineer,
F/Lt Brian Desmond Barker, navigator,
Sgt M. Crabtree, bomb aimer,
P/O Dennis Walter Bateman, wireless operator,
Sgt Dennis Loader Morris, air gunner,
F/O Kenneth Alexander Adam, air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II into Lake Constance: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II

Operator:

Registration:

JB795

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Elvington - Elvington

Location:

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Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Elvington at 2003LT on March 9 on an operation to Munich. The following night, it crashed in unknown circumstances into Lake Constance and was destroyed. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O John Basil O'connell Huggard, pilot,
F/Sgt Maurice Leonard Durling,
Sgt Thomas Eric Edwards,
F/Sgt Colin Hanstock,
F/Sgt James Hywel Hughes, wireless operator,
F/O Edward George Shreeves,
P/O Lawrence Mattinson Bridger, air gunner.

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

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1943 at 1121 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II

Operator:

Registration:

DT555

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Elvington - Elvington

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

Almost immediately after takeoff, control was lost and the airplane crashed just beyond the runway. All crew members escaped unhurt and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Sgt G. B. Ellis +4.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II at RAF Elvington: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1942 at 1528 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II

Operator:

Registration:

DT631

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Elvington - Elvington

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

The crew was returning to base at RAF Elvington following a cross country navigation exercise. On final approach, the airplane crashed for unknown reasons and was destroyed by a post crash fire. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt John Orr, pilot,
Sgt Alexander David Boyle, flight engineer,
P/O Cyril Arthur Saunders, navigator,
Sgt James Casey, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Douglas Charles Godfrey, wireless operator,
Sgt Albert Victor Green, air gunner,
P/O John MaClennan, bomb aimer.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II in Wheldrake: 6 killewd

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1942 at 1030 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II

Operator:

Registration:

DT625

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Elvington - Elvington

Location:

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Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The crew departed Elvington Airfield at 0959LT on a training exercise. Half an hour later, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances 1,5 km southeast of Wheldrake and was destroyed. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Allan Lord, pilot,
F/Sgt Fred Vincent Passant, flight engineer,
P/O Norman Matthews, bomb aimer,
F/Sgt Leonard George Spires, wireless operator,
Sgt Henry Spinner, air gunner,
Sgt Francis George Brown, air gunner.