Crash of a Junkers JU.88C-6 in Poortugaal: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1942 at 0125 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R4+AD
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Gilze-Rijen - Gilze-Rijen
MSN:
0152
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Gilze-Rijen AFB on an operational sortie when it was shot down by a Halifax and crashed in Poortugaal. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Herbert Bönsch, pilot,
Fw Otto Böttscher, radio operator,
Uffz August Willi, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a British bomber.

Crash of a Dornier DO.217E-4 at Gilze-Rijen AFB

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
U5+BL
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Gilze-Rijen - Gilze-Rijen
MSN:
4252
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a combat mission when it was shot down by a British fighter and crashed at Gilze-Rizen AFB. All four crew members were injured.
Crew:
Fw W. Schludecker, pilot,
Oblt H. Reisz, observer,
Uffz. A. Bemelmans, radio operator,
Fw H. Buhr, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of a Dornier DO.217J at Gilze-Rijen AFB

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R4+-S
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Gilze-Rijen - Gilze-Rijen
MSN:
1302
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following a crew error, the airplane crashed upon takeoff from Gilze-Rijen AFB. The airplane was destroyed and all three crew members escaped unhurt.
Probable cause:
Crew error.

Crash of a Dornier DO.217E-4 into the North Sea: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
U5+?K
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Gilze-Rijen - Gilze-Rijen
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the North Sea off the Dutch coast. The pilot was killed.
Crew:
Ofw E. Geselle, pilot.

Crash of a Dornier DO.217E-4 in Oranjebond: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1942 at 2350 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
U5+BK
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Gilze-Rijen - Gilze-Rijen
MSN:
5384
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Gilze-Rijen AFB, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field located in Oranjebond, some 17 km southeast of the airbase. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Uffz H. Jeub, pilot,
Uffz E. Schmidt, observer,
Uffz W. Schreiter, radio operator,
Ogfr R. Hauschke, air gunner.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88C-4 near Baarle-Nassau: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 1, 1942 at 0239 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R4+CT
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Gilze-Rijen - Gilze-Rijen
MSN:
0630
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Gilze-Rijen AFB on a combat mission. It was probably shot down by enemy fire and crashed near Baarle-Nassau. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Ofw W. D. Schade, pilot,
Uffz J. Cezanne, radio operator,
Uffz A. Jansen, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88C-6 near Tilburg: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1942 at 0200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R4+RR
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Gilze-Rijen - Gilze-Rijen
MSN:
0184
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While on a night mission out from Gilze-Rijen AFB, the airplane was hit by return fire from a bomber. The crew bailed out but unfortunately, the flight engineer Gefr G. Methfessel remained on board and was killed when the airplane crashed 10 km north of Tilburg.
Probable cause:
The airplane was hit by return fire from a bomber.

Crash of a Dornier DO.217E-4 off Lowestoft: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1942 at 1705 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
U5+BL
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Gilze-Rijen - Gilze-Rijen
MSN:
5373
YOM:
1942
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane was shot down by a British fighter and crashed into the sea some 30 km east of Lowestoft. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Ofw K. Fischer, pilot,
Cpt H. Schmidt-Hederich, observer,
Uffz H. Hartmann, radio operator,
Ofw G. Höhenrieder, mechanic.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-1 at Gilze-Rijen AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1942 at 1440 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R4+PR
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Gilze-Rijen - Gilze-Rijen
MSN:
6139
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed Gilze-Rijen AFB on a local test flight. The airplane crashed on takeoff following a crew error. All three occupants were killed.
Crew:
Uffz W. Neusser, pilot,
Ogfr G. Eibl, radio operator,
P. Skoda, test engineer.
Probable cause:
Crew error.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88C-6 in Kleverskerke: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1942 at 1535 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R4+TR
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Gilze-Rijen - Gilze-Rijen
MSN:
0178
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed for unknown reasons in Kleverskerke, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
Lt P. Heimke, pilot,
Uffz K. Engels, radio operator,
Ogfr E. Vitt, air gunner.