Great Massingham AFB

Operator:

Registration:

AL286

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Great Massingham - Great Massingham

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The airplane departed RAF Great Massingham at 0810LT on an operation to Cherbourg. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the sea some 5 km off Cherbourg. Two crew members were killed and two others became PoW.
Crew:
F/O Kenneth Niles Symons, pilot,
Sgt Ronald Edward Neathway, observer, †
Sgt Edgar Dixon, wireless operator,
Sgt Stanley George Richardson, air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7 Boston III off Cherbourg: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1942 at 1605 LT

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Registration:

Z2255

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Great Massingham - Great Massingham

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The airplane departed RAG Great Massingham at 1436LT on an operation to Augsburg. Approaching the French coast, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the sea off the harbor of Cherbourg. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Frederick Herbert Ashton Ashford, pilot,
P/O Francis Albert Grills, observer,
Sgt Alfred Donald Gardiner, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III off Boulogne-sur-Mer: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 12, 1942

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Registration:

W8355

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Great Massingham - Great Massingham

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The airplane departed RAF Great Massingham at 1221LT on an operation to Hazebrouck. Approaching the French coast, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the sea off Boulogne-sur-Mer. Three crew members were killed and a fourth became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Alan Sydney Hatton, pilot,
F/Sgt Jack Francis Connolly, observer,
Sgt Colin Frank Docherty, wireless operator,
Sgt Thomas Joseph Delaney, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston IIIA at RAF Great Massingham: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

AL264

Flight Phase:

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Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

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Great Massingham - Great Massingham

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The airplane departed RAF Great Massingham at 1209LT on an operation to Boulogne. Over the target area, it was hit by the German Flak and the crew decided to return to base. On final approach to the airbase, the port engine failed. The airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed near the airfield. The pilot was killed, the air gunner was injured and the observer bailed out and was unhurt.
Crew:
P/O Arthur Eric Lockwood, pilot, †
Sgt Moth, observer,
Sgt Gilbert George May Battison, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III off Dover: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1942

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Registration:

W8387

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Great Massingham - Great Massingham

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The airplane departed RAF Great Massingham at 1209LT on an operation to Boulogne. Over the target area, it was hit by the German Flak and the crew decided to return to base. Approaching the British coast, the airplane was ditched in The Channel off Dover. Two crew members were killed and two others were rescued by a Royal Navy vessel.
Crew:
P/O Harry Neal, †
Cpl Donald Parr Thwaite, †
Sgt S. R. G. Adams,
Sgt P. Brady.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III at RAF Thorney Island

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

W8388

Flight Phase:

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Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

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Great Massingham - Great Massingham

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The airplane departed RAF Great Massingham at 1440LT on an operation to Le Havre. Hit by the German Flak over the target area, it subsequently crashed upon landing after it diverted to RAF Thorney Island. All three crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt Barker, pilot,
F/Sgt Attwood, observer,
Sgt Hastings, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Attacked by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III in Flitcham: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1942 at 1100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

W8319

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Great Massingham - Great Massingham

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The crew departed RAF Great Massingham at 1050LT for a formation flying exercise. After takeoff, he lagged behind the rest of the flight and at an altitude of 800 feet, the airplane was seen to turn back to towards the airfield. Moments later, the Boston banked steeply and crashed at 1100LT and crashed into a wood located southeast of Flitcham. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Silas Harry Bridge, pilot,
Sgt Thomas Frederick Peter Poole, observer,
Sgt Crawford Christie Wilson, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Great Massingham

Date & Time: Aug 5, 1941 at 1325 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

Z7491

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Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

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Great Massingham - Great Massingham

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The airplane departed RAF Great Massingham at 1125LT on an anti-shipping operation. It was damaged by enemy fire and the crew was able to return to base where the airplane crashed upon landing. All three crew members were injured.
Crew:
S/L Eustace Sweeting Barnes, pilot,
Sgt M. Roberts, observer,
F/Sgt Leonard Charles Williams, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Vlissingen: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

N3568

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