Happisburgh | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane departed Soesterberg AFB on a reconnaissance mission of the east English coast. At an altitude of 4,000 feet, it was shot down by a British fighter and crashed into the North Sea some 64 km northeast of Happisburgh. Three crew members were killed and a fourth was rescued and became PoW.
Crew:
Oblt Adolf Wolf, pilot,
Ofw Erich Rösner, observer,
Uffz Walter Hamann, radio operator,
Fw Kurt Glatzel, mechanic.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-5 off Happisburgh: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1941 at 1905 LT

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.88

Operator:

Registration:

7T+LK

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

5247

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The airplane was engaged in an operation to England when it was shot down by a Hurricane and crashed into the North Sea some 15 km east of Happisburgh. Two crew members were killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
Oblt Herwig Ritter von Heider, pilot, †
Ofw Karl Ützen, radio operator, †
Sdf Hans Kelch, mechanic,
Gefr Hermann Lesemeister, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Happisburgh: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1940 at 0300 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden

Operator:

Registration:

P1321

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Lindholme - Lindholme

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The airplane departed RAF Lindholme at 2109LT on July 25 with Castrop-Rauxel as target. It is believed that it was damaged by enemy action and was heard on w/t at 0215LT indicating the port engine had failed over Cuxhaven and that the crew were heading towards Calais. However, at 0300LT, the Hampden crashed on the beach at Happisburgh, killing all four crew members.
Crew:
P/O William Arthur Coote Mulloy, pilot,
Sgt Angus Lamont Stewart,
Sgt Gordon Reeves Watt, observer,
P/O Thomas Monks Taylor, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Vickers 290 Wellington I off Happisburgh: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 29, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 290 Wellington I

Operator:

Registration:

L4257

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Mildenhall - Mildenhall

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The airplane departed RAF Mildenhall on a maritime survey flight, carrying six crew members from the 149th Squadron. While cruising in poor weather conditions, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed into the North Sea some 8 km southeast of Happisburgh. All six occupants were killed.
Crew:
P/O John Lee Yerbury,
Sgt Olaf Thomas Victor Pitt,
A/Sgt Gladney Lumb,
AC1 David Islwyn George,
AC1 John Sydney Lewis,
AC1 Robert William Little.

Crash of a Vickers 290 Wellington I off Happisburgh: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 290 Wellington I

Operator:

Registration:

L4258

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Mildenhall - Mildenhall

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The airplane departed RAF Mildenhall on reconnaissance mission over the North Sea. In unknown circumstances, it crashed into the sea some 19 km northeast of Happisburgh. No trace of the aircraft nor the five crew members was found.
Crew:
F/O Thomas Adam Darling,
P/O Frank Edward Board,
Sgt Arthur Lickley,
AC1 Reginald Charles Barr Collins,
AC1 James William Sadler.