Crash of a Vickers 440 Wellington X in Cherbourg: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 23, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 440 Wellington X
Operator:
Registration:
HE527
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Hixon - Hixon
Location:
Cherbourg
Manche
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Hixon on a mission to Paris. Passing over Cherbourg, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed. Three crew members were killed and three others became PoW.
Crew:
F/Sgt James Hennessy, pilot, †
P/O Gerald Thomas Freemantle, observer,
Sgt Reginald James Franklin, radio operator,
Sgt John Anderson, bomb aimer, †
Sgt Rowland John Paul Chandler, air gunner, †
Sgt William Gilroy, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Vickers 440 Wellington X on Mt Foel Grach: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 440 Wellington X
Operator:
Registration:
HE466
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Hixon - Hixon
Location:
Mt Foel Grach
Gwynedd
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While on a night navigational exercise out from RAF Hixon, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions. Too low, the airplane impacted the slope of Mt Foel Grach located southeast of Bangor, north of Wales. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (30th OTU):
Sgt Edward Gerrard Frezell, pilot,
P/O Frederick Keith Thorogood, navigator,
Sgt Cecil Gordon Bennett, bomb aimer,
Sgt George Newton Rafferty, wireless operator,
Sgt Edwin Towler, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III near RAF Hixon: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1943 at 0115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 417 Wellington III
Operator:
Registration:
BK434
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Hixon - Hixon
Location:
Hixon AFB
Staffordshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a night training exercise out from RAF Hixon. On final approach, the airplane crashed 2 km short of runway and was destroyed. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Robert Driscoll Lewis, pilot,
Sgt Kenneth Henry Austin, navigator,
Sgt John McGinnes, bomb aimer,
Sgt John Joseph Kenny, wireless operator,
Sgt Deryck Charles Rowse, air gunner.
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