Horsham

Flight Type:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Morley - Morley

MSN:

94-12692

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft left RAF Morley on a bombing mission to France with another B-25 Mitchell registered FR182. En route, while cruising over Sussex, both aircraft collided and crashed in Horsham. All eight occupants in both aircraft were killed.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-30-VE Flying Fortress near Saint-Malo: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 29, 1943 at 1415 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

42-5858

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Horsham - Horsham

MSN:

17-6154

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

-1

Circumstances:

the airplane departed Horsham on an operation to the naval depot in Rennes. Approaching the French coast, it was shot down by enemy fire (Flak and fighter) then collided with B-17 registered 42-29709. On fire, it was abandoned by the crew and crashed into the sea off Pointe de la Varde, northeast of Saint-Malo. Three crew members were killed, two evaded and six became PoW. 42-29709 returned safely to base.
Crew:
1st Lt Lawrence D. Clark, pilot, †
F/O Yngvar S. Berntzen, copilot, †
T/Sgt Carl Hallstaff Upchurch, flight engineer,
Maj Edgar Boyd Cole, observer,
T/Sgt Garland L. Teague, radio operator,
Cpt Ray Edward Landrum, navigator,
Lt Dwight Angus Fisher, bombardier,
T/Sgt Wilbur Scott Rice, air gunner,
S/Sgt Robert LeRoy Carlson, air gunner,
S/Sgt William W. Wood, air gunner,
S/Sgt Chester J. Mayo, air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-65-BO Flying Fortress in Saint-Nicolas-des-Bois

Date & Time: May 29, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

42-29689

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Horsham - Horsham

MSN:

4803

YOM:

1942

Location:

Saint-Nicolas-des-Bois

Manche

Country:

France

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Horsham on an operation to the naval depot in Rennes. Over the Bay saint-Michel, it collided with a German fighter and was later shot down by the German Flak. The crew abandoned the airplane between 20,000 and 9,000 feet and parachuted to safety. The airplane crashed in a field and exploded. All crew became PoW.
Crew:
1st Lt Cody Usry Watson, pilot,
2nd Lt Reynold P. Lasher, copilot,
T/Sgt Paul E. De Haven, flight engineer,
T/Sgt Francis Patrick Eugen Moran, radio operator,
2nd Lt Robert A. Titus, navigator,
2nd Lt Rex L. Orme, bombardier,
S/Sgt Joseph D. Coss, air gunner,
S/Sgt Harry D. Rants, air gunner,
S/Sgt John Gerard Brown, air gunner,
S/Sgt Donald Chester Hemminger, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

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

Date & Time: May 30, 1942 at 1205 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston

Operator:

Registration:

AL291

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Horsham - Horsham

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot was completing a local solo training flight at RAF Horsham. The airplane skidded badly after landing on wet ground. The pilot opened the throttles to go around again but lost control of the airplane that crashed and was wrecked. The pilot escaped unhurt.
Crew:
Sgt Grant, pilot.

Probable cause:

Pilot error.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III in Horsham

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

AE549

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Horsham - Bircham Newton

MSN:

414-3904

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed Horsham (RAF Horsham St Faith) on a training flight to RAF Bircham Newton. During the takeoff roll, one of the engine failed. The airplane went out of control, veered of runway, lost its undercarriage and came to a halt. All four crew members were rescued, among them three were injured.
Crew:
Sgt Denis Murdock Boon, pilot,
Sgt J. D. Ackerman,
P/O A. K. Bailey,
Sgt A. R. Keech.

Probable cause:

Engine failure during takeoff.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Radwinter: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1940 at 2100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

R2793

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Horsham - Horsham

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Horsham on an operation to Ostend. It crashed at 2100LT for unknown reasons at Radwinter, killing all three crew members.
Crew:
Sgt Leonard Edward Holland, pilot,
Sgt Ronald Mackintosh Rodgers, observer,
Sgt Herbert Edward Saxby, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Little Plumstead: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1940 at 1959 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L9183

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Horsham - Horsham

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Horsham at 1835LT on an operation to Ostend. It crashed at 1959LT at Manor Farm, Little Plumstead. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Nigel Clifford Ashley, pilot,
Sgt Alfred Robert Clarke, observer,
Sgt Alfred Edward Harrison, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Eye witnesses reported that just prior to the crash, the crew released a flare and as the Blenheim circled, so it collided with the tops of some trees.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV into the North Sea: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 7, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

T1871

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Horsham - Horsham

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Horsham on an operation to Germany. Lost without trace, maybe after it crashed somewhere into the North Sea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/L John Albert Fraser Mertens,
Sgt Allan Roger Merry,
Sgt Reginald William Spiller.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV into The Channel: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 14, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

R3671

Flight Phase:

Flight Type: