Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III near Houthulst: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1942 at 1230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
Z2179
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Great Massingham - Great Massingham
Location:
Houthulst
West Flanders
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Great Massingham at 1127LT on an operation to Pont-à-Vendin, near Lens. Over Belgium, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed near Houthulst. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Henry Philemon Collings, pilot,
Sgt Ronald Tebbutt, navigator,
Sgt Stanley Walter Nash, wireless operator,
Sgt Francis Rex Pickering, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

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

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
X3119
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Scampton – Scampton
Location:
Houthulst
West Flanders
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Scampton at 0010LT on an operation to Cologne. While cruising over Belgium at night, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in Houthulst. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Robert Beaumont Hanmer, pilot,
Sgt Frank Archibald Whitehead, pilot,
Sgt Ernest Stanley Phillips, wireless operator,
Sgt John Robert Ronnie, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.
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