Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II in North Grimston

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1943 at 2215 LT
Operator:
Registration:
W7939
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Linton-on-Ouse - Linton-on-Ouse
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Linton-on-Ouse at 2136LT on an operation to Berlin. After climbing to an altitude of 8,000 feet, the crew encountered serious engine problems. At 2200LT, the bomb load was jettisoned and 15 minutes later, the crew abandoned the airplane that crashed in North Grimston. All seven crew members parachuted to safety.
Crew:
Sgt K. A. Toon, pilot,
Sgt L. Donaldson,
Sgt R. Falcus,
Sgt H. J. Burridge,
Sgt J. Whelan,
Sgt G. Campbell,
Sgt J. R. Sands, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Unknown technical issues with the engines.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II in Gaanderen: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1943 at 2200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
W7931
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Linton-on-Ouse - Linton-on-Ouse
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Linton-on-Ouse at 1902LT on an operation to Duisburg. Over the Netherlands, it was badly shot about by the German Flak and was later abandoned by the crew and crashed in Gaanderen. Three crew members were killed and five others became PoW.
Crew:
F/Sgt John McCalla Tait, pilot, †
Sgt James Archibald Wilson, pilot, †
Sgt Frederick Edward Lemon, flight engineer,
W/O Stanley Hauxwell, navigator,
Sgt George Redpath Johnston, bomb aimer,
P/O Raymond William Keen, wireless operator,
Sgt Andrew Wilson, air gunner, †
Sgt Richard Ridley Henry Huleatt, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Badly shot about by the German Flak.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II at RAF Linton-on-Ouse

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1943 at 2304 LT
Operator:
Registration:
DT782
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Linton-on-Ouse - Linton-on-Ouse
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Linton-on-Ouse at 1915LT on an operation to Essen. Approaching the Dutch coast, the port outer engine failed. The crew decided to return to base and the airplane overshot on landing and was totally wrecked. All seven crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
W/Cdr D. C. Smith, pilot,
Sgt H. B. Thompson,
Sgt P. M. J. Harris,
Sgt F. Hart,
Sgt S. W. Palmer,
Sgt D. Lock,
Sgt G. Cranswick, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Failure of the port outer engine in flight.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II near Ysselsteyn: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1943 at 2148 LT
Operator:
Registration:
DT751
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Linton-on-Ouse - Linton-on-Ouse
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Linton-on-Ouse at 1917LT on an operation to Essen. It was shot down by a German fighter and crashed near Ysselsteyn. An air gunner was killed and six other crew members became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Peter Nevines, pilot,
Sgt Frederick George Stapleton, flight engineer,
P/O John Bernard Locke, navigator,
Sgt Walter Stafford Poland, bomb aimer,
Sgt Walter Stafford Wright, wireless operator,
Sgt Patrick Christopher Ratcliffe, air gunner,
Sgt Anthony Cecil Sharpe, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II in Sint Jansberg: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1943 at 2148 LT
Operator:
Registration:
DT774
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Linton-on-Ouse - Linton-on-Ouse
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Linton-on-Ouse at 1908LT on an operation to Essen. Over the Netherlands, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Sint Jansberg. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Fred Aten Marean, pilot,
Sgt Charley Gordon Dyer, flight engineer,
Sgt Harry Bentley, navigator,
Sgt Walter Henry Gosnell, bomb aimer,
Sgt William John McLelland, wireless operator,
Sgt Bernard Mario Singleton, air gunner,
Sgt George Edward Benson, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II in Slaugham: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1943 at 0206 LT
Operator:
Registration:
DT492
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Linton-on-Ouse - Linton-on-Ouse
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Linton-on-Ouse at 1915LT on March 11 on an operation to Stuttgart. It was severely damaged by the German Flak after bombing the target area, The crew succeeded in regaining the south coast where the Halifax was abandoned and left to crash onto High Beeches, the residence of Colonel Loder MC, High Sheriff of Sussex, at Slaugham. Three maids sleeping at the rear of the house were killed, but Colonel Loder and his family escaped injury. All seven crew members parachuted to safety.
Crew:
F/Sgt T. Gallantry, pilot,
Sgt W. L. Middleton,
Sgt V. S. Webster,
Sgt A. A. Myers,
Sgt L. G. Exton,
Sgt H. R. W. Whitmore,
F/Sgt W. J. Farrer, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II off Harlingen: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1943 at 2220 LT
Operator:
Registration:
BB282
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Linton-on-Ouse - Linton-on-Ouse
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Linton-on-Ouse 1853LT on an operation to Essen. It was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the Waddenzee some 10 km west of Harlingen. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
W/O Clifford Arthur Milan, pilot,
Sgt Owen Joseph Trainor, flight engineer,
F/O Charles George Hitt, navigator,
P/O Ernest John Fry, bomb aimer,
Sgt Haydn Winston Edwards, wireless operator,
Sgt Horace Clarence Cope, air gunner,
W/O Russell Benson Van Buren, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II in Staphorst: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1943 at 2135 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HR687
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Linton-on-Ouse - Linton-on-Ouse
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Linton-on-Ouse at 1838LT on an operation to Essen. It was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Staphorst. Three crew members were killed and five others became PoW.
Crew:
P/O John Rawson Thompson, pilot, †
Sgt Kenneth W. Mercer, pilot,
Sgt Otto Vance Proctor, flight engineer,
Sgt Arthur Loveland, navigator,
Sgt Alfred D. Leyshon, bomb aimer,
F/Sgt Arthur Edward Blackwell, wireless operator, †
Sgt Edward Charles Bert Williams, air gunner, †
Sgt Douglas Raymond Chiswell, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II off Ameland Island: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
W7678
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Linton-on-Ouse - Linton-on-Ouse
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Linton-on-Ouse at 1814LT on an operation to Hamburg. While cruising along the Frisian Islands, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the sea some 30 km north of Ameland Island. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O William Ronald Golding, pilot,
Sgt Royston Robert Isaac Webber, flight engineer,
F/O Leslie Alexander Allan, navigator,
Sgt Raymond Leonard Colverson, bomb aimer,
Sgt George Charles Daniel Sayer, wireless operator,
Sgt Keneth Hitchen, air gunner,
Sgt John Jocelyn Thompson, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II at RAF Linton-on-Ouse: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1943 at 2324 LT
Operator:
Registration:
DT770
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Linton-on-Ouse - Linton-on-Ouse
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Linton-on-Ouse at 1900LT on March 1st on a mine laying operation. While returning to base in the late evening, it overshot and crashed some 1,100 metres beyond the runway. Moments before the impact, the bomber sliced through the tops of trees standing nearby. A crew was killed and seven others were injured.
Crew:
Sgt A. R. Short, pilot,
F/Sgt A. H. Evans,
P/O B. W. Ingham,
Sgt R. E. J. White, †
Sgt J. B. Brophy,
Sgt R. G. Perrett,
Sgt V. Delaroy-Hall,
Sgt T. Ellwood, air gunner.