Crash of a Douglas C-47A Dakota III in Neuleiningen: 23 killed

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1944 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KG653
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Pershore - Cagliari - Castel Benito - Karachi
MSN:
13470
YOM:
1944
Location:
Neuleiningen
Rhineland-Palatinate
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Pershore at 0330LT on a flight to Karachi with a planned stop in Cagliari and Castel Benito. While flying over Germany, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions (dark low clouds, heavy rain, thunder and lightning) when the aircraft was attacked by several German fighters. The Dakota went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a pasture. All 20 occupants were killed, among them several RAAF staff bound for Karachi.
Crew:
F/L R. Korer, pilot,
P/O L. A. Veary, navigator,
Sgt G. Beckoff, wireless operator and air gunner.
Passengers:
Cpl J. E. Allen,
LAC L. I. Beach,
LAC O. E. D. Bergen,
LAC R. T. Burden,
Cpl W. H. Campbell,
LAC J. A. R. M. Chevrier,
LAC J. R. M. Couturier,
Cpl J. Cumming,
LAC F. R. L. Gates,
LAC Good,
Sgt W. F. Hughes,
Cpl H. J. Hunter,
LAC F. L. Kristensen,
LAC W. J. S. Lundy,
LAC D. J. MacDonald,
AC1 J. D. McVie,
Cpl L. H. Moreau,
LAC F. W. Sargeant,
LAC J. C. Sutherland,
LAC H. S. Watson.
Probable cause:
Shot down by German fighters.

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

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
W8380
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bradwell Bay - Bradwell Bay
Location:
Pershore AFB (Throckmorton)
Worcestershire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bradwell Bay on a navigational exercise. While flying at a too low altitude in the vicinity of RAF Pershore, it collided with a tree and crashed. All four occupants were killed, among them one passenger who was not authorized to be on board.
Crew:
Sgt L. V. Jackson, pilot +2.
Passenger:
Lac Basil Kapusta.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III in Halvergate: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 417 Wellington III
Operator:
Registration:
Z1695
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Pershore - Pershore
Location:
Halvergate
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Pershore on a Bullseye exercise. Flying between Norwich and Great Yarmouth, the airplane was mistakenly shot down by friendly fire and crashed in Halvergate. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Joseph Samuel Cornfield, pilot,
Sgt Brian Patrick Enright, navigator,
P/O Robert Portor Love, navigator,
F/O Dalton Ross Alexander MacDougall, navigator,
Sgt Thomas James Whalley, wireless operator,
Sgt James Joseph Snyder, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Mistakenly shot down by friendly fire.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III at RAF Pershore: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1943 at 2342 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 417 Wellington III
Operator:
Registration:
X3964
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Pershore - Pershore
Location:
Pershore AFB (Throckmorton)
Worcestershire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a night local training flight at RAF Pershore. On final approach, the pilot initiated a go around procedure when one of the engine failed. The airplane stalled and crashed near the airfield and was destroyed. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Wilfred Joseph Alexander Duplin, pilot,
Sgt Jack Henry Robson, wireless operator,
Sgt Willis Eric Barr, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Engine failure while performing a go around procedure.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III in Heumar: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1942 at 0022 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 417 Wellington III
Operator:
Registration:
X3799
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Pershore - Pershore
Location:
Heumar
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Pershore at 2018LT on September 16 on an operation to Essen. Approaching Cologne, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Heumar, east of Cologne. Three crew members were killed and two others became PoW.
Crew:
F/Sgt W. C. McBean, †
Sgt T. Baillee, †
Sgt J. C. Carswell, †
Sgt M. O. Edwards,
Sgt A. E. Parr.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III in Neu-Bottenbroich: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1942 at 2347 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 417 Wellington III
Operator:
Registration:
BJ720
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Pershore - Pershore
Location:
Neu-Bottenbroich
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Pershore at 2012LT on an operation to Essen. It was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Neu-Bottenbroich, killing all five crew members.
Crew:
F/Lt Theodore Frank Tyrrell, pilot,
F/Sgt Donald Robert Philp, observer,
F/O Terence William Sutton, wireless operator,
Sgt Arthur Skinner, air gunner,
F/Sgt Peter Stewart, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III in Baerl: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 417 Wellington III
Operator:
Registration:
Z1730
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Pershore - Pershore
Location:
Baerl
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Pershore 2022LT on an operation to Essen. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Baerl, some 24 km west from Essen. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Kenneth Boyd Tanner, pilot,
F/Sgt John Donaldson, observer,
F/Sgt John Needler, bomb aimer,
Sgt Jack Arthur Charles Smith, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Joseph Linwood Nibblet, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC near Berg aan de Maas

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1942 at 0230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 416 Wellington IC
Operator:
Registration:
X9917
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Pershore - Pershore
Location:
Berg aan de Maas
Limburg
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Pershore at 2322LT on July 31 on an operation to Düsseldorf. It was shot down by a German fighter and is believed to have crashed near Berg aan de Maas. The exact crash site is unknown. All five crew members became PoW.
Crew:
P/O John Lewis Dowdeswell, pilot,
W/O Arthur George Allen, observer,
Sgt Edward Edgar Brocklehurst, bomb aimer,
Sgt Geoffrey Charles Maddams, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Maurice Tom Craig Shields, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC at RAF Pershore

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 416 Wellington IC
Operator:
Registration:
R1414
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Pershore - Pershore
Location:
Pershore AFB (Throckmorton)
Worcestershire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight at RAF Pershore. The airplane belly landed, slid for few dozen metres and came to rest, bursting into flames. All four crew members evacuated safely, only the tail gunner was slightly injured.
Crew:
Sgt Raymond Rogers Foltz, pilot,
Sgt Leo McClellan Lymburner, navigator,
Sgt Roy Norman Victor Burke, wireless operator,
Sgt J. P. Duval, air gunner.
Probable cause:
The crew forgot to lower the undercarriage prior to landing.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Azelo: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1942 at 0256 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 416 Wellington IC
Operator:
Registration:
DV475
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Pershore - Pershore
Location:
Azelo
Overijssel
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Pershore 2233LT on June 25 on an operation to Bremen. While returning to base the following night, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Azelo. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt John Keith Crossing, pilot,
Sgt Ronald Arthur Chapman, observer,
Sgt Thomas Henry Inch, observer,
Sgt John Reginald Jones, wireless operator,
Sgt Joseph Swales, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.
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