Zone
Essex

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I into the North Sea: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Short S.29 Stirling
Operator:
Registration:
BK644
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Ridgewell - Ridgewell
Location:
North Sea
World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Ridgewell at 1804LT on a mine laying operation off the Frisian Islands. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed somewhere into the North Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
F/Sgt J. Wood, pilot,
Sgt A. Carr,
Sgt J. F. Christon,
Sgt W. G. Harris,
Sgt D. W. Howard,
Sgt S. Baxter,
Sgt C. C. Greenaway,
Sgt L. A. France, air gunner.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I in Willeskop: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1943 at 2300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short S.29 Stirling
Operator:
Registration:
BF415
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Ridgewell - Ridgewell
Location:
Willeskop
Utrecht
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Ridgewell at 1822LT on an operation to Hamburg. While overflying The Netherlands, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Willeskop, southwest of Utrecht. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew (90th Squadron):
P/O George Douglas MacDougall, pilot,
P/O Gerald Stephens, pilot,
Sgt Leslie Howard Jenkins, flight engineer,
Sgt Claud Gordon Humphrey MacTavish, observer,
Sgt Richard Thompson Williams, navigator,
Sgt George Chirrey Adam, wireless operator,
Sgt Patrick Joseph Egan, air gunner,
F/O Frederick Arthur Parton, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I at RAF Ridgewell

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1942 at 1055 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short S.29 Stirling
Operator:
Registration:
BK625
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Ridgewell - Ridgewell
Location:
Ridgewell AFB
Essex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on a local training exercise, the airplane crashed on landing at RAF Ridgewell and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.
Crew:
F/Sgt A. W. Freeman, pilot +4.
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