Sheringham | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane departed RAF Snaith at 2325LT on June 11 on an operation to Düsseldorf. Homebound, it was hit by anti-aircraft fire from a British convoy in the North Sea and ditched about 16 km northeast of Sheringham. A crew was killed, one was injured and five others were rescued.
Crew:
F/Sgt J. H. Collins, pilot,
Sgt E. Toole,
Sgt D. L. Green,
Sgt H. H. Parker,
Sgt Philip George Spreckly, wireless operator, †
Sgt B. S. Uppington,
F/Sgt K. R. Brook, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Mistakenly shot down by a British convoy.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II off Sheringham

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1942 at 0640 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II

Operator:

Registration:

W7774

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Tempsford - Tempsford

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Tempsford on October 29 on a Special Operation Executive (Operation Wrench) consisting of dropping Polish agents, supply weapons, ammunition, explosives and large sums of money to the resistance in Poland. The airplane was badly shot about by German night-fighters, sustaining damage to control surfaces, engines and fuel tanks. While returning to base the following morning, the airplane was ditched in the sea off Sheringham. All occupants were rescued.
Crew:
W/O S. Klosowski, pilot,
F/Lt S. Krol,
F/Sgt Wasilewski.