Stradishall AFB

Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

MSN:

MW250

YOM:

1946

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After touchdown, the crew started to brake but the aircraft failed to stop, overran, lost its undercarriage and skidded for 100 yards before coming to rest in a ditch. All five crew members from the 51st Squadron were slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance due to a failure of the braking systems. It was determined that the failure of the braking systems was caused by an incorrect assembly on part of the RAF technicians.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I near RAF Stradishall

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1943 at 1222 LT

Type of aircraft:

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

Operator:

Registration:

AT786

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Stradishall - Stradishall

MSN:

3918

YOM:

1941

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a local training exercise at RAF Stradishall. For unknown reasons, the airplane overshot and later stalled and crashed in an open field located south of the airbase. Both crew members escaped unhurt.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I in Haverhill: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1943 at 0940 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N6008

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Schedule:

Stradishall - Stradishall

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Stradishall on a training exercise. En route, two engines failed, forcing the pilot to return to base. While flying at low height, the airplane collided with power line and crashed in Haverhill. Four crew members were killed as well as one person on the ground. Two other crew members were injured.
Crew:
P/O Sidney Clifford Rogers, pilot,
Sgt George Trevor Pierce, flight engineer,
Sgt Patrick Samuel O'Carroll, navigator,
Sgt Robert William Smith, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure in flight.

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

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1942 at 0317 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

BK608

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Schedule:

Newmarket - Newmarket

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The airplane departed RAF Newmarket at 1810LT on November 28 an operation to Torino. While returning to base the following night, it ran out of fuel and diverted to RAF Stradishall where it crash landed. All seven crew members escaped unhurt.
Crew:
F/Sgt K. H. Blincoe, pilot,
Sgt B. D. Hayward,
Sgt F. A. Boese,
Sgt W. J. H. Berriman,
P/O H. Lowe,
Sgt E. McDermott,
Sgt D. Clearwater, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I near RAF Stradishall: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1942 at 0342 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

W7584

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Vickers 417 Wellington III

Schedule:

Chedburgh - Chedburgh

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Chedburgh at 1844LT on November 20 on an operation to Torino. Throughout the flight, the crew had experienced severe engine difficulties and on return poor visibility was encountered. With the fuel low, the pilot ordered his crew to bail out, after which the Stirling crashed at 0342LT some 3 km west of RAF Stradishall. The pilot was killed and six other crew members parachuted to safety.
Crew:
F/Sgt E. M. Corlett, pilot,
Sgt A. H. Bradley,
Sgt F. R. Woodger,
Sgt E. J. Wrigglesworth,
Sgt R. R. Shipley,
Sgt H. Brookfield,
Sgt G. E. Webber, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Technical issues with the engines.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III into the North Sea: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

X3457

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Vickers 417 Wellington III

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Stradishall - Stradishall

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The airplane departed RAF Stradishall in the evening of September 21 on a mine laying operation. It failed to return to base and is believed to have been shot down by a German fighter and to have crashed somewhere into the North Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
Sgt Hedley Maurice Hawkins,
F/Sgt John Rimmer,
F/Sgt Joseph Eli Rodgers,
Sgt John Sanderson Sagar,
F/Sgt Whitby Shankland.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III near Ribe: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1942 at 2329 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

X3815

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Stradishall - Stradishall

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The airplane departed RAF Stradishall in the evening on a mine laying operation. It was shot down by a German fighter and crashed near Ribe. Three crew members were killed and two others parachuted to safety and became PoW.
Crew:
S/L Victor Roberton Paterson, pilot, †
F/Sgt Edwin John Rowe, wireless operator, †
F/O Raymond Edward Norton Butcher, †
P/O Charles Harold Mitchell,
Sgt Gordon Leonard Otter.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III in Novion-Porcien: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1942 at 0115 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 417 Wellington III

Operator:

Registration:

BJ689

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Stradishall - Stradishall

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The airplane departed RAF Stradishall in the evening of September 19 on an operation to Saarbrücken. Over France, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Novion-Porcien, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
P/O Ernest Akos Frederick De Bartok, pilot,
F/Sgt P. F. Brawley,
Sgt Charles Drury,
Sgt R. A. Haskins,
Sgt J. E. Bailey,
Sgt J. L. Dyhouse.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I in Häder: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1942

Type of aircraft: