Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Grafton Underwood: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 24, 1941 at 1005 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
V6004
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Upwood - Upwood
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Upwood on a training exercise. En route, one of the engine failed and the pilot lost control of the airplane that lost height and crashed nearby RAF Grafton Underwood. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Peter Desmond Thompson, pilot,
Sgt Allan Ian Wilson Fairbairn, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the pilot failed to follow the procedure while changing the fuel selector, causing an engine to stop.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Chelveston

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1941 at 1830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L1305
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Upwood - Upwood
MSN:
8588
YOM:
1938
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot departed RAF Upwood on a formation training exercise. When the leader ordered the pilot the formation to break, the pilot became disoriented and attempted a forced landing at the partially built airfield of Chelveston. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and the pilot escaped uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt R. S. Trigg, pilot.
Probable cause:
Pilot got disoriented after leaving the formation.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Upwood

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1941 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K7048
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Upwood - Upwood
MSN:
8001
YOM:
1937
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot was completing a solo training exercise at RAF Upwood. On final approach, the left engine failed. The pilot lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed near the airfield. The pilot was injured.
Crew:
Sgt P. A. Paquet, pilot.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine on approach.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Cromer: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R3814
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Upwood - Upwood
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a navigational exercise out from RAF Upwood. In unknown circumstances, the airplane crashed into the sea off Cromer. Two crew members were killed and a third was injured.
Crew:
Sgt Dennis Henry Farley, pilot, †
F/Sgt William Frederick Jeffery, observer, †
Sgt T. F. Heron, wireless operator.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Cressage: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1941 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R3875
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Upwood - Upwood
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training sortie from RAF Upwood. While cruising at an altitude of 2,500 feet, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a spin and crashed in Cressage. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Matthew Francis Fox, pilot,
Sgt Bruce Adams Coukell, observer,
Sgt Elias Cyril Brearley, wireless operator.

Crash of a Douglas A-20A Havoc II at RAF Upwood: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
AE472
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Upwood - Upwood
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at RAF Upwood. While circling at low altitude in the vicinity of the airbase, the pilot lost control of the airplane and bailed. The pilot escaped unhurt while the airplane crashed in a field, killing the observer who remained on board.
Crew:
Sgt J. A. Gunn, pilot,
Sgt Maurice Frederick Boynton, observer. †

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near Whittlesey

Date & Time: Aug 29, 1941 at 1415 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R3734
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Upwood - Upwood
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a training exercise out from RAF Upwood. The right engine failed in flight, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed in an open field located about 5 km west of Whittlesey. Both crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
P/O J. G. C. Grieve,
P/O G. J. Rowley.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine in flight.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near RAF Upwood

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1941 at 1205 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
V5758
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Upwood - Upwood
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training sortie from RAF Upwood. While cruising in the vicinity of the airfield, one of the engine failed. The crew attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed in a field located 6 km north of the airbase. All three crew members were injured.
Crew:
Sgt G. P. Kerr,
Sgt W. A. Brown,
Sgt A. I. Comeau.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I near Wistow

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1941 at 0110 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N4997
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Upwood - Upwood
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a night training exercise out from RAF Upwood. While returning to base, the pilot was unable to localize the flare path. As the airplane ran out of fuel, he attempted an emergency landing in a pasture located between the villages of Wistow and Bury. The airplane crash landed and was damaged beyond repair while all six occupants were uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt A. W. Dorney,
Sgt R. T. Bartlett,
Sgt P. Jacobs,
F/Sgt L. Milletts,
P/O S. Philips,
Sgt W. Fletcher.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Wilburton: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1941 at 2350 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L1245
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Upwood - Upwood
MSN:
8528
YOM:
1938
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Upwood on a night training exercise. It was shot down by the pilot of a JU.88 and crashed in Wilberton. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Ronald Peter Bell, pilot,
P/O Walter Edgar Anthony Wand, pilot,
Sgt Evan Aneurin Davies, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.