Zone
Norfolk

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson C.19 in RAF Watton: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
VM381
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Watton - Watton
Location:
Watton AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training sortie. On final approach with one engine voluntarily inoperative, the pilot-in-command elected to make a go around when he lost control of the aircraft that stalled and crashed in a field. Both pilots were killed while three other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DK into the North Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-48478
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Watton – Reims
MSN:
25739/14294
YOM:
1944
Location:
North Sea
World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Bound for Reims Airbase, in France, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the North Sea. No trace of the aircraft nor the four crew members was ever found.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-1-CO Liberator near RAF Watton: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
41-23703
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
498
YOM:
1942
Location:
Watton AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training exercise when the airplane broke up in midair and crashed 5 km southwest of RAF Watton. All eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Bill McCoy, pilot,
1st Lt Robert D. Hook, navigator,
2nd Lt John C. Brown, bombardier,
M/Sgt Allen D. Smith, crew chief,
S/Sgt David W. Johnston Jr., radio operator.
Passengers:
Sgt Kenneth C. Sivertsen,
Cpl Albert H. Berg,
Cpl Walter Binienda.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near RAF Watton: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1942 at 1655 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
V5851
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Bodney - Bodney
Location:
Watton AFB
Norfolk
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 completing a training sortie out from RAF Bodney. While engaged in a low level bombing exercise, the airplane impacted trees and crashed. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Frank Brown Graham Heron, pilot,
F/Sgt George Douglas Maluish, observer,
Sgt George Edward Step, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Terschelling: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
V5580
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Watton - Watton
Location:
Terschelling
Friesland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Watton at 1215LT on an anti-shipping operation. Approaching the Dutch coast, it crashed into the sea off Terschelling. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Frederick Charles Powles, pilot,
Sgt John Douglas Life, observer,
F/Sgt Simon James Williams, wireless operator.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Watton: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 13, 1941 at 1110 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
V5463
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Watton - Watton
Location:
Watton AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a local training exercise at RAF Watton and took off at 1108LT. Two minutes later, while climbing, it stalled and crashed onto a hangar, bursting into flames. Five occupants were killed and a sixth was injured.
Crew:
P/O Frederic Norman Grant, pilot, †
F/Sgt Ronald Edward Hall, pilot, †
Sgt Peter Ernest Ritter, observer, †
Sgt Thomas James Wade Thomas, wireless operator, †
P/O Ernest James Tuckey, observer, †
Cpl E. Clayton.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the airplane stalled after it climbed at a too steep an angle.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Rotterdam: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1941 at 2025 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
V5825
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Watton - Watton
Location:
Rotterdam
South Holland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Watton at 1445LT on an operation to Rotterdam. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by a Me.109 and crashed into the harbor of Rotterdam. A crew was killed and two others became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Raymond Jervis Somerfield, †
F/Lt William Beckingham,
F/Lt William Logie MacDonald.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

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

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1941 at 2010 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
V6436
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Watton - Watton
Location:
Maassluis
South Holland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Watton at 1447LT on an operation to Rotterdam. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Maassluis, west of Rotterdam. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Frank Kerr Orme, pilot,
P/O Stanley Frederick Maude Gunnis, observer,
F/O Albert Henry Collins, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off 's-Gravenzande: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1941 at 1955 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
Z7447
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Watton - Watton
Location:
's-Gravenzande
South Holland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Watton at 1446LT on an operation to Rotterdam. Over the target area, it was damaged by the German Flak and later crashed into the sea off 's-Gravenzande. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/L Richard Ashton Shuttleworth,
F/Sgt Dennis John Mackan, observer,
F/Sgt George Brittain, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

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

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
Z7435
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Watton - Watton
Location:
Rozenburg
South Holland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Watton at 1446LT on an operation to Rotterdam. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in Rozenburg. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Kenneth Hayes, pilot,
Sgt Allan Arthur Cecil Shaddick, observer,
Sgt Raymond Frank Brian, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.
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