Zone
Norfolk

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings at RAF West Raynham

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings
Operator:
Registration:
WD491
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
MSN:
119
YOM:
1951
Location:
West Raynham AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at RAF West Raynham, a tire burst. The pilot lost control of the airplane that veered off runway and came to rest. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by a tire burst during takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III near Hoeven: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1943 at 1605 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
W8302
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
Location:
Hoeven
North Brabant
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed RAF West Raynham at 1503LT on an operation to Roosendaal. While approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak. All four crew members bailed out then the airplane crashed in a field and was destroyed. Two crew were killed and two others became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Walter Eric Burns, pilot, †
F/Sgt William Austin Brown, observer, †
Sgt Charles Aitchison McNair, wireless operator,
Sgt David John Searle, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell II at RAF West Raynham: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1942
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
FL206
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
MSN:
82-5283
YOM:
1941
Location:
West Raynham AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight at RAF West Raynham. For unknown reasons, the airplane spun and crashed near the airfield. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt D. C. Tanner,
Sgt E. H. Boreham,
Sgt L. H. Horton,
Lac F. E. Barnett.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim V in Little Dunham

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1942 at 1610 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
BA805
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
Location:
Little Dunham
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF West Raynham on a training exercise. En route, one of the engine failed, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane belly landed in an open field located in Little Dunham and was damaged beyond repair. All three crew members were rescued, among them one was injured.
Crew:
Sgt W. L. Williams, pilot,
Sgt J. R. Brown,
P/O E. J. Clarke.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III at RAF West Raynham

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
AL756
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
Location:
West Raynham AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training sortie at RAF West Raynham. It crashed upon landing, losing the nose wheel in the process. Both crew members escaped uninjured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
F/O W. N. Hale +1.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II at RAF West Raynham

Date & Time: Aug 6, 1942 at 0430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II
Operator:
Registration:
W7706
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Topcliffe - Topcliffe
Location:
West Raynham AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Topcliffe at 2205LT on August 5 on an operation to Bochum. It was badly shot about by a German fighter, after leaving the target area. With one engine out of action and half of the starboard rudder destroyed, the crew crash landed at 0430LT at RAF West Raynham. The airplane was destroyed and all crew members escaped unhurt.
Crew:
F/Sgt F. A. Schaw,
Sgt S. J. E. Dunn,
Sgt L. C. Fantani,
Sgt H. Johnson,
Sgt L. H. Cailes,
Sgt R. Levente,
Sgt A. Huddlestone.
Probable cause:
Badly shot about by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Chester: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
R3813
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
Location:
Chester
Cheshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF West Raynham for 'Exercice Dryshod' which involved a flight to RAF Wigtown. It crashed at Lacha Lane, Chester, following an engine fire. It is believed that the crew were trying to make an emergency landing at RAF Hawarden. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Archibald Jack Hicks, pilot,
Sgt Philip James Stewart, observer,
F/Sgt Arthur Haydn Frederick Chote, wireless operator,
A1c George Craddock, air gunner,
Lac James Lewis Joseph Barnes, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Ganderkesee: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1942 at 0214 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
V5635
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
Location:
Ganderkesee
Lower Saxony
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF West Raynham at 2315LT on an intruder sortie to Vechta. It was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Ganderkesee. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O George Anthony Strasser, pilot,
P/O Eric George Henry Allen observer,
Sgt John Christopher Harrold, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Schandelo: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1942 at 0120 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
R3837
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
Location:
Schandelo
Limburg
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 West Raynham at 2346LT on an intruder sortie to Reinhold Knacke. North of Venlo, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Schandelo. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Leonard Causley, pilot,
Sgt George Reginald Stone Spencer, observer,
Sgt Lawrence Aubrey Lytton Gray, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I into the North Sea: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
V6264
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
West Raynham - West Raynham
Location:
North Sea
World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF West Raynham at 2355LT on July 25 on an intruder operation to Leeuwarden. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed somewhere into the North Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
F/Sgt Percy Gartshore Leslie,
F/Sgt Robert Ainslie Smith,
W/O Eugene Edward Warnick.
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