West Raynham AFB

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Operator:

Registration:

L1100

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

West Raynham - White Waltham

MSN:

8383

YOM:

1938

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot departed RAF West Raynham on a ferry flight to White Waltham. Upon takeoff, the airplane stalled and crashed onto a hangar and was destroyed. The pilot was seriously injured.
Crew.
Cpt Carill Stanley Napier, pilot.

Probable cause:

The airplane could not get sufficient height and speed upon takeoff because the pilot took a too short run. This was aggravated by a loss of engine power because the throttles creeping back as friction adjusting nut had not been tightened up.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near Plympton

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1940 at 0515 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z5801

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

West Raynham - West Raynham

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Other fatalities:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF West Raynham at 2108LT on December 16 on an operation to Mannheim. While returning to base the following morning, it ran out of fuel and was abandoned by the crew while approaching Plymouth. The airplane dove into the ground and crashed in the Newnham Deer Park located north of Plympton and was destroyed. All three crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
P/O C. E. Hill,
P/O R. E. Glover,
F/O J. V. Baker.

Probable cause:

Fuel exhaustion.

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

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

T2039

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

West Raynham - West Raynham

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF West Raynham at 2051LT on December 16 on an operation to Mannheim. Presumed lost over the North Sea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew.
Sgt Henry James Clarke,
Sgt George Matheson Wilcox,
Sgt Michael Joseph Oliver Heaney.

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

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

P6953

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

West Raynham - West Raynham

MSN:

9463

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF West Raynham at 2108LT on December 16 on an operation to Mannheim. The following night, while returning to base, it crashed in unknown circumstances in Fairlight. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt William Skipworth, pilot,
Sgt Walter Edward Need, observer,
Sgt Donald Stephenson, wireless operator and air gunner.

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

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N6238

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

West Raynham - West Raynham

MSN:

9335

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF West Raynham in the evening of November 24 on an operation to Hamburg. It crashed in unknown circumstances into the North Sea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Stanley Alfred Waugh, pilot,
Sgt Ronald Cox,
Sgt Adolphus Wilfred Norman.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF West Raynham: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1940 at 2258 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

N6236

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

City

Schedule:

West Raynham - West Raynham

MSN:

9333

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF West Raynham at 1718LT on an operation to Wanne-Eickel. During the operation, the starboard propeller reduction gear sheered and the propeller fell off. The pilot was able to evacuate the area and to return to base, but the airplane crashed into West Raynham village while trying to land. All three crew members were seriously injured. Sgt Green died on 28 November from injuries sustained.
Crew:
Sgt B. J. Redmond, pilot,
Sgt Henry Ernest Geen, observer, †
Sgt A. G. Woodruff, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Failure of the starboard propeller reduction gear in flight.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I near RAF West Raynham

Date & Time: Nov 8, 1940 at 0700 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

X2994

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Lindholme - Lindholme

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Lindholme at 2100LT on November 7 on an operation to Essen. The following morning, the airplane crashed near RAF West Raynham after all requests to land were refused or ignored. All four crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
F/O E. B. Liddell,
Sgt Leech,
Sgt A. S. Atkinson,
Sgt E. McConnell.

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

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1940 at 2300 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

T2246

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

West Raynham - West Raynham

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF West Raynham on an operation to North Western Germany. While returning to base in the late evening, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane crashed in Coleby. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Jack Milton Cave, pilot,
Sgt John Gregson Hitchen, observer,
Sgt Clifford John Gooderick, wireless operator and air gunner.

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

Date & Time: Sep 25, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

P6905

Flight Phase:

Flight Type: