Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I near RAF Woodhall Spa AFB: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1943 at 0445 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
W4175
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Woodhall Spa - Woodhall Spa
Location:
Woodhall Spa AFB
Lincolnshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Woodhall Spa at 2151LT on March 29 on an operation to Berlin. The following morning, while on approaching to base, it crashed for unknown reasons near the airfield, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
F/O Peter Hilary Norton, pilot,
Sgt James Alexander Peel, flight engineer,
F/O Gordon Charles Wardlaw Francis, navigator,
Sgt William Standring, bomb aimer,
F/Sgt Ralph Frank, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Frederick Richard Birtwistle, air gunner,
Sgt William Henry Whiting, air gunner.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I off La Baule-Escoublac: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
ED754
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Woodhall Spa - Woodhall Spa
Location:
La Baule-Escoublac
Loire-Atlantique
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Woodhall Spa at 1957LT on an operation to Saint-Nazaire. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the sea off La Baule-Escoublac. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Robert Ernest Weight, pilot,
Sgt Kenneth Frederick Green, flight engineer,
Sgt Edward Frank Ball, navigator,
Sgt Ronald James Whatley, bomb aimer,
Sgt Alexander Kemp, wireless operator,
Sgt Leslie Claude Alec Fisk, air gunner,
F/Sgt Jack Tongue, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Wulfen: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
R5607
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Woodhall Spa - Woodhall Spa
Location:
Wulfen
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Woodhall Spa at 1907LT on an operation to Essen. It was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Wulfen, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
W/O Donald Cameron Plaunt, pilot,
Sgt Trevor Lloyd Williams, flight engineer,
P/O Alexander John Smith, navigator,
F/Sgt Joseph Alfred Jean Louis Viau, bomb aimer,
Sgt William Cecil Burr, wireless operator,
Sgt Arthur William Ernest Taylor, air gunner,
Sgt George William Dillon, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Berlin-Lankwitz: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
W4825
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Woodhall Spa - Woodhall Spa
Location:
Berlin-Lankwitz
Berlin
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Woodhall Spa at 1849LT on an operation to Berlin. Over the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak, exploded in the air and crashed in the district of Berlin-Lankwitz. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Andrew Innes, pilot,
Sgt Ronald Unwin, flight engineer,
Sgt Charles Edward Bellamy, navigator,
Sgt Harry McAuley Frew, bomb aimer,
Sgt Andrew Syme Adger, wireless operator,
Sgt Leslie Albert Horne, air gunner,
Sgt John Little, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I off Petten: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1943 at 0310 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
W4835
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Woodhall Spa - Woodhall Spa
Location:
Petten
North Holland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Woodhall Spa at 2348LT on January 30 on an operation to Hamburg. While flying along the Dutch coast, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the sea some 10 km southwest of Petten. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Ronald Albert Moyle, pilot,
Sgt Walter Henry Brunning, flight engineer,
Sgt Frank Spurr, navigator,
Sgt Graham James Hunt, bomb aimer,
Sgt Percival James Davey, wireless operator,
Sgt Phillip John Thomas, air gunner,
Sgt Victor Loar, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Maarheeze: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1943 at 2025 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
W4135
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Woodhall Spa - Woodhall Spa
Location:
Maarheeze
North Brabant
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Woodhall Spa at 1720LT on an operation to Düsseldorf. Over the Netherlands, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Maarheeze. Two crew members were killed and five others became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Andrew Robinson, pilot,
Sgt Richard Harvey, flight engineer,
Sgt Charles Pierre De Ferrand Bigg, navigator,
Sgt Albert Eric Croome, bomb aimer,
Sgt Kenneth James West, wireless operator,
Sgt Ralph Muskett, air gunner, †
F/Sgt Robert William Rea, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in the Waddenzee: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
R5575
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Woodhall Spa - Woodhall Spa
Location:
Waddenzee
All The Netherlands
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Woodhall Spa at 1703LT on an operation to Berlin. Over The Netherlands, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in the Waddenzee. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt George Arthur Axup,
F/Sgt Henry Craig Beebe,
Sgt John Bell,
Sgt John Charles Brottain,
Sgt Peter Lane,
Sgt Geoffrey Harold Rowson,
Sgt John Edgar West.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I near Maasbree: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1943 at 1915 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
R5738
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Woodhall Spa - Woodhall Spa
Location:
Maasbree
Limburg
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Woodhall Spa at 1707LT on an operation to Essen. Over the Netherlands, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed near Maasbree. Six crew members were killed and one became PoW.
Crew:
F/Sgt S. R. Colbert, pilot, †
Sgt T. Hesketh, flight engineer, †
Sgt D. D. Richardson, navigator, †
Sgt W. S. Hignell, bomb aimer, †
Sgt D. J. Dell, wireless operator,
Sgt D. Wright, air gunner, †
Sgt T. P. Bowles, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Amsterdam: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1942 at 2111 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
R5512
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Woodhall Spa - Woodhall Spa
Location:
Amsterdam
North Holland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Woodhall Spa at 1808LT on an operation to Duisburg. Over Amsterdam, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Amsterdam Noord. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O William Norman Eales, pilot,
Sgt James Donald, flight engineer,
Sgt Sydney Victor Deed, navigator,
P/O Milton Alexander Harper, bomb aimer,
F/Sgt Arthur Mortimer, wireless operator,
Sgt Roy Henry Bambury, air gunner,
Sgt George Henderson, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I off Egmond aan Zee: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1942 at 2246 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
R5497
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Woodhall Spa - Woodhall Spa
Location:
Egmond aan Zee
North Holland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Woodhall Spa at 1708LT on an operation to Neustadt. While returning to base in the late evening, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the sea 5 km west of Egmond aan Zee. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O James Edward Bunt, pilot,
F/Sgt John Stewart Macks,navigator,
Sgt William Cecil Morgan, flight engineer,
W/O Robert Stewart Donald, bomb aimer,
Sgt Clifford Alexander Farrimond, wireless operator,
F/Sgt James George Hebdon, air gunner,
Sgt John George Liney, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.
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