United Kingdom | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane departed RAF Hunsdon at 0105LT on a maritime patrol flight. It is believed that it was shot down by friendly fire, maybe a British fighter, and crashed into the sea off Foulness Island. The pilot was rescued while the radio operator was killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt T. A. Gibbs, pilot,
Sgt Maurice Stanley Jack Waller, radio operator. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by friendly fire.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I at RAF Marham

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1942 at 0155 LT

Type of aircraft:

Short S.29 Stirling

Operator:

Registration:

N3753

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Marham - Marham

Location:

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The airplane departed RAF Marham at 2325LT on June 1st on an operation to Essen. Returned to base with technical difficulties and crash landed at 0155LT after hitting trees while on the first approach, thus leading to a wheels up landing. There were no casualties.
Crew:
Sgt G. McAuley,
P/O J. C. Frankcomb,
P/O Tudor,
Sgt B. W. Roberts,
Sgt H. R. Davies,
Sgt E. Nettleton,
Sgt A. E. Burkitt,
Sgt G. L. A. Neale.

Probable cause:

Technical difficulties on approach and landing.

Crash of a Vickers 424 Wellington IV in North Thoresby: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1942 at 0022 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 424 Wellington IV

Operator:

Registration:

Z1410

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Grimsby - Grimsby

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The airplane departed RAF Grimsby at 2302LT on June 1st on an operation to Essen. While returning to base with failing engines, the crew attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in North Thoresby. Five crew members were killed and a sixth was injured.
Crew:
P/O Donald Patrick McDonald, pilot, †
W/O Robert Leith Cox, pilot, †
Sgt Thomas Sleeman, observer, †
Sgt Austin Smith, wireless operator, †
Sgt William Thomas Stanley, air gunner, †
Sgt C. M. Harrison, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III in Maidstone: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston

Operator:

Registration:

W8257

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

West Malling - West Malling

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The airplane departed RAF West Malling at 2335LT on June 1st on a maritime patrol flight. Shortly after midnight, it collided with a Royal Air Force Hurricane registered Z3842. Both airplane went out of control and crashed in Maidstone. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Anthony Francis McManemy, pilot,
Sgt Gordon Richard Fennell, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

In-flight collision with a RAF Hurricane.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V on Lundy Island: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 1, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

AD698

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Chivenor - Chivenor

MSN:

2492

YOM:

1942

Location:

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The airplane was returning to base at RAF Chivenor following an anti-submarine patrol flight. In poor visibility, it impacted ground and crashed on the west part of Lundy Island. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt John Edward Veal,
Sgt Oswald Austin Jones, air gunner,
Sgt Reginald Ellis,
Sgt Eric Hampson,
Sgt Harry Hannah,
Sgt Young John Markham.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I at RAF Marham

Date & Time: May 31, 1942 at 0555 LT

Type of aircraft:

Short S.29 Stirling

Operator:

Registration:

R9311

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Marham - Marham

Location:

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Region:

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The airplane departed RAF Marham at 2350LT on May 30 on an operation to Cologne. Upon takeoff, while climbing, it clipped some high ground, causing the port wheel to be sheared off. Following a successful mission over the target area, the crew returned to base and was forced to complete a belly landing as the undercarriage were partially missing. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and all eight crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt Sidney Godfrey Falconer, pilot,
Sgt Humphreys, pilot,
Sgt Birke, flight engineer,
Sgt Bertram Arthur Wolstencroft, navigator,
Sgt E. J. Harding, bomb aimer,
F/Sgt Leonard John Lawler, wireless operator,
Sgt Edward Arthur Green, air gunner,
Sgt Wilkes, air gunner.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC at RAF Kirmington: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1942 at 0550 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Operator:

Registration:

R1234

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Kirmington - Elsham Wolds

Location:

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After being dispatched on an operation to Cologne, the airplane was on a transit flight from RAF Kirmington to RAF Elsham Wolds in the early morning. Short after takeoff, while in initial climb, the port engine reduction gear failed, causing the propeller to come off. The airplane stalled and crashed 800 metres northwest from the airbase. Four crew members were killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
Sgt Leslie William Flowers, pilot, †
Sgt George Christopher Roberts, pilot, †
Sgt Albert Allan Conisbee, observer, †
Sgt Brian Clifford Slowly, wireless operator, †
Sgt Humphrey Peter Robinson, air gunner,
F/Sgt Stanley Norman Ryder, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine reduction gear after takeoff.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Norwich: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1942 at 0530 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden

Operator:

Registration:

L4173

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

City

Schedule:

Cottesmore - Cottesmore

Location:

Country:

Region:

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The airplane departed RAF Cottesmore at 2310LT on May 30 on an operation to Cologne. Over the target area, it was badly shot about by the German Flak and the crew was able to return to England on one engine. On approach to Horsham, Norwich, the airplane' speed was too high so the pilot decided to go around. At a height of 500 feet, the remaining engine failed. The airplane stalled, collided with houses and crashed in Hellesdon, in the western suburbs of Norwich. Two crew were killed and two others were seriously injured.
Crew:
F/Lt Wilfred Lawrie Cameron, pilot,
Sgt John Edward Sheridan, observer,
F/Sgt M. F. Porter, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt E. H. East, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Badly shot about by the German Flak over the target area and failure of the remaining engine while on approach to RAF Horsham, Norwich.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Soham: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1942 at 0435 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Operator:

Registration:

DV709

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

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Schedule:

Graveley - Graveley

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The airplane departed RAF Graveley at 0019LT on an operation to Cologne. While returning to base in the next early morning, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reasons. The airplane crashed near a flour mill at Soham and came to rest upside down. Three crew members were killed and two others were injured. One of the survivors later died from injuries sustained.
Crew:
Sgt John James Dixon, pilot, †
Sgt J. Scroggie, observer,
Sgt Donald George Green, wireless operator, †
Sgt Donald Broadhurst, wireless operator, †
Sgt Brian Buchan Camlin, air gunner. †

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II in March: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1942 at 0405 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II

Operator:

Registration:

W1013

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Croft - Croft

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The airplane departed RAF Croft at 2328LT on May 30 on an operation to Cologne. While returning to base the following night, the crew encountered poor weather and low visibility. The airplane collided with a Hampden registered P5321 and carrying a crew of four that just emerged from clouds. Both aircraft crashed near March. Two crew were killed and four others were injured.
Crew:
P/O Geoffrey Charles Foers, pilot,
Sgt Curtiss,
Sgt A. H. Warner,
Sgt George Bolton, wireless operator, †
F/Sgt A. W. H. Gamble,
Sgt Alan Caie, air gunner. †

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