Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I at RAF Skellingthorpe

Date & Time: May 9, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R5778
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Skellingthorpe - Skellingthorpe
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Skellingthorpe at 2147LT on May 8 on an operation to Warnemünde. While approaching the target area, it was hit by the German Flak, and soon afterwards, the starboard engine failed. The crew was able to return to base where the airplane landed safely. However, it was damaged beyond repair following a technical inspection.
Crew:
Sgt Jim B. Wilkie, pilot,
Sgt Edward William Finch, air gunner,
Sgt David Monroe Baird,
Sgt Alastair C. Benn,
Sgt Byres,
Sgt Jock W. Campbell.
Probable cause:
Badly shot about by the German Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF White Waltham: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 9, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K7086
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
White Waltham - White Waltham
MSN:
8039
YOM:
1937
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane was in the circuit of RAF White Waltham when it collided with a second RAF Blenheim registered L8439. Both airplanes crashed at Cox Green nearby the airfield. The pilot, sole on board, was killed. Two other people were killed in the second aircraft.
Crew:
F/O John Burge Erickson, pilot.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF White Waltham: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 9, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L8439
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
White Waltham - White Waltham
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane was in the circuit of RAF White Waltham when it collided with a second RAF Blenheim registered K7086 and piloted by F/O John Burge Erickson, a US pilot. Both airplanes crashed at Cox Green nearby the airfield. A crew member on board L8439 survived while three other crews were killed.
Crew:
F/O Richard Stanley Pavey, pilot.
The pilot was injured while both other occupants were killed, Mr. Thomas Walton, a civil training pilot, as well as a Director of Burnley Aircraft Products Ltd.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II at RAF Linton-on-Ouse

Date & Time: May 8, 1942 at 1530 LT
Operator:
Registration:
W7675
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Linton-on-Ouse - Linton-on-Ouse
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local test flight at RAF Linton-on-Ouse when the airplane crashed for unknown reasons upon landing. Both crew members escaped unhurt.
Crew:
Sgt N. Booth,
Sgt S. R. Stickney.

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

Date & Time: May 8, 1942 at 1213 LT
Operator:
Registration:
W7673
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Leeming - Leeming
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at RAF Leeming, the airplane swung off the runway and wrecked in the ensuing crash. There were no injuries among the crew.
Crew:
F/L A. E. Hacking +4.
Probable cause:
It was suggested that the pilot was suffering from operational fatigue and this may have been a contributory factor.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Beckingham: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 8, 1942 at 0250 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z1161
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moreton-in-Marsh - Moreton-in-Marsh
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Moreton-in-Marsh on a night training sortie. En route, the right engine caught fire. Three crew were able to bail out just before the airplane crashed into trees. Three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Robert Isaac Hart, pilot,
Sgt Lawrence Joseph Tighe, bomb aimer,
Sgt Ian McNaughton Fergusson, air gunner, †
Sgt P. W. S. Brooke,
Sgt Hermann Heinrich Julius Rohrlach, †
Sgt Willoughby Lloyd Williams. †
Probable cause:
The right engine caught fire in flight.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V at RAF Langham

Date & Time: May 8, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AM540
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
North Coates - North Coates
MSN:
414-2622
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF North Coates on a maritime patrol flight. At 0451LT, while flying along the Dutch coast, it was badly shot about by a German fighter. Nevertheless, the crew was able to return to England and attempted an emergency landing at RAF Langham where it crashed upon landing. All three crew members escaped unhurt.
Crew:
Sgt J. Rickards,
Sgt K. H. Whitnall,
Sgt N. Smith.
Probable cause:
Badly shot about by a German fighter.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II at RAF Linton-on-Ouse

Date & Time: May 7, 1942 at 0230 LT
Operator:
Registration:
W1051
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Linton-on-Ouse - Linton-on-Ouse
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Linton-on-Ouse at 2216LT on May 6 on an operation to Stuttgart. While returning to base the following night, it swung after landing, veered off runway and collided with a parked Halifax I registered L9568 belonging to the Conversion Flight. Both airplanes were damaged beyond repair and there were no injuries.
Crew:
Sgt H. A. Brown,
Sgt Elliott,
P/O Harvey,
Sgt Long,
Sgt Ogg,
Sgt Stewart,
Sgt Burtonshaw.

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

Date & Time: May 7, 1942 at 0100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
DJ972
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lakenheath - Lakenheath
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Lakenheath at 2220LT on May 6 on an operation to Stuttgart. It was badly shot about by a German fighter. Nevertheless, the crew was able to return to England. After landing, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and was wrecked. There were no injuries.
Crew:
F/O M. A. Brogan,
Sgt R. L. Raphael,
Sgt Morrow,
F/S Spencer,
Sgt D. J. Poynter,
Sgt L. Shearer,
Sgt Rosher.
Probable cause:
Badly shot about by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 424 Wellington IV at RAF Hemswell

Date & Time: May 7, 1942 at 0010 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R1610
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hemswell - Hemswell
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training sortie at RAF Hemswell. Upon takeoff, the airplane failed to gain sufficient height, stalled and sank back onto the runway. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and both pilots were unhurt.
Crew.
Sgt Szychowiak, pilot,
Sgt L. Rebinski, pilot.
Probable cause:
The accident was attributed to the throttles retarding, causing the airplane to sink back onto the runway.