United Kingdom | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane departed RAF Cottesmore on a cross country exercise to South Wales. The airplane failed to arrive at destination and is believed to have crashed in the Bristol Channel. Lost without trace.
Crew:
Sgt Victor George Carter,
Sgt Jerome Gordon Wood,
F/Sgt Donald Frederick Glinz,
F/Sgt William Ross Howard,
F/Sgt Harry Robinson Williams.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II near Blyton

Date & Time: May 6, 1942 at 0543 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 406 Wellington II

Operator:

Registration:

W5573

Flight Phase:

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Schedule:

Lindholme - Lindholme

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The airplane departed RAF Lindholme at 2208LT on May 5 on an operation to Stuttgart. While returning to base the following morning, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reasons. The airplane crash landed in an open field located 3 km northeast from Blyton. All six crew members escaped with various injuries.
Crew:
P/O Tadeusz Ginter, pilot,
F/O Kazimierz Zygmunt Wieliczko, pilot,
F/O Zbigniew Antoni Siarkowski, pilot,
Sgt Marian Kita, pilot,
Sgt Roman Marian Galewicz, observer,
Sgt Józef Borowiak, air gunner.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III in Blyton

Date & Time: May 6, 1942 at 0530 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 417 Wellington III

Operator:

Registration:

X3673

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Snaith - Snaith

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The airplane departed RAF Snaith at 2235LT on May 5 on an operation to Stuttgart. Over the target area, it was hit by the German Flak but the crew was able to return to England. Nevertheless, approaching the base, the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing in an open field when the airplane collided with obstacles and crashed, bursting into flames. All six crew members escaped with various injuries.
Crew:
Sgt Robert Wilson Baxter,
Sgt E. G. Bounds,
F/Sgt Anthony Roland Tipple,
Sgt M. Swale,
Sgt D. S. Bright,
Sgt Gettings.

Probable cause:

Emergency landing after being hit by the German Flak over the target area.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington II in Askern

Date & Time: May 6, 1942 at 0215 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 417 Wellington III

Operator:

Registration:

X3451

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Snaith - Snaith

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The airplane departed RAF Snaith at 2220LT on May 5 on an operation to Stuttgart. While returning to base the following night, the crew encountered technical problems with the front turret that became unserviceable as well as trouble with the port engine. The crew elected to reach RAF Finningley but was finally forced to attempt an emergency landing in an open field located in Askern, north of Doncaster. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all six crew members escaped with various injuries.
Crew:
F/Sgt Richard Bradburn Davenport, pilot,
Sgt Frederick Sellers, pilot,
P/O Owen Horace Morgan, navigator,
Sgt Edington, wireless operator,
Sgt Gordon Empey, air gunner,
Sgt Samuel Norris, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Emergency landing due to technical issues with the front turret and trouble with the left engine.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I near Saint Cuthbert: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 6, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

K7091

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

8044

YOM:

1937

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The pilot was completing a night solo training flight when the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances near St Cuthbert. The pilot was killed.
Crew:
Sgt Angus McBean, pilot.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I off RAF Squires Gate: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 6, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Blackburn B-26 Botha

Operator:

Registration:

L6141

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

7862/12

YOM:

1939

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The airplane was completing a training flight when one of the engine caught fire and exploded in flight. Out of control, the airplane crashed into the Irish sea some 19 km off RAF Squires Gate, Blackpool. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lac Harry Allen,
Sgt Robert Benjamin Duncombe,
Sgt Gaythorne Hardy,
A2c David Donald Lindsay.

Probable cause:

Engine fire in flight.

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

Date & Time: May 5, 1942 at 1207 LT

Type of aircraft:

Short S.29 Stirling

Operator:

Registration:

N6092

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Stradishall - Stradishall

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The crew was engaged in a local training sortie out from RAF Stradishall. During the takeoff roll, the airplane swung and came to rest with a collapsed undercarriage. There were no injuries among the crew.
Crew:
P/O C. M. Gasper,
Sgt M. Savage.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Barrow-in-Furness: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1942 at 1000 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

W2631

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Wigtown - Wigtown

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The airplane departed RAF Wigtown on a training mission. While cruising at an altitude of 2,500 feet, the twin engine airplane collided with a balloon cable. It entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed at the Cavendish Dock in Barrow-in-Furness. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt George Emanuel Daniels, pilot,
Sgt Kenneth John Niel, observer,
Sgt Sidney Harold Victor Osborne, observer,
Sgt William John Perkins, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

In-flight collision with a balloon cable.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I near Mulbarton

Date & Time: May 5, 1942 at 0455 LT

Type of aircraft:

Short S.29 Stirling

Operator:

Registration:

W7521

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Marham - Marham

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The airplane departed RAF Marham at 2210LT on May 4 on an operation to Stuttgart. It was hit by the German Flak and severely damaged. The crew elected to return to base but eventually crash landed at 0455LT near Mulbarton. The airplane was destroyed and all eight crew members escaped with various injuries.
Crew:
P/O L. W. Richards,
Sgt A. E. Burkitt,
Sgt N. J. Stronell,
Sgt G. McAuley,
Sgt G. L. A. Neale,
Sgt S. E. Stevens,
Sgt B. W. Roberts,
Sgt E. Nettleton.

Probable cause:

Crash landed after being hit by the German Flak.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I near Lurgashall

Date & Time: May 5, 1942 at 0430 LT

Type of aircraft:

Short S.29 Stirling

Operator:

Registration:

R9313

Flight Phase:

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Marham - Marham

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The airplane departed RAF Marham at 2230LT on May 4 to drop leaflets in the Laon region of France. While returning to base, the airplane was intercepted and shot down by a Havoc/Hurricane combination from 1455 Flight based at Tangmere. On fire, the bomber crashed at 0430LT in a meadow at Gatehouse Farm, Lurgashall. All eight crew members sustained various injuries.
Crew:
Sgt H. J. V. Ashworth,
P/O C. MacQ Farquharson,
P/O A. W. Green,
F/Sgt St John,
Sgt Medhurst,
Sgt W. R. Watt,
Sgt Mulroy,
Sgt W. J. Hayden.

Probable cause:

Mistakenly shot down by RAF fighter.

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