Crash of a Avro 683 Lancaster I at RAF Woodhall Spa

Date & Time: May 5, 1942 at 0141 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R5553
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Woodhall Spa - Woodhall Spa
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Woodhall Spa at 2257LT on May 4 on an operation to Stuttgart. Crossing the French coast, it is believed that the airplane was hit by the German Flak. The operation was abandoned and the crew decided to return to base. Without flaps, the airplane overshot and crashed. All seven crew members evacuated safely.
Crew:
S/L David John Hatfeild Maltby, pilot,
F/Sgt George William Lancey, flight engineer,
Sgt Max Rupert Haynes Smith, navigator,
Sgt Rouse, bomb aimer,
Sgt Eric Norman Grimwood, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Legace, air gunner,
Sgt Humphrey, air gunner.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I near Great Bentley: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1942 at 0125 LT
Operator:
Registration:
P1187
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Waddington - Waddington
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Waddington on May 4 on an operation to Stuttgart. Passing over Luxembourg, it was hit by the German Flak. The crew was able to return to England but was eventually forced to attempt an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in St.Mary's Farm, Great Bentley. A crew was killed and three others were rescued.
Crew:
Sgt Frederick Staples Hiley, pilot,
Sgt George Henry Germain, observer,
F/Sgt James Frederick Halward, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt George Debbage Johnson, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Hit by the German Flak.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC at RAF Elsham Wolds: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
X9816
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Elsham Wolds - Elsham Wolds
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at RAF Elsham Wolds. On final approach, the airplane collided with a fence and crashed short of runway, bursting into flames. The airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire. The air gunner was killed and four others were injured.
Crew:
Sgt J. G. Blandford,
Sgt F. B. Swinfin,
Sgt G. Quested,
P/O J. W. Craig,
Sgt George McCulloch McGavin, air gunner. †

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-5 in Exeter: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 4, 1942 at 0239 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
4D+FU
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
5169
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane was shot down by a British fighter and crashed in Exeter, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
Uffz Bernhard Leyser,
Uffz Wilhelm Pfeiff,
Gefr Ernst Keil,
Gefr A. Koepl.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Warboys

Date & Time: May 4, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L8373
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Warboys - Warboys
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 flight at RAF Warboys. Upon landing, a tire burst and the airplane crashed. Both crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
F/Sgt James George Bruce, pilot,
Sgt H. Hardman, pilot.
Probable cause:
Tire burst on landing.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III into Sand Bay

Date & Time: May 3, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
X3756
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Engaged in a training flight, the airplane was abandoned by the crew who bailed out over the Sand Bay where the airplane crashed. Both occupants were injured.
Crew:
Sgt R. R. Abercrombie,
Sgt E. Bunt.
Probable cause:
Airplane abandoned due to fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7 Boston III at RAF West Malling: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 3, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
W8340
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
West Malling - West Malling
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed while taking off from RAF West Malling. Three crew members were killed, a fourth later died from injuries sustained and a fifth was injured.
Crew:
P/O H. H. Whitfield, †
Sgt G. E. Fallis, †
F/Lt H. W. Biggs, †
Sgt R. E. Williams, †
F/O J. A. Elliott.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha in Blackpool

Date & Time: May 3, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6330
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
7870/27
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane suffered an engine failure and crashed landed on a beach in Blackpool. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II in Walshford

Date & Time: May 2, 1942 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z8645
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lindholme - Lindholme
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a test flight out from RAF Lindholme. En route, the port engine developed severe vibration then the starboard engine one caught fire. The airplane crash landed in Walshford and was damaged beyond repair. Three crew members were injured.
Crew:
F/O Kazimierz Wacław Konopasek, pilot,
S/L Karol Zaucha, pilot,
F/Sgt Stanisław Wicherek, electrician,
Sgt Paweł Beeger, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Warboys

Date & Time: May 2, 1942 at 0005 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L1313
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Warboys - Warboys
MSN:
8596
YOM:
1938
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Warboys in the evening of May 1st on a local training flight. Shortly after midnight, the airplane collided with trees and crashed near the airbase, bursting into flames. Both crew members were injured.
Crew:
Sgt T. E. Voges, pilot,
Sgt R. I. Parker, observer.