Asansol

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

Z9798

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Asansol - Asansol

Location:

Chittagong

Country:

Bangladesh

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Asansol Airfield on an operation to Akyab. Over the target area, it was badly shot about by a Japanese fighter. Nevertheless, the crew was able to leave the combat area and to divert to Chittagong Airport where the airplane crashed upon landing and was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
P/O J. A. McMillan, pilot,
Sgt Purdon, observer,
Sgt Carruthers, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I off Akyab: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

V5425

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Asansol - Asansol

Location:

Akyab

Rakhine State (Arakan)

Country:

Myanmar

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Asansol Airfield on an operation to Akyab. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea off Akyab. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O George Albert Mockridge, pilot,
Sgt Donald Horace Brown, observer,
Sgt Garrick Ridley HALL, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Asansol

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

V5642

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Asansol - Asansol

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at Asansol Airfield, the elevator jammed. The crew rejected the takeoff procedure but the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and crashed on a bank. All three crew members were uninjured.

Probable cause:

Elevator jammed on takeoff.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Katihar: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Operator:

Registration:

T2245

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Asansol - Asansol

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was engaged in a reconnaissance mission out from RAF Asansol. While flying over a railroad track at low height, the pilot failed to see in time a signal post. The left wing impacted the post and the airplane crashed. The pilot was killed instantly and both other crewmen were later killed by locals.
Crew:
F/Sgt Stanley Arthur Goss, pilot,
F/Sgt Charles Alexander Whiteside, observer,
Sgt Arthur Murray, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Pilot error.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Asansol

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z7881

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Asansol - Asansol

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll, the speed indicator failed. The crew abandoned the takeoff procedure but the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and crashed. All three crew members escaped unhurt.

Probable cause:

Instrument failure on takeoff.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Asansol

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

V6181

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Asansol - Asansol

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Asansol Airport, the airplane went out of control and crashed, bursting into flames. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the airplane was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

Loss of control after the elevator control failed to respond.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near Akyab: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 23, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden

Operator:

Registration:

Z9721

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Asansol - Asansol

Location:

Akyab

Rakhine State (Arakan)

Country:

Myanmar

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Asansol Airfield at 1100LT to attack ships lying off Akyab. Approaching the target area, the airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed. Two crew members were killed and a third became PoW.
Crew:
F/O Leslie Cosmo Edwards, pilot, †
Lt Leonard James Beesly, †
Sgt James Bayfield 'Jim' Coppin.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Calcutta: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

V6029

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden

Schedule:

Asansol - Calcutta

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Asansol Airbase on an operational sortie then continued to Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport. After landing, the airplane went out of control and crashed with a parked Wellington registered BB510. The airplane caught fire and exploded. All three crew members were injured, the pilot died five days later from injuries sustained.
Crew:
Lt John Ferguson McGlashan, pilot, †
Sgt Harry Charnley,
Sgt P. Richardson.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden IV in Calcutta

Date & Time: May 22, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z9808

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: