Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC near Pontivy

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1941 at 2046 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T2565
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Boscombe Down - Boscombe Down
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Boscombe Down at 1830LT on a special signals investigation flight over France. During the course of the operation, the starboard airscrew fell off and the airplane was abandoned by the crew over Pontivy and crashed. Six crew members became PoW and another one evaded.
Crew:
P/O Leslie George Bull, pilot,
F/Sgt Norman Wallis Mackenzie, pilot,
P/O Howard Goolding Cundall, radar specialist,
P/O William Jack Grisman, observer,
Sgt John Gannon, wireless operator,
F/Sgt William George Statham, wireless operator,
Sgt Oscar Albert Sheffield, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right airscrew in flight.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I near RAF Boscombe Down

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1941 at 0430 LT
Operator:
Registration:
AE188
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Scampton – Scampton
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Scampton at 2002LT on September 8 on an operation to Kassel. While returning to base the following morning, it crash landed in a field close to RAF Boscombe Down. A crew was injured and three others were unhurt.
Crew:
Sgt G. S. Linacre, pilot,
Sgt C. R. Speakman,
Sgt B. G. Galloway-Wilson,
Sgt R. H. Calder.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24A-CO Liberator at RAF Boscombe Down

Date & Time: May 16, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
AM912
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Boscombe Down - Boscombe Down
MSN:
3
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training cession at RAF Boscombe Down, when the nose gear collapsed upon landing. There were no casualties and the airplane was not repaired.
Probable cause:
Nose gear failure upon landing.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near RAF Barkston Heath: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T2038
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Boscombe Down - Boscombe Down
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Boscombe Down at 2339LT on March 21 on an operation to Lorient. While returning to base the following night, it crashed in unknown circumstances in the vicinity of RAF Barkston Heath. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O George Hendry Cowings, pilot,
P/O Robert Daniel, navigator,
Sgt Eric Arthur Lee, wireless operator.

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

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L4893
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Boscombe Down - Bristol
MSN:
8908
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
1750
Circumstances:
The pilot departed RAF Boscombe Down on a solo ferry flight to Bristol-Filton Airport. On final approach, the airplane stalled and crashed, killing the pilot P/O George Edward Stansbury.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I at RAF Boscombe Down

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1940
Operator:
Registration:
P2117
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Boscombe Down - Boscombe Down
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an operation over Brest, the airplane was returning to its base at RAF Boscombe Down when it crashed upon landing for unknown reasons. While all four crew members evacuated safely, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
F/L Boyan,
Sgt H. Wathey,
Sgt Elcoat,
P/O J. K. Drewry.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Petersfield

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L8862
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Boscombe Down - Boscombe Down
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Boscombe Down on a local test flight. En route, he encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed near Petersfield and was damaged beyond repair. Both crew members were injured.
Crew:
F/Lt C. W. K. Nicholls,
S/Ldr A. E. Groom.
Sources:

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.50 Heyford IIA off Le Havre: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1936 at 0330 LT
Operator:
Registration:
K4034
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Boscombe Down - Boscombe Down
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Boscombe Down on a night training exercice. While cruising over The Channel in marginal weather conditions, the crew reported he was low on fuel and that he was trying to find a suitable terrain for landing. In limited visibility due to fog, the captain eventually attempted to ditch the airplane when it crashed 200 metres off Sainte-Adresse, in th suburb of Le Havre. A crew member was rescued while three others were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Walter Job, †
AC1 Cyril Adolphus Tregannon Bickham, †
AC2 William Watkin, †
F/O Robert Humphrey Page.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.50 Heyford IA near Midhurst: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1936
Operator:
Registration:
K4024
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Boscombe Down - Boscombe Down
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Boscombe Down on an exercice with four crew members on board. En route, the airplane impacted the top of a hill and crashed in Broken Jill, near Midhurst. The pilot was seriously injured and three other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Charles Albert Deakin,
Sgt Edward Kenneth McDermott, †
LAC Cyril James Adams, †
LAC George John Westlake. †

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60M Moth in Beacon Hill: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K1854
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Boscombe Down - Boscombe Down
MSN:
1628
YOM:
1930
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Boscombe Down on a training mission. En route, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances, killing both pilots.
Crew:
F/Lt George Justice Southam,
F/O George Walter Lawson.