Den Helder

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Flight Type:

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Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

North Coates - North Coates

MSN:

414-2465

YOM:

1941

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The airplane departed RAF North Coates at 0118LT on a maritime patrol flight. While cruising along the Dutch coast, it was shot down by the German Marine Flak and crashed in Den Helder. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
W/O Charles John Wyllie, pilot,
F/Sgt Alexander Taylor Thompson, pilot,
Sgt William Robertson MacLeod, wireless operator,
Sgt William John Rowe, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Marine Flak.

Crash of a Vickers 424 Wellington IV off Den Helder: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1942 at 2227 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 424 Wellington IV

Operator:

Registration:

Z1269

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Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden

Schedule:

Hemswell - Hemswell

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The airplane departed RAF Hemswell at 1940LT on an operation to Essen. While returning to base in the late evening, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in the Waddenzee east of Den Helder. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Bogumil Zelazinski, pilot,
P/O Bolesław Uszolewicz, pilot,
F/O Franciszek Jakukowski, observer,
Sgt Kwiecinski, wireless operator,
Sgt Teofil Niemeczek, air gunner,
Sgt Wladysław Stachurski, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Den Helder: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1942 at 2231 LT

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Registration:

AT121

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Schedule:

Coningsby - Coningsby

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The airplane departed RAF Coningsby at 1805LT on an operation to Münster. Passing over the Netherlands at night, it was shot down by the German Flak. With an engine on fire, it went out of control and crashed onto a house located at Langestraat in Den Helder. Two crew members were killed and two others became PoW.
Crew.
F/Lt Harold John William Bareham, pilot,
P/O Thomas Allen Whiting, observer,
Sgt Stanley Albert Dungey, wireless operator, †
Sgt Edward John Snelling, wireless operator. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort I off Den Helder: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1941 at 1739 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 152 Beaufort

Operator:

Registration:

AW190

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Schedule:

Manston - Manston

MSN:

9897

YOM:

1941

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The airplane departed RAF Manston at 1542LT to attack a convoy sighted off Hoek van Holland. After the attack, the airplane was hit by the blast of its own bombs. The left engine caught fire and the airplane crashed into the sea, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
P/O Mark Lee, pilot,
Sgt Henry Carter,
Sgt John Alfred Chadaway,
F/Sgt John Ansley Foster.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Den Helder: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 27, 1941 at 1508 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

Z7309

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Schedule:

West Raynham - West Raynham

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The airplane departed RAF West Raynham at 1305LT on an anti-shipping operation. It was shot down by the German Flak then by a German fighter and crashed into the sea off Den Helder. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Walter Gordon Clement Beatson,
Sgt James Bradshaw,
P/O Haydn Jones.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Den Helder: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1941 at 1427 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

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Registration:

Z7305

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Schedule:

Wattisham - Wattisham

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The airplane departed RAF Wattisham at 1154LT on an anti-shipping operation. Approaching the Dutch coast, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea some 15 km west-southwest of Den Helder. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Stanley Burdon, observer,
Sgt Gilbert Vincent Smith,
Sgt Charles Clinton Topping.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Den Helder: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1941 at 1417 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

Z7483

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Schedule:

Watton - Watton

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The airplane departed RAF Watton at 1155LT on an anti-shipping operation. Approaching the Dutch coast, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea some 15 km west-southwest of Den Helder. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Ronald Hamilton,
Sgt Alex Stanley Oman,
Sgt Thomas Parkinson.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88D-2 off Den Helder: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1941 at 0816 LT

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.88

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Survivors:

Yes

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