Zone

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura II at RAF Feltwell

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1943 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AJ224
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Feltwell - Feltwell
MSN:
4362
YOM:
1942
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Feltwell at 1400LT to attack an armed merchant ship lying in n°8 basin in Dunkirk. Over the target area, it was hit by the German Flak which shattered the perspex in the nose compartment and temporarily blinding S/L Dale and F/O Robson. The crew was able to return to base where the airplane crashed upon landing at 1530LT, wheels retracted. Two crew were injured.
Crew:
S/L I. G. E. Dale, pilot,
F/O H. Robson,
P/O G. W. Forman,
P/O J. M. Quinlan.
Probable cause:
Hit by the German Flak.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura II off Calais

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AE781
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Feltwell - Feltwell
MSN:
4124
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed RAF Feltwell at 1420LT to bomb the Saint-Omer Aerodrome, with 11 other similar aircraft. While approaching the French coast, it was shot down by the German Flak. With both engine on fire, it was impossible for the pilot to continue the mission so all four crew members bailed out. The aircraft crashed some 300 metres offshore and was lost. All four crew members were rescued and became PoW.
Crew (464th Squadron):
P/O Philip Roy Roberts, pilot,
P/O Philip Charles Middleton, navigator,
F/Sgt John Dowling, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt John Francis Webb, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura II on the Isle of Wight

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1943 at 1420 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AE876
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Feltwell - Feltwell
MSN:
4219
YOM:
1942
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed RAF Feltwell at 1220LT on an operation to the airport of Cherbourg-Maupertus, with five other similar airplanes. It was hit by the German Flak and the crew elected to return to base but was eventually forced to make an emergency landing on the Isle of Wight. A crew was injured.
Crew (464th Squadron):
Sgt H. Pilkington, pilot,
Sgt S. W. Wood,
Sgt G. W. Sivell,
Sgt H. S. Fidge, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Hit by the German Flak.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura II into The Channel: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AE899
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Feltwell - Feltwell
MSN:
4242
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Feltwell at 1215LT to attack the Cherbourg-Maupertus Airport. While returning to base, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into The Channel. A crew survived and three others were killed.
Crew:
F/O S. B. Peryman, pilot,
Sgt Basil Dewdrey Bridge, radio operator, †
F/O Kenneth William Johns, observer, †
Sgt Kenneth Joseph Teague, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura II into The Channel: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AJ188
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Feltwell - Feltwell
MSN:
4326
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed RAF Feltwell at 1220LT on an operation to the airport of Cherbourg-Maupertus, with five other similar airplanes. Following an uneventful mission, the airplane was returning to base when it crashed in unknown circumstances into The Channel. Lost without trace.
Crew (464th Squadron):
Sgt Norman Ernest Powell, pilot,
Sgt Peter Arnold Nodes, navigator,
Sgt James Dunne, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Stanley John Newton, air gunner.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura II in West Stow: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1943 at 1145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AJ171
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Feltwell - Feltwell
MSN:
4309
YOM:
1942
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Feltwell on a training sortie with a crew of three on board. Flying n°2 in a formation low-level dummy attack on Corby steel works, the airplane collided with a 65 feet high tree and crashed near King's Forest Lodge, West Stow. Two crew members were killed while the navigator was seriously injured. For unknown reason, the pilot was flying at an insufficient altitude and failed to sea and avoid the trees.
Crew (487th Squadron):
Sgt Gerald John Abrey, pilot, †
Sgt H. Aldridge, navigator,
F/O Frederick Douglas Drake, wireless operator and air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Pilot error.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura II at RAF Methwold: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AE759
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Feltwell - Methwold
MSN:
4102
YOM:
1942
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Feltwell on a transit flight to RAF Methwold with two passengers and four crew members on board. On final approach to RAF Methwold, it entered a dive and crashed in a huge explosion in a field. All six occupants were killed.
Crew:
W/O Garnet Hartford Turcotte, pilot,
Sgt John Richard Davies Jones, navigator,
F/Sgt Robert Walker Dickson, wireless operator,
Sgt George William Hatton, air gunner.
Passengers:
Lac Thomas Rutherford,
Sgt Oswald Wheatcroft Woodhead.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura II in Eindhoven: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1942 at 1239 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AE945
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Feltwell - Feltwell
MSN:
4288
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Feltwell at 1120LT on an operation to Eindhoven. Over the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in the city center (Schoolstraat). All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Beverly Morton Harvey, pilot,
W/O Basil Marrows, observer,
Sgt Joseph Butler Alexander MacPherson, wireless operator,
Sgt Farquharson Proctor, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura II in Woensel: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1942 at 1239 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AE902
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Feltwell - Feltwell
MSN:
4245
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Feltwell at 1123LT on an operation to Eindhoven. Over the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in a field in Woensel, north of Eindhoven. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (487th Squadron):
F/Sgt John Llewellyn Greening, pilot,
Sgt Eric Charles Mowforth, observer,
Sgt David Harold Harries, wireless operator,
Sgt Bernard Hadyn Thomas, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura I in Eindhoven: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1942 at 1239 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AE702
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Feltwell - Feltwell
MSN:
4045
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Feltwell at 1120LT on an operation to Eindhoven. Over the target, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into a block of houses near the Philips factory. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (464th Squadron):
F/O Maurice G. Moor, pilot,
F/O Nathan Cohen, navigator,
P/O Sidney A. Venneear, wireless operator,
Sgt Mervyn Lionel Vivian Hass, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.