Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II in Lorient: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II
Operator:
Registration:
HR655
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Leeming - Leeming
Location:
Lorient
Morbihan
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leeming at 1908LT on an operation to Lorient. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed in the target area. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
W/O Dean William Smith, pilot,
Sgt Douglas Matthew Brackenridge, mechanic,
F/Sgt William Harris Cowman, radio operator,
F/Sgt Joseph Fisher Sayers, observer,
Sgt Reginald James Salt, observer,
W/O William Herbert Lough, observer,
F/Sgt Joseph Emery Giguere, air gunner.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II in Lüdershausen: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1943 at 2130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II
Operator:
Registration:
DT680
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Leeming - Leeming
Location:
Lüdershausen
Lower Saxony
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leeming at 1800LT on an operation to Hamburg. After passing south of the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Lüdershausen, 37 km southeast of Hamburg. The pilot was killed while six other occupants became PoW.
Crew:
F/Lt William Andrew Black, pilot, †
Sgt Samuel Eardley, flight engineer,
Sgt Bert Gordon Howe, navigator,
F/Sgt France Waite, bomb aimer,
Sgt John Albert Taplin, wireless operator,
Sgt Jean Sylvio Albert Aubry, air gunner,
P/O Ian Gordon Imrie, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II in Four Mile Bridge: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II
Operator:
Registration:
BB275
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Leeming - Valley
Location:
Four Mile Bridge
Anglesey
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leeming on a transit flight to RAF Valley, Anglesey. On final approach, one of the engine caught fire. Control was lost and the airplane crashed in Four Mile Bridge, about 3 km northwest of the airbase. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew:
W/O Joseph Gaspard Arsenault, pilot,
Sgt Peder Larsen, flight engineer,
F/Sgt David Clayton Carder, navigator,
Sgt Alan Bayne Wedderspoon, navigator,
Sgt James Barrie Diggle George, bomb aimer,
Sgt Thomas Herbert Clapham, wireless operator,
F/Sgt John Louis Boivin, air gunner,
Sgt Harvey Frank Gorrie, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Loss of control on final approach following an engine fire.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II in Cléguer: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II
Operator:
Registration:
HR662
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Leeming - Leeming
Location:
Cléguer
Morbihan
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leeming at 1656LT on an operation to Lorient. Approaching the target area, it crashed in unknown circumstances in Cléguer, some 11 km north northeast of Lorient Airport. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Theunis Christoffel Roux, pilot,
F/O Edwin Payling,
Sgt Francis Anthony Cavadino,
Sgt Joseph Rostron,
P/O Rowland George Brinkworth,
Sgt William Kenneth Barton,
Sgt James Dick Adam, air gunner.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II at RAF Ossington

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1943 at 2330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II
Operator:
Registration:
DT678
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Leeming - Leeming
Location:
Ossington AFB
Nottinghamshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leeming at 1716LT on an operation to Lorient. Both starboard engines failed and on return, the airplane crashed upon landing at RAF Ossington and was destroyed. All seven crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt K. O. Greig, pilot,
Sgt J. D. Blewett,
F/Sgt W. V. Neumann,
F/O C. A. Vogel,
P/O N. D. Downie,
Sgt W. A. Ivor,
Sgt J. V. J. R. Veys, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Failure of both right engines in flight.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax V in Birkby: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1942 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax V
Operator:
Registration:
DG238
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Leeming - Leeming
Location:
Birkby
Durham
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Leeming on a fighter affiliation exercise. In flight, the pilot initiated a steep turn when the airplane stalled and crashed in Birkby. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Ronald George Bell, pilot,
Sgt Arthur Ernest Fuce Giles, flight engineer,
Sgt Douglas Dean Gardner, navigator,
sgt Ian Fowler Stewart McColl, wireless operator,
P/O Philip Malcolm Matthews, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Pilot error.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III at RAF Leeming: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 14, 1942 at 0138 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 417 Wellington III
Operator:
Registration:
DF636
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Leeming - Leeming
Location:
Leeming AFB
North Yorkshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leeming at 1831LT on October 13 on an operation to Kiel. While returning to base the following night, it lost power and crashed into a house while trying to go around again from a misjudged approach. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
W/O Wesley Bethel Croft, pilot,
P/O Alexander Mcbirnie Wardrop, observer,
P/O Ronald Edward Eric Gurd, navigator,
P/O William James Jones, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Harry Joseph Thomas Gray, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Loss of power and misjudged approach.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III at RAF Docking

Date & Time: Oct 14, 1942 at 0100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 417 Wellington III
Operator:
Registration:
X3963
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Leeming - Leeming
Location:
Docking AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leeming at 1829LT on October 13 on an operation to Kiel. While returning to base the following night, the crew diverted to RAF Docking where the airplane crashed on approach and was destroyed. All five crew members escaped with minor injuries.
Crew:
P/O B. L. Adilman, pilot,
F/O A. H. Moody,
P/O D. C. Fairley,
Sgt W. W. Fleger,
Sgt J. A. Simpson, air gunner.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II off Borkum Island: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1942 at 0251 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II
Operator:
Registration:
W1106
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Leeming - Leeming
Location:
Borkum Island
Lower Saxony
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leeming at 2348LT on July 19 on an operation to Vegesack. Approaching the German coast, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the North Sea off Borkum Island. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O John Samuel Victor Fegan,
Sgt Albert John Beattie,
F/Sgt William Graham Gibson,
Sgt Cresswell Atchison,
F/Sgt Frederick William Stewart,
P/O Erle Ernest Edward Johnstone,
Sgt Frederick George Albert Bick.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II off Bergen aan Zee: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1942 at 0030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II
Operator:
Registration:
W1056
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Leeming - Leeming
Location:
Bergen aan Zee
North Holland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leeming at 2305LT on July 2 on an operation to Bremen. Approaching the Dutch coast, it was shot down by the German Marine Flak and crashed into the North Sea off Bergen aan Zee. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Ernest Joseph Lawer, pilot,
Sgt David Morris Jones, flight engineer,
Sgt Robert Tom Charles Martin, navigator,
Sgt Harold John Gill, bomb aimer,
F/Sgt John Joseph Francis Martin, wireless operator,
Sgt Henry Arthur George, air gunner,
Sgt Owen Llewellyn Williams, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Marine Flak.
Subscribe to Leeming AFB